MIAMI -- The Pro Bowl is a meaningless exhibition that is treated more like a joke than a serious football game -- and yet the NFL would never dream of getting rid of it, because it delivers big TV ratings every year.That paradox of the Pro Bowl -- no one cares, and yet millions watch -- was wonderfully encapsulated in a quote from Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker LaMarr Woodley, describing an interception return that he took to the end zone (though the TD was canceled out by offsetting penalties).
"I said, 'This is my only time to shine,'" Woodley said. "I only ran slow because I wanted to get some camera time. I could have gotten down there in a matter of seconds. I slowed up to get a little camera time for the people back home."
The best thing about the Pro Bowl is the fact that Woodley and other players wear microphones for the TV broadcast and give quotes to the media during the games, which means we get to see for ourselves just how meaningless a game it is -- and how much fun some of the players have with it anyway.
"It boils down to one thing, basically having fun," New England Patriots defensive tackle Vince Wilfork said, "and giving fans a chance to see everybody on the same field, the best-of-the-best playing a football game. It's been fun."Dolphins kicker Dan Carpenter says the Pro Bowl gets just silly enough for the players to yell Caddyshack quotes at each other.
"Everyone on the other side [is] out there heckling you, yelling, 'Noonan,'" Carpenter said.
Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson, who's having a big game at the Pro Bowl, seemed to think he was differentiating himself from other Pro Bowlers by saying, "I'm trying to put out a little effort."
Browns return man Joshua Cribbs gave the best explanation for the point of the Pro Bowl: The players on the winning team get paid $45,000 for the game, compared to $22,500 for the losers.
"We all know what we're playing for," Cribbs said. "We're playing for a bigger check than the other team."
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