Record Number of Players Bail on Pro Bowl

In a move set to make the lamest All-Star event in professional sport even more lame, a record number of NFL players have declined their invitation to the Pro Bowl, to be played this Sunday in Honolulu, Hawai’i.

A total of 133 players have opted against the free vacation that just happens to include a football game, destroying the previous record of 119 set in 2010.

Since moving the Pro Bowl to the week before the Super Bowl, any entrants that would otherwise be playing in the big game are automatic healthy scratches. But there has been a mass exodus of players across the league this year, prompting calls for drastic changes to keep the game entertaining.

The selection at quarterback looks especially thin, leaving a laundry list of up-and-comers to fill the void left by nationally recognised stars. Arguably the league’s top five signal callers in Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, Ben Roethlisberger, Drew Brees and Carson Palmer have all bowed out, while Cam Newton will be a little preoccupied preparing for the Super Bowl.

Second-tier talents like Andy Dalton and Philip Rivers have also excused themselves. At present, the Seahawks’ Russell Wilson is the only original entrant to remain in the mix. He will be joined by Eli Manning, Derek Carr, Tyrod Taylor, Teddy Bridgewater and Jameis Winston.

For the most part, it might as well be called the “Future Bowl” given the collection of QB talents that aren’t exactly the face of the franchise right now, but are undoubtedly ushering in the new era.

But this complete absence of interest from the players begs the question: why should the fans care?

Suggestions on how to make the event a spectacle again have come from all sides of the field. Perhaps the league should accept that veteran players aren’t particularly keen on extending their season, and restrict voting to players 26 years or younger? Could the NFL take a page out of the NBA’s creative playbook and supplement the game with skills challenges and competitions? Why not keep the event exactly the same, but host it in South America, the UK, or even – as some have rumoured – Sydney, Australia?

The fact remains that the Pro Bowl continues to pull bigger viewing numbers than even the postseason games of its competitors. Until that changes, it’s hard to picture to NFL even admitting there’s a problem.