New Low for the Pro Bowl!

[jasonluckydog]

McKinnie gets booted off NFC Pro Bowl roster

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/McKinnie-gets-booted-off-NFC-Pro-Bowl-roster?urn=nfl,216654

When the NFL puts as much importance in Pro Bowl attendance as it has for this year's Miami pre-Super Bowl event, one wonders what it would actually take to be not only excused from the proceedings, but to get booted out of the whole thing altogether. Well, if you're curious, you can ask Minnesota Vikings left tackle Bryant McKinnie(notes), because he'd know. According to the Associated Press, McKinnie was kicked off the NFC Pro Bowl roster after missing practices on Friday and Saturday with unexcused absences. According to his own Twitter account, McKinnie, who had been nursing minor injuries through the end of the regular season and into the playoffs, managed to get himself together enough to engage in only one meeting this week, though he was much more reliable when taking on the highlights of the Miami club scene. It's now heavily speculated that those extracurricular activities were the driving force behind McKinnie's absences, leaving him off the team and subject to any number of fines.

The best part

Let's just call it like it is. First of all, McKinnie never should have been voted to the Pro Bowl in the first place. He was an average lineman at best this year, finding himself benched against the Carolina Panthers on December 21 for giving up sacks and pressures without letup.

[KillerKat]

All the players don't give a sh*t about it. They're sending a big F U to Goodell.

[Sandy Claws]

All the players don't give a sh*t about it.

Right. That's why Beason was pissed when he didn't make it initially.

[SMACKDAB]

I would just walk around the field like a lost little puppy on every play they put me in.

The kicker of all of it is they have the audacity to pretend they care about injuries.

Pro Bowl was bad enough of a joke as it was previously, but now....BEFORE the Super Bowl?

[CatMan72]

Right. That's why Beason was pissed when he didn't make it initially.

Guys care about the recognition, but they don't care about playing in the actual game.

[ncdrifter]

All the players don't give a sh*t about it. They're sending a big F U to Goodell.

They are sending a big F U to thier own pension fund!

[Matt Foley]

Going to Hawaii was one thing. Being in the town where it's a constant reminder of your team not making the Super Bowl is another.

[GSO_Pantherz]

They screwed up pretty big making it the week before the superbowl. I just don't understand why they did that.

[Matt Foley]

The NFL used to have a Playoff Bowl, where teams would play for third place right before the Super Bowl. Like this year it would be like the Vikings and Jets playing on Saturday. Not only did they do away with that game, they cancelled all of the results from the records.

[bleys]

I think it makes a lot of sense having the Pro Bowl this week.. As a business, there is a lapse in football entertainment and the hole is there to be filled...

The downside is when players can't make it due to being in the Superbowl.

Regardless, the Pro Bowl doesn't mean anything to me.. so I don't care when they play it.

[scpanther22]

Ever since that game with Peppers he has been going downhill..lol

[E CaT PanTHer]

the pro bowl is so big b/c they use it to reference players for the rest of their careers and after. For example, people will refer to Smitty as "3 time pro bowler Steve Smith"

The amount of pro bowls you go to is used as a measuring stick to judge the type of player you were throughout your entire NFL career. Heck, it can even be difference in making the hall of fame or not.

[Nicbsbll2]

the pro bowl is so big b/c they use it to reference players for the rest of their careers and after. For example, people will refer to Smitty as "3 time pro bowler Steve Smith"

The amount of pro bowls you go to is used as a measuring stick to judge the type of player you were throughout your entire NFL career. Heck, it can even be difference in making the hall of fame or not.

^^^Like it or not, this is basically the only reason players care about it any more.

[KillerKat]

Right. That's why Beason was pissed when he didn't make it initially.

And why this year so many players decided not to go