Why the NFL Pro Bowl in Miami Idea Stinks
By Andy Benoit, www.NFLTouchdown.com
A few years ago I wrote in one of my NFL Touchdown preview books that the NFL should move the Pro Bowl from the week after the Super Bowl to the week before, in order to make the event part of the Super Bowl hype. I was proud of myself at the time for constructing what I thought was a shrewd idea.
However, I had a conversation with my close friend, Jeff Coruccini, owner of the website FantasyFootballStarters.com. Jeff told me my idea was, basically, terrible. He said the point of the Pro Bowl is not to draw fans and big ratings, but rather, to reward players, media and major NFL sponsors with a fun, relaxing trip to Hawaii. I found myself changing my mind and agreeing with him at the time.
Now that the NFL actually has moved the 2010 Pro Bowl to the week before the Super Bowl, I find myself agreeing with Jeff even more. In short, hosting the game two weeks early in Miami next year is a bad idea. A horrendous idea. We’ve heard players such as Peyton Manning and Ray Lewis speak out against the plan. Here are five reasons why the 2010 Pro Bowl idea stinks.
1. The NFL is indeed hoping the Pro Bowl can add to the Super Bowl hype. But none of the players in the Super Bowl will be able to play. Plus, there’s already so much Super Bowl hype that adding an event as major as entire game will be overkill. The Pro Bowl won’t build the Super Bowl hype, it will just make fans less receptive to the rest of the ubiquitous Super Bowl hype.
2. Super Bowl players won’t be the only guys sitting out. You’ll probably see most of the players from the losing teams of the AFC and NFC championship game pass on the opportunity, as well. Think about it. A player’s season comes to an end on Championship Sunday. Do you think he really wants to pack his bags on Monday, get on a plane and immediately endure another week of practice? And do you think he’ll want to be down in Miami, surrounded by Super Bowl hype, which constantly reminds him that he came so close but fell short? And normally the Pro Bowl is coached by the staff of the losing team from the championship game. Are any of those coaches going to want to immediately go back to work for a meaningless game?
3. On top of the Super Bowl players and championship game players sitting out, you’ll still get your usual slew of veterans and injured guys passing on the game as well. Usually a fourth of Pro Bowlers stay home. With the game being two weeks earlier, that means players will have had two less weeks to rest and heal up after the season. Don’t be surprised if more than 50 percent of players sit out.
visit http://www.nfltouchdown.com/ to continue reading
A few years ago I wrote in one of my NFL Touchdown preview books that the NFL should move the Pro Bowl from the week after the Super Bowl to the week before, in order to make the event part of the Super Bowl hype. I was proud of myself at the time for constructing what I thought was a shrewd idea.
However, I had a conversation with my close friend, Jeff Coruccini, owner of the website FantasyFootballStarters.com. Jeff told me my idea was, basically, terrible. He said the point of the Pro Bowl is not to draw fans and big ratings, but rather, to reward players, media and major NFL sponsors with a fun, relaxing trip to Hawaii. I found myself changing my mind and agreeing with him at the time.
Now that the NFL actually has moved the 2010 Pro Bowl to the week before the Super Bowl, I find myself agreeing with Jeff even more. In short, hosting the game two weeks early in Miami next year is a bad idea. A horrendous idea. We’ve heard players such as Peyton Manning and Ray Lewis speak out against the plan. Here are five reasons why the 2010 Pro Bowl idea stinks.
1. The NFL is indeed hoping the Pro Bowl can add to the Super Bowl hype. But none of the players in the Super Bowl will be able to play. Plus, there’s already so much Super Bowl hype that adding an event as major as entire game will be overkill. The Pro Bowl won’t build the Super Bowl hype, it will just make fans less receptive to the rest of the ubiquitous Super Bowl hype.
2. Super Bowl players won’t be the only guys sitting out. You’ll probably see most of the players from the losing teams of the AFC and NFC championship game pass on the opportunity, as well. Think about it. A player’s season comes to an end on Championship Sunday. Do you think he really wants to pack his bags on Monday, get on a plane and immediately endure another week of practice? And do you think he’ll want to be down in Miami, surrounded by Super Bowl hype, which constantly reminds him that he came so close but fell short? And normally the Pro Bowl is coached by the staff of the losing team from the championship game. Are any of those coaches going to want to immediately go back to work for a meaningless game?
3. On top of the Super Bowl players and championship game players sitting out, you’ll still get your usual slew of veterans and injured guys passing on the game as well. Usually a fourth of Pro Bowlers stay home. With the game being two weeks earlier, that means players will have had two less weeks to rest and heal up after the season. Don’t be surprised if more than 50 percent of players sit out.
visit http://www.nfltouchdown.com/ to continue reading
posted by The True GURU at
1:53 PM
1 Comments:
I couldn't agree with you more on this one. I think moving the game inside the continental 48 makes it easier for most to travel to the game, but playing it before the Super Bowl is a joke. You mentioned the players, but what about Coaches too, doesn't the AFC & NFC championship losing coaches also coach the Pro Bowl... Andy Reid would have had to do same thing. Speak to team after game, have a press conference, start hearing things about his "future" and get ready to go coach the pro bowlers in Miami the next day! No way! This will not work.
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