Today's Agenda: The NFL Pro Bowl

                       For the majority of football fans in the country, other than New England Patriots and New York Giant fans, our season is over.  We all dealt with the stress, and nail biting anxiety throughout this past year, watching our teams try, and fail to earn their spot in the Superbowl.  Sure, we'll all still watch the Superbowl next week, most likely a bit begrudgingly, but we'll watch it nonetheless.  The only other chance the rest of us had at getting to see our favorite players in action again until next season was in yesterday's Pro bowl.
                      The Pro bowl, for those who don't know, is a game that combines all of the season's best players(except the Superbowl teams) from the AFC and the NFC, separating them, of course, into the AFC and NFC teams.  If you're like me, when you hear the words "Pro Bowl," you were probably thinking that yesterday's game was going to be an entertaining, hard fought competitive match up, seeing as how it's the leagues best players.  You were probably also expecting to see some extraordinary athletic talent out on display as well.  That shouldn't be too much to ask, you wouldn't think........At the PRO BOWL!!!
                     If you haven't yet caught on to where I'm heading with this, then you obviously didn't watch the game.  I have never seen a such a gross misuse of athletic ability in all my life.  You combine the years best, most aggressive and talented players, for one more chance to play the game they love until next season, and they are forced to play half ass due to the abundance of safety rules the NFL puts in place for this game only.  They couldn't blitz on any play, or give any real attempt to block field goals.  It was like watching a practice game.
                    The final score was 59-41, AFC winning.  When was the last time you saw a football game end with a score that high?  Yes, it's happened before, but generally that happens due to an extreme lack in defensive skill.  These two teams had the best of the best in defensive players, who were told that they had to play it safe to avoid injury.  Why even have the game then?  The safety rules in the regular season are not as strict as these were, and all of those players made it through just fine.  On top of the safety regulations in place, the players have no incentive to put forth their best effort.  They schedule this game a week before the Superbowl, after the two teams attending the Superbowl have already been decided.  So obviously, these players are all going to be playing with that "who gives a shit" mentality.  The NFL should schedule the Pro Bowl right before the regular season begins, so that the players are fired up, and trying to prove their athletic skill to the whole country, and their individual team's fans.
                    Unfortunately, however, we were forced to watch as each team ran up and down the field, virtually untouched, as the defense chased after them at a light jogging pace.  If the NFL wants to maintain any respect as a professional sports league, they will either put an end to the Pro Bowl, or change the safety regulations to something a little more like Pro Football, and not as much like Jr. High Flag Football.  Needless to say, I was very disappointed yesterday, and don't plan to tune in next year.
                     What are your thoughts on the Pro Bowl.  Did you enjoy it?  Or are you like me, and thought it was more of a big joke?