Truth & Rumors > NFL

Turning down Pro Bowl nods?

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Last month, actress Katherine Heigl turned down an Emmy nomination because she did not believe her work merited consideration for the award. She said she elected not to compete for the television honor "in an effort to maintain the integrity of the academy organization." Some NFL players ought to take her cue and turn down Pro Bowl selections when their play doesn't merit the honor. A handful of players go annually on their names, not their playing abilities. They know who they are. Reject the honor, do not take credit for a Pro Bowl selection and let someone more deserving go in your place, just like Heigl. It's time the NFL injected a little integrity into its Pro Bowl process.

Dallas Morning News

Roy Williams, Otto Greule Jr./Getty Images Roy Williams, Otto Greule Jr./Getty Images
July 1, 2008  07:34 AM ET

Well said, sir.

July 1, 2008  07:46 AM ET

Funny that this comes from Dallas and there's a picture of Williams.

July 1, 2008  07:47 AM ET

so why is Roy Williams in the picture?
he is not overrated?!?!?

July 1, 2008  07:53 AM ET

Williams is terrible. Anytime the Eagles WR's beat you than you have to be terrible

July 1, 2008  08:02 AM ET

Is this really a problem, when a player is voted into a game that no one cares about? Is Roy voting himself in? No! Who is voting these people in? Well, it would be the players themselves, some sports writers, and the fans. And fans usually vote for their favorite players, not necessarily the best player. So if this is truely a problem, then take away the vote from the fan and stop expecting players to do "the right thing". It's pretty sad that now we're gonna expect players to turn down what they've rightfully received, whether that's by productivity or popularity. If a team wins the game by one point, but the other team produces more yards and has the overall better game, do we expect the team that won to say, "well, they really played the better game, so we'll give them the win...". A win is a win, in football, in baseball, in a spelling B, AND in Pro Bowl voting!

July 1, 2008  08:07 AM ET

I think players who dont want to play in it "MARVIN HARRISON" should turn it down instead of going and sitting on the sideline !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

July 1, 2008  08:08 AM ET

Unfortunately, another side effect of a fistful of undeserved Pro Bowls is a waltz into the Hall of Fame. I am confounded by the logic that is often used - "Player X made 7 Pro Bowls, so is clearly a Hall of Famer".

If most knowledgeable folk realize the Pro Bowl is mostly a popularity contest, this should not be factored into the equation.

At the same time, it could be a knock against guys like Fred Taylor, who has awesome career numbers, but "didn't go to the Pro Bowl enough."

Comment has been removed
July 1, 2008  08:18 AM ET

The Pro Bowl is a joke. The NFL would be just fine if they got rid of this pathetic excuse for a game. What good is there from the Pro Bowl? You have players decide not to go because they are "too tired" or slightly banged up (See I get paid bonus money for being selected, not for playing).

July 1, 2008  08:21 AM ET

Unfortunately, another side effect of a fistful of undeserved Pro Bowls is a waltz into the Hall of Fame. I am confounded by the logic that is often used - "Player X made 7 Pro Bowls, so is clearly a Hall of Famer".

If most knowledgeable folk realize the Pro Bowl is mostly a popularity contest, this should not be factored into the equation.

At the same time, it could be a knock against guys like Fred Taylor, who has awesome career numbers, but "didn't go to the Pro Bowl enough."

T-fo is back | 07/01/08, 08:08 AM

I've always wondered the same thing. Just because a player is a XX time all-star or pro-bowler doesn't mean anything. It doesn't make him great. Take baseball for example, Derek Jeter is NOT a hall of famer and is clearly overrated because of where of he plays. But he goes to AS game all the time and people always say he is an XX time all-star. Who cares? What does that prove.

July 1, 2008  08:43 AM ET

I agree with everyone above - who cares about the Pro Bowl. Haven't watched it in over a decade.

July 1, 2008  08:47 AM ET

Who's going to turn down an all-expenses paid trip to Hawaii?

July 1, 2008  08:51 AM ET

QB of the Patriots last year did not make it. Got banged up in the Super Bowl and some New York Giants found that VERY amusing. That QB isn't famous enough so I don't remember his name. Pro Bowl has great parties for healthy people.

July 1, 2008  09:10 AM ET

I think that if they played the game in a open-air stadium in Alaska (or Green Bay), or in a meadow in North Dakota, there'd be a lot of "thanks, but I'm not worthy of the honour" responses.

July 1, 2008  09:15 AM ET

QB of the Patriots last year did not make it. Got banged up in the Super Bowl and some New York Giants found that VERY amusing. That QB isn't famous enough so I don't remember his name. Pro Bowl has great parties for healthy people.

Insane Hussein | 07/01/08

reading comprehension.
Brady didnt go to the Pro Bowl because he was "banged up"

July 1, 2008  09:16 AM ET

man I need coffee
Brady's reason for NOT going wasnt because he was "banged up"..

July 1, 2008  09:16 AM ET

This would take integrity and character and, uh, we are talking about pro athletes here.

July 1, 2008  09:17 AM ET

T-fo..
I agree with you 100%.
Its a popularity gig by the fans.
And I fail to understand how many times you are nodded to the Pro Bowl has anything to do with HOF criteria.

July 1, 2008  09:45 AM ET

Why the pic of Roy ???

 
July 1, 2008  09:48 AM ET

I agree, no way did Brady deserve a Pro Bowl nod.

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