The Pro Bowl’s understandable lack of tackling had NFL fans annoyed
The Pro Bowl stinks.
As an honor for some of the NFL’s best players, it kinda works. Stars get recognized for their contributions by fans, players, and coaches to boost Hall of Fame resumes and add a little extra cash to their contracts. A few scrubs slide in from time to time, especially at quarterback when alternates are selected. Even so, most of the players who wound up in Honolulu, or Orlando, or 2022’s destination Las Vegas are worthy standouts.
But the action on the field it’s the dinner theatre version of an actual football game. It’s bad football played by good players who have no interest in putting their bodies on the line yet again in an exhibition. As such, most players go through the motions (Nick Chubb is a notable exception).
No one’s particularly interested in tackling or blocking because, well, that’s what the last 17+ games were for. The Pro Bowl, with no incentive to perform well, is more about sweating out hangovers than replicating meaningful football.
Which is how you get plays like this:
[video width=”1066″ height=”584″ mp4=”https://ftw.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/90/2022/02/PB2.mp4″%5D%5B/video%5D
Fans and players have noticed the low-stress environment in Vegas.