Given the brutal physicality of professional football, I think the Pro Bowl has finally run its course and should be either retired or moved to the pre-season in place of what used to be the College All-Star Game (last played in 1974... that game was called off in the second half due to a wicked thunder and lightning storm, Pittsburgh was winning 24-0).
If folks really want an NFL all-star game, why not make it the first pre-season game of the summer, maybe the same weekend as the Hall of Fame Game, and have the players voted from the previous season play (except for those from the Hall of Fame game teams). And go back to the original AFC-NFC full uniforms and helmets to eliminate any awkward objections to players who switched teams the week before.
And in case there are players whining because this year's Pro Bowl is in Miami instead of Hawaii (I do believe this is a factor folks are ignoring as to why players are begging out), DON'T go back to Hawaii for the summer version. Pick a rotating location between our northern cities which have less oppressive sumer heat. How about Seattle's new stadium, or San Francisco's renamed Candlestick Park, or Orchard Park Stadium, or Lambeau Field, or even Cleveland's new stadium.
Actually, now that I think of it, a summer Pro Bowl game at Lambeau Field would be perfect! Think of it... a Hall of Fame game in Canton the same July weekend as an all-star game in Green Bay?! That would not only be nostalgic, but it would be a nice boost to Wisconsin's economy (as it would to Buffalo's, Seattle's, Cleveland, etc.). Yeah, that's the ticket, as Jon Lovitz's liar character used to say on SNL. Why invest all that money on a bunch of major resort cities?
Thoughts?
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