Pro Bowl moved in a stroke of common sense

The best in the AFC and the NFC will go head to head in the pro bowl this weekend in Hawaii. It is encouraging to see sport governing bodies break with tradition on occasion to make decisions that simply make common sense.

The Superbowl is the biggest sporting event held every year in North America. Sure it’s not a Canadian sport but let’s not fool ourselves by thinking that we don’t enjoy the Superbowl. Having a two week break before the Superbowl is a good idea. It lets players get over niggling injuries, it allows coaching staff to properly prepare their team and it lets the host city prepare for the spotlight that will shine in their direction.

The only problem is that a little ‘football’ momentum is lost during this two week break. So, could there possibly be a better time to play the Pro Bowl than in the week off? This means that the football mad public get to see another game before the Big Dance and most importantly the Superbowl remains as the official end of the football season.

The criticism will be that players from the teams competing in the Superbowl won’t be playing in that game. As far as I am concerned that is no problem. They will still be credited with Pro Bowl selection and it’s not as if they don’t have other things on their mind at that time anyway. I have always felt sorry for players who have to rev themselves up from a Superbowl and play the following week in the Pro Bowl. I am sure they would prefer to be nursing a hangover instead.

Moving the Pro Bowl on also gives players an extra two week break they didn’t have in the past. In previous years most players are coming off a six week break to play one game. The other benefit is that the Pro Bowl will actually grow in importance as people won’t be ‘footballed out’.

888sport will be booking the Pro Bowl this weekend so you can watch your favourite players in sunny old Hawaii and earn a few extra bucks on the side. Also remember that there are a huge range of Superbowl bets already to go at your favourite sports betting site.