Darius Slay Calls NFL Pro Bowl 'Pointless' After Move Away from Hawaii

The NFL moved the Pro Bowl from Hawaii to Orlando, Florida, starting with the 2017 exhibition, and Detroit Lions Darius Slay isn't a fan of the decision. 

On Wednesday, Slay told reporters he doesn't believe a Pro Bowl nod is a particularly prestigious honor on the surface—and he emphasized that getting an all-expenses-paid trip to Hawaii was the real reason he was interested in the past, according to ESPN.com's Michael Rothstein: 

"

As long as my teammates really see me as a Pro Bowl player, I ain't really worried because I feel it's a politic thing anyway. But I would just like to. But, I'm mad. Is the Pro Bowl even in Hawaii no more? It's really pointless. That's what I really wanted to do.

That's why I wanted to go. I'd rather just get the All-Pro status and don't go Pro Bowl. Because I just really wanted to go to Hawaii, really wanted to just to go to Hawaii for the free.

"

Slay may not be interested in making the journey to Orlando, but his play so far this season should put him in the conversation for a Pro Bowl bid.  

Through 11 appearances, Slay has recorded two interceptions, one forced fumble, 35 tackles and 13 defended passes—a mark that ranks tied for 12th among all players. Thanks to his shutdown stylings on the outside, Slay was named as a Pro Bowl pick in the NFC by Pro Football Focus' Sam Monson. 

However, the league's most recent fan voting results from early December revealed that Slay may not make it in as a starter.

According to an official press release from the NFL, Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman and Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Marcus Peters are ahead of the pack. Furthermore, Rothstein noted Slay was not among the top five vote-getters at cornerback. 

Rosters for the 2017 Pro Bowl will be revealed in full Tuesday, Dec. 20 during a special on NFL Network.