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+ During Wednesday's edition of Showtime's Inside the NFL, CBSSports.com NFL Insider Jason La Canfora reported that New York Jets owner Woody Johnson may be interested in trading cornerback Darrelle Revis.
"I’ve talked to some people today who say that Woody Johnson is very interested in trading Darrelle Revis. Now, you look at the Jets. They’re in transition. A new general manager in John Idzik. One of his first courses of action may be trying to find out what he can get for Darrelle Revis. He’s set to make $6 million this year. But then, after the season, he can’t be franchised after 2013. They don’t think they’re going to have the wherewithal to keep him off the open market. So, if you’re going to get any value for him, you need to find out what he’s worth now."
Stop.
Just stop.
Though a cornerback with Revis' talent is always desired by any active NFL team, we get the feeling that the cost would be too significant. Not only would you probably lose several high draft picks, the money alone would be substantial enough to lose some of the team's home-grown talent -- you know the players that helped Cincinnati reach the postseason in consecutive years.
+ Also on Inside the NFL, former Bengals wide receiver and current NFL analyst talked about the end of the Pro Bowl.
"I think this is it for the Pro Bowl. They either come out and play like it’s a football game, is basically what the Commissioner told me, or it’s going to be over with. Because what happened last year with this game and the way they played it, he said, ‘That’s not football. We’re not going down that road.’ So, we’re going to see at the Pro Bowl this year."
Though I've said from the beginning that the Pro Bowl is a complete joke, I'm not behind the idea of discontinuing it entirely.
It's understandable that the Commissioner would rather fans experience the best of the best playing their best. But you can't create motivation on a blank canvas and there's not a fan in existence that's willing to risk a major injury to their all-star player during an exhibition game. A 16-game regular season, training camp, preseason, players are tired. They want to enjoy their time among the league's best players, enjoying the rewards of a fantastic season. I'm alright with that. I get the dangers of playing football. I get the minimized nature of all star games. It's alright.
Fans will watch. That's not a problem, evident by the 13.5 million viewers that watched the 2012 Pro Bowl, which is clearly the highest ratings draw compared to other all-star games among the major sports. Writers will complain, fans equally so about the lack of effort on defense and special teams (have you seen the scores in the past ten years?). Yet you've already decided without really knowing it. When the game kicks off, your television will find its way to the Pro Bowl. It's just the natural order of things. Football. It's in our blood.