Let's Not Play This Game

The Pro Bowl is being played in Miami a week before the Super Bowl. It's a big switch from the end of the season game in Hawaii. I always have mixed emotions about this contest. I'm concerned about players getting hurt in a meaningless game.

For a players it's an honor and very prestigious to be selected to play. It's been going on since 1951. It has a different format this year with players from the Saints and Colts unable to play because of the Super Bowl.

Five Pats were selected,but only Logan Mankins and Vince Wilfolk are there. Tom Brady, Randy Moss and Wes Welker sent their regrets. The same is true for so many other players in the league.

The replacement players are considered to having played in this game as long as they are on the game day roster. In a way, this dilutes the honor of being selected to play in the Pro Bowl. Some get there by default.

The selection has been very controversial over the years. In the past, the players and coaches selected the team. There were problems with players being chosen because of their reputation.

The league initiated a policy of incorporating the fan vote. The players, coaches and fans all carry equal weight. This leads to the present problem of fans voting disproportionally from large market teams.

One only has to look into the past and see that Hall of Fame RB John Riggins of the great Redskin Super Bowl teams only played in one. The game is a joke in that respect.

I don't think you can have a "good game" with a bunch of NFL players from other teams trying to play together. This is not touch football. The game isn't like that. You can do it in baseball, basketball and hockey, but not here.

The game continues to be played. I'm just always concerned about someone suffering a career ending injury. Jut look back RB Robert Edwards ( 1998 draft classmate of Fred Taylor ) to see that this game can kill a career.