It’s certainly the time of year to bash the NFL Pro Bowl. The comments from fans and media are largely one-sided against the value of playing the game at all. Of course, this year the volume of negativity is turned up because of the decision to hold the game before the Super Bowl, meaning 14 Super Bowl players can’t participate along with the scores of “medically excused” players.

As a result, there are 31 players participating in the game – almost a full active game-day roster – who were not elected to the Pro Bowl on the original ballot as starters or backups. That’s a lot of players. (more…)