Punch line: The Pro Bowl

The Pro Bowl has become a joke for the NFL. The league's all-star game should be put to rest. The players want to be elected to the game, and they want the trip to Hawaii. But they don't want to play the game. At least the players who have to hit don't want to play.

Did any anyone notice the linemen on certain passing plays Sunday? Or was anyone watching? The offensive linemen just stood up and took a step or two back while the defensive linemen stood up and just stood still. No rush, no contact, no chance of any pressure on the quarterback.

It was nothing more than a 7-on-7 passing drill. Receivers roaming free while the quarterback had all day to throw. Nothing like a real game of football.

Maybe it's time to make the game about skill drills instead of football. Have the quarterbacks square off in a contest of passing drillls. See which linemen can lift the most weight. Having running backs, receivers and defensive backs square off in races, both in a straight line and in shuttle runs.

Sounds more like a track meet than football, right? Well, the Pro Bowl game on the field is nothing more than a track meet. That and half-hearted football that  nobody wants to watch.

— Guy N. Limbeck