There really was only way to improve the Pro Bowl. Moving it to the weekend right before the Super Bowl Sunday: simply brilliant.
A gathering of N.F.L. superstars a month after the conclusion of the regular season, strapping up the pads one more time to play in a game with utmost meaning – to be determined.
Many have suggested that like Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game, the winner of the Pro Bowl should be determine home field advantage in the Super Bowl. There of course would be no better way than this to decide who should wear the home and away jerseys in a neutral stadium in a neutral city. The home field advantage is obviously one thing, but the drag of wearing road whites – simply unbearable. I would hate the thought of calling heads or tails if donned the away team, too.
Fortunately, as the importance of the game has seemingly risen over the years, the game’s level of play and excitement surrounding it has appropriately escalated. From Honolulu to Miami, second-stringers to third-stringers. Next up: defense optional.
Oops.
The move to before the Super Bowl this season is a test run, as if the previous tradition of the week after the big game was a failure. It is now planned for right in the beginning of media week, so the attention can be drawn off of the quarterback comparison between Big Ben Roethlisberger and Aaron Rodgers, or which defense will bring more heat on third downs, or who among Clay Matthews and Troy Polamalu have better salads.
Instead of that nonsense the attention can be focused on a game, one that will weigh heavily on the outcome of the Super Bowl in 2012. Therefore, it is only logical that the two likely candidates for N.F.L. M.V.P., Tom Brady and Michael Vick, will play field general for their respective conferences in this crucial contest.
Oh, Brady has a sore shoulder? Or is it a sports hernia? No. Wait, a foot? Has got to be the foot!
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It seems like this cat has a new injury every time he gets voted on in. It must a coincidence he gets hurt before his annual trip to Honolulu. Oh well. I’m sure there are better things to do at homeanyways.
But even if Brady could play, there’s still too much of a chance the perplexing Pro Bowl defenses would stifle him. Two defensive gurus, Mike Smith of the Atlanta Falcons and Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots, will be licking their chops to go after opposing quarterbacks. House blitzes, press coverage; they might even find a way to block a punt or two.
Offensively, there is no doubt it will be a show. We saw what The Hoodie was able to do with scrubs like Deion Branch, Danny Woodhead and two rookie tight ends. Now factor in that he can really go with some unorthodox formations – three wide-outs, of course lining up on the same side, and of course no players shifting. That would be chaotic.
So this year, when you’re turning on the tube to catch the always exciting, never predictable game of chess that is the Pro Bowl, try to pretend like it is not The League’s gift of an extra week of playoff games. Then, it will all make sense. That’s why you voted your favorite left guard in.
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