The only thing less relevant for the National Football League, than the preseason, happened last Sunday.  For the first time ever, the NFL held the Pro Bowl on the Sunday before the Super Bowl.  The league has also decided to ditch paradise in Hawaii, to hold the exhibition game at the site of Super Bowl XIV, Miami.

The NFL has taken what was already the biggest joke of an all-star game in all of professional sports, and made it worse, trying to base it solely on a gimmick.  The NFL argues that it will build excitement by still being in-season.  League commissioner, Roger Goodell said he wanted to increase excitement by holding the game in the Super Bowl host city. 

Yeah, great idea.  Make it impossible for some of the best players in the league, like Peyton Manning and Drew Brees, to play in the game because, oops, they have to play in the Super Bowl the following week.  14 players who are playing in the Super Bowl were declared ineligible for the Pro Bowl, and were replaced by the likes of Washington Redskins linebacker London Fletcher (for Jonathan Vilma), and Dolphins strong safety Yeremiah Bell (for Antoine Bethea). 

Has anyone heard of Yeremiah Bell?  The 6th year veteran made the Pro Bowl roster with bolstering stats like three interceptions and 1.5 sacks this season.

Other Pro Bowlers like Brett Favre and Percy Harvin were replaced because of various injuries.  This is another thing that probably would not have happened if the league just left the boring game alone.  Favre, who was bruised and battered after last week's loss in the NFC championship game, sighted a nagging ankle injury for his withdrawal.

The result of all this; David Garrard.  The Jacksonville Jaguar quarterback has been added to the roster in place of Peyton Manning.  Garrard threw for just over 224 yards per game this season, and threw just 15 touchdowns compared to 10 interceptions.  The average Joe he's replacing; 281 yards per game this season and 33 touchdowns.  That is also despite sitting out the majority of the last two games for the Colts to rest for the playoffs.  The fact that David Garrard is considered an all-star makes me less of a fan of the NFL than ever.

The whole thing has become even more of a joke.  Goodell needs to come up with something else to improve the Pro Bowl before it gets lower ratings than the preseason. Which, at this point, is possible.

Photo by Moore Aloha

By Josh Berenter