This feels like an annual blog post when the Green Bay Packers are good. Pro Bowl does not matter. Let me repeat, it does not matter. If the Green Bay Packers are in the Super Bowl where everyone wants them to be, none of these guys are playing in the Pro Bowl. This is one big popularity contest with a dash of the NFL wanting to market their stars. It is cool that Aaron Rodgers and David Bakhtiari made the Pro Bowl. But it is not a big deal that Z’Darius Smith, Preston Smith, Aaron Jones, and Jaire Alexander are not there.

Pro Bowl is the least exciting or meaningful All-Star event in professional sports. The only professional sports program that does it right is the NBA, and even that has some flaws to it. The NBA makes it a goddamn event in different cities for a weekend with a rookie game, dunk contest, and the game itself. NHL does a good job of it too with some similarities to what the NBA does. Why the NFL hasn’t figured out how to make this a warm-weather rotating game with things to do for the athletes and fans is beyond me. I don’t think the NFL gives a shit.

Now, I know it matters for players. There are contract bonuses with the Pro Bowl, therefore, some of the players mentioned above might have missed out on some money. If that’s the case, I would rewrite my deal before next season. Take that Pro Bowl bonus money and put it somewhere else. Maybe add it to if you’re honored by Pro Football Focus or any other writers’ honor for your play. No player should have a Pro Bowl bonus unless they know it’s almost a lock.

If you’re still worried about the lack of Packers, odds are a few may end up there anyway.

Charlie.