In a sport where climatic situations reign supreme, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has hinted that he would look into avoiding a "somewhat anticlimactic" conclusion to the season.
Translation: no Pro Bowl luau party in 2010.
An anonymous source has informed the Associated Press that the Pro Bowl will precede the Super Bowl in 2010, with both games to be held at Dolphin Stadium in Miami.
That means the Pro Bowl will be held on January 31, 2010 -- a week before the Super Bowl on February 7.
The decision to play an earlier Pro Bowl seems silly -- why the NFL push for the earlier game?
Inevitably a considerable amount of players from both championship contending teams will be named as Pro Bowlers but won't be able to be involved in the game.
With the biggest game of their lives on the line, why would you risk injury, a cut in practice time and focus?
While the event will add to the already festive week, it will also take away from the main focus -- the Super Bowl.
Of course a player can deny the invitation to partake in the who’s who of the NFL, but that further takes away from the fan enjoyment. At least if your team loses in the big game they have a small shot at redemption in Honolulu’s annual star studded event.
Besides cramming too many activities into Super Bowl week, the move, which has been in discussion for several years now, will also take away from the Hawaiian economy that generates about $30 million from the event.
“I am disappointed the Pro Bowl likely will not be played in Hawaii in 2010,” said Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle.
While Gov. Lingle has expressed disappointment she also respects the NFL's one-year trial of the relocation.
Honolulu has hosted the annual event since 1980. The NFL has set no permanent plans in place for the long-term future.
