What to do with the Pro Bowl?

I’ve talked about it before but it is worth repeating. For all intents and purposes, the NFL usually gets it right. Seldom do you hear complaints about the operations of the National Football League. Aside from the occasional squabble about the Pre-Season or the rules that govern overtime, the NFL just seems to get it.

Then why is it that they can’t seem to figure out their annual All-Star game, The Pro Bowl? Since 1980 the Pro Bowl took place the week following the Super Bowl in vacation destination Honolulu, Hawaii. The format drew criticism as many believed fans weren’t interested in attending because of the distance needed to travel. Additionally the scheduling allowed allegations to sprout of how seriously players took the exhibition game. With good reason, too. I remember one Pro Bowl where All-Pro running back  Emmitt Smith controlled the television camera during a series after his playing time was over. The NFL though long and hard about solutions to improve the game.

Solution: For at least one year, the Pro Bowl will be played the week preceding the Super Bowl in the exact same stadium. That means in 2010, the Pro Bowl and Super Bowl will be held in Miami, Florida at Sun Life Stadium on January 31st and February 7th, respectively.

It’s a win-win, right? Fans from the mainland don’t have to travel as far (although some could argue that moving the games to Florida isn’t much better distance wise than Hawaii), and the excitement from the playoffs would lead straight to the Pro Bowl and peak with the Super Bowl.

Not so fast! What about the players participating in the Super Bowl? Well, obviously they aren’t going to risk injury, so members of the Saints and Colts will be sitting this one out. Unfortunately, that removes 14 of the best players in the league from the All-Star game including quarterbacks Peyton Manning and Drew Brees. Super Bowl contenders traditionally have the most All-Stars. Also, injured players won’t have the luxury of letting injuries heal until after the Super Bowl. That means players like Tom Brady from the New England Patriots and Philip Rivers from the San Diego Chargers are out as well.

Let’s just take a look at the AFC quarterbacks that were supposed to be in the Pro Bowl. Manning, Brady and Rivers! Because of the schedule change, the AFC will be playing without their three best quarterbacks! How can the NFL let that happen? Who are their replacements? Matt Schaub, Vince Young and David Garrard. Now I’m not taking anything away from those players but Vince Young didn’t even play a full season and David Garrard was the 17th-rated passer in the NFL!

Houston, we have a problem!

Add to the fact that Chad Ochocinco (remember him?) has been pushing to be used as the AFC’s placekicker in the early stages of the game you could easily argue that this exhibition game has become a complete joke.

I won’t be able to watch the Pro Bowl due to travel, but I don’t think I’d even watch it if I was going to be at home. I’m sure there’s a golf tournament or perhaps some bowling that would be MUCH more entertaining than this.

Good news though, every indication is that the NFL will return to Hawaii for the 2011 season.