The last few weeks I did not know what to think about the new format of the 2010 Pro Bowl. This was going to be the first NFL Pro Bowl played on the mainland in 30 years. The more I thought about it I decided I was not going to pass judgment until I saw the game. The most important thing that made this game more of a success is that is was the highest attended game in over 50 years. This is one of the things that made it important to move back to an actual NFL venue. The game has been so poorly watched and attended in recent years that the NFL had to do something.
The other point that I thought I would really not like about the game, is the fact that the players in the Super Bowl did not get a chance to participate. For those players nothing matter more then the Super Bowl. We were fortunate enough to be able to spend most of half time with the two best quarterbacks in the league right now in Drew Brees and Peyton Manning. I think that this gave more players a shot at the Pro Bowl that probably would of been snubbed if it was not for the 14 extra spots that were open from the Saints and Colts. In past games it was almost overwhelming how much the focused on the players that had just played the last week in the Super Bowl. I think this is a nice compromise to the game and a great way to fill the Sunday between the playoffs and the Super Bowl. I look forward to watching future Pro Bowls. The only disappointing thing for me now is that I am told the 2011 and 2012 games will be back in Hawaii. I do not see this working very well if we are going to have the game the week before the Super Bowl. The extra excitement and revenue it brings to the NFL, even to Cowboy Stadium (Next years Super Bowl site) next year will be lost if the game goes back to Hawaii. We will see low attendance by both fans and the players that are preparing for the Super Bowl.
-Michigan Sports Guy
Click on the picture below to see this years roster straight from NFL.com
