The NFL changed the format for the Pro Bowl game, but Hall of Famer Jerry Rice does not think it is enough to save the game. He agreed to be one of the honorary captains that will pick a team for one side.
“You’ve got prima donnas, egocentrics, who act like it’s not an honor,” Rice told USA Today Sports. “Plus, they’re thinking, ‘Why should I go and jeopardize what I’m doing?’ But it should be for the fans.
“How can you get the players to recognize that it’s an honor? You’ve got to play your best football in the Pro Bowl. So the spirit of this needs to be changed. I’m not sure that can be accomplished now.”
“I don’t know if this will help the Pro Bowl survive,” Rice said, according to USA Today.
“If they want a vacation, go to the Bahamas,” said Rice, who also works as an ESPN analyst. “Back in the day, it was an honor to play in the Pro Bowl.”
The Pro Bowl has not been very popular, and the NFL tried to help it by moving it to Miami, FL and scheduling it before the Super Bowl. However, this caused players who were in the Super Bowl to refuse to play in the game because they did not want to get hurt.
The next Pro Bowl will be on January 26, 2014. Deion Sanders and Rice will help two captains and two NFL.com fantasy football champions in picking the teams. Due to injury concerns, kickoffs will be eliminated.
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