NFL FANTASY EXPERT: RUSS BLISS
  

Extra Points: Tips from the Red Zone

Welcome to “Extra Points” -- where radio host and gridiron guru Russ Bliss shares his latest thoughts on what’s hot, who’s not and other breaking news and analysis that impacts the world of NFL fantasy football. Although this is Russ’s “blog,” we encourage users to interact with Russ by posting your own responses below. Agree or disagree, we want to hear from you! And don't forget to check out Russ's fantasy football radio shows and archived podcasts. Russ has hosted three local and national fantasy football radio shows and still can be heard on The Fan AM1060 in Phoenix, AZ during the NFL's regular season.

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01/29/12 15:36 The Pro Bowl: Can't get over the Apathy
Fantasy Football Tips
  		I don't know why, but I just can't get excited for the Pro Bowl. To be honest, I had forgotten about the game until earlier this week I turned on NFL Network and found them broadcasting from my old stomping grounds at Hickam AFB in Honolulu.
 
Good memories those. Most are vague after nearly 40 years, but a memory of beauty and beaches nonetheless.
 
But in watching the practices, I just couldn't get myself into a groove of caring at all about this game. I thought when they moved it to being before the Super Bowl it would somehow re-invigorate the apathy the game had come to bring about in me, but it hasn't. If possible, it's made it even more meaningless.
 
First, it's competing with Super Bowl hype. I know we will get inundated with hype about the Super Bowl all next week to the point of the casual fan becoming nauseous. But really, is anyone really thinking or caring about a game that features just some of the NFL's greatest current players? They don't even have anyone from the two Super Bowl teams playing. An all star game with no players from the two teams playing for the Championship? That just doesn't seem right.
 
Nearly 25% of the players who are voted into the pro bowl end up bowing out of it because of injury, or their own apathy about it (thusly using an "injury" as their excuse for not participating).
 
I wish I had the cure for the game. Some idea of how to make it relevant at all so there would be some enthusiasm about it, but really, if you aren't in Hawaii, is there any reason to be interested?
 
The Pro Bowl has become the most meaningless game in the NFL. The game that is supposed to be feature the best of the best in the NFL has almost no appeal and even less meaning. At least in preseason, the games are about seeing and evaluating young talent. Guys fighting for a roster spot put forth maximum effort and there are some who surprise and end up being a lot better than originally thought to be.
 
But in the Pro Bowl? Guys are playing to not get hurt. The rules make it difficult for any type of coaching creativity in the game. And while I won't say that all the players don't play hard, they don't play nearly as hard as they would if there was anything relevant about the game.
 
I'd like to say that I get past this malaise about the game and will watch with any type of attention, but in reality, I'll probably pass thru it, stopping to watch a few plays, but soon finding myself looking for something else to watch.
 
Each of the other 3 major sports has something about their "all star" game that makes it intriguing. But I don't find anything that does that for the Pro Bowl. If anyone has any ideas as to how to change that, I'd love to hear them.
  ( 5 Comments )
 
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