Watching the Pro Bowl this year, as it would seem every year these days, was painful. Defenses rarely challenge blockers during runs, cornerbacks act as if their equilibrium has been sucked out of their souls by the deliciously evil Scorpius and the act of blocking a kick on special teams goes 1) three-point stance 2) stand up 3) watch kick.
Some rightly argue that the game is meaningless, an award for those players to play in a game that doesn't justify an injury while vacationing in Hawaii.
That deserved boos from the crowd that paid for tickets and a blistering commentary from one of the game's best color commentators in Mike Mayock on a network that paid millions upon millions to show.
During an appearance on ESPN Radio's Mike and Mike in the Morning on Sunday, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell reflected on the Pro Bowl last weekend and the game's future:
"I really didn't think that was the kind of football that we want to be demonstrating for our fans," Goodell said. "And you heard it from the fans. The fans were actively booing in the stands. They didn't like what they were seeing.
"We're either going to have to improve the quality of what we're doing in the Pro Bowl or consider other changes or even considering eliminating the game if that's the kind of quality game we're going to provide," Goodell said.
"I know players love to be in Hawaii but we have to start with the quality of what we're doing," Goodell said. "If the fans are responding negatively to what we're doing, we better listen. And that was my message."
Whatever the NFL decides, for the love of god avoid the Bud Selig nuclear option that places ridiculous importance to the game by deciding homefield advantage for the World Series. Granted the NFL has neutral sites every season so the Selig nuclear option doesn't apply. Regardless the truest form of increasing particpation in the Pro Bowl will be money and even that is suspect. You're not trying hard, here's a ticket feels like a seen from a Tom Cruise inspired movie. You know the one where he's terrible and has to save someone because they're in trouble before they're actually in trouble? He's just terrible.
So cancel it. Not Cruise. The Pro Bowl. What the hell? Both.