Come to Think of It...NFL Pro Bowl Changes Pointless, Just Like the Game Itself

The game itself has always been a joke.  I mean, being selected to the Pro Bowl is an honor for NFL players. But the game itself is meaningless.

In fact, the only reason many players and media went to the Pro Bowl was to enjoy a free week's vacation in Hawaii at the expense of the league, media outlets, and other companies willing to sponsor the event.

So, what does the league do? They plan to change the rules starting next year, such that the game will be played the week prior to the Super Bowl. Oh, and one other change:

The game will no longer be played in Hawaii.

Crazy NFL say what? The venue was the only reason to make the trip. You think players will give a damn about the game if it's played in Indianapolis? But yep, that's exactly where it's scheduled to be played starting next year.

Under the new rules, the game will be played in the same city in which the Super Bowl is scheduled to be played.

So, there you go, what better place to plan a vacation hot spot than beautiful downtown Indy during the winter?

Look, the purpose of this article isn't to pick on a specific town. It could just as easily be Pittsburgh, Detroit, or Chicago. The point is, very few people want to vacation in a cold weather city during the winter.

Not to mention the glamour factor isn't exactly overwhelming in those venues.

Plus, the game has always been about avoiding injuries. Now, with the Super Bowl being played the following weekend, can you imagine what a quandary the players who are on a Super Bowl team will be in if they have to play in the Pro Bowl?

Look, if I'm the Giants, I don't want Eli Manning out there absorbing hits from opposing lineman one week before the biggest game of the year. And let's face it, even if they play soft, there is always the potential for injury.

Hey, this would be a bad decision even in a good economy. But given the economic challenges of the current climate, how many big companies will be eager to sponsor this game?

You know what, they ought to just cancel the game. You can still name players to the Pro Bowl by creating an award without a game, since some players contracts have clauses for being named to the team. And players seem to be truly appreciative of being named a Pro-Bowler.

But for God's sake, forget about the game. It's meaningless, pointless, and ridiculous—kind of like the decision to relocate the game from Hawaii, come to think of it.