Jan 27, 2013, Honolulu, HI, USA; General view of the most valuable player trophy at the 2013 Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The life of the Pro Bowl was determined last night by the players.  The league will determine by April whether or not it will be at the end of next years season.  So how well did the players do? The NFC crushed the AFC 62-35.  The AFC did score late but it was all for not as the game was already lost.

Jeff Saturday, current C for the Packers and long time Colts C, is retiring this year and played on both sides.  He snapped the ball to Peyton Manning for the last time and also snapped to his brother Eli for the NFC who he went representing.

Did the players take it seriously? With J.J. Watt lining up as a wide receiver, I have to say no.  The score was not even close, but there times when the players were trying.  There was  pass interference call on Champ Baily in the second quarter, which was the first flag of the game.

What does the future hold for the Pro Bowl? If they do nothing for it and decide to keep it and hope the players will try every time, I don’t think it will last for more than a couple more years at most.  If they make changes and really put some effort into it, then it could be a great ending to the year next to the Super Bowl.

Jan 26, 2013, Honolulu, HI, USA; General view of palm trees at Waikiki Beach during the 2013 Pro Bowl All-Star Block Party. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

What does this mean for football.  The winner getting home field advantage is kinda pointless unless the Superbowl is being held in your stadium.  Either way, win or lose in this situation you are still at home.  Moving to a fantasy draft might add some excitement but you always have the playing favorites.

John Madden called out the league and the Pro Bowl in stating that if things don’t change this will be the final Pro Bowl. He also stated…

“And having said that, I think everyone knows that,” Madden said. “I know all the players know it. So, as they were told last night, we’re not only playing this for ourselves and right now, we’re playing it for all the future players.”

Peyton Manning chimed in as well…

“The past two years, the play in this game has been unacceptable,” Manning said. “If it was a walkthrough, your coach would say it was a bad walkthrough. And that’s why (the league) could try to cancel this game.”

If things don’t change then this could be the last year for the Pro Bowl.  Something needs to be added to provide some sort of incentive to push the players to make it a game enjoyable to watch.  For one I think that that Skills Challenge needs to be brought back.  That was really the only enjoyable thing to watch during Pro Bowl Weekend.