Pro Bowl

The NFL announced yesterday it will eliminate its annual post-season All Star Game, the Pro Bowl. Honestly, it seems like the right call. 

The league will also still name Pro Bowl players and will honor them with a special event. Also, the right call. Sometimes, it's just right and appropriate to declare an end when you know it's time. 

I think we passed that date some years ago.  Long before my last Titans game.

When I was a kid, it was somewhat exciting to watch the non-Super Bowl players, clad in their red or blue jerseys (with their regular team helmets), play this year-end exhibition game.

But over time, the game became less and less realistic (and competitive). And as contracts got bigger, and players and teams fretted about potential injuries, the concept of defense was laughed away. Final scores resembled basketball totals. It was really just a show rather than a contest.

Location? Also all over the place.

For a while, the game was played in Hawaii - a nice bonus trip for players who had labored for months since training camps. Then, later, players would leave the game early and leave town. At some point, the game moved to FL or CA. And, at times, it was played on the open date between the AFC and NFC Championship Games and the Big Game. In other years, it fell during the week after the Super Bowl. 

By then, fans have moved on to winter sports.

I've often thought MLB had the most realistic All Star Game. NBA has all of the additional contests to add some electricity. I think NHL's game is also fairly credible. 

Among the four big North American sports, the NFL's bonus game just felt awkward.

So, kudos to the League for making the right call. 

JG