Shannon Sharpe Reacts to the End of the Pro Bowl
Shannon Sharpe is clearly feeling the impact of the Pro Bowl’s closure.
On Wednesday, the NFL announced it would officially terminate the all-star game, deciding to honor players with a title instead of allowing them to risk injury in what has become essentially a meaningless exhibition.
Sharpe, an eight-time Pro Bowler during his illustrious career as a tight end, drew parallels between the Pro Bowl’s demise and the challenges faced by the NBA with its All-Star Game.
“Look at the NBA; Adam Silver said, ‘If you all don’t start playing, we’re cutting it out. We’ve tried it all. It used to be East vs. West, then we let LeBron [James] and KD [Kevin Durant], and Giannis [Antetokounmpo] choose the teams. We even let Steph [Curry] and Bron pick the squads, but you still wouldn’t play,’” he shared during his “Nightcap” podcast. “Silver warned that we’re heading toward no All-Star Game. Do you really want to be the one responsible for that?”
“And you NFL players from the last decade—this is on you. You should be embarrassed. You’ve ruined something that’s been cherished long before you were around. So, congratulations, you ended it. Be proud of that.”
Sharpe reminisced about the Pro Bowl during his playing days from 1990 to 2003, describing it as a prestigious, star-studded event. Unfortunately, in recent years, it’s taken a turn for the absurd.
Many prominent players have opted out due to concerns over injuries, leaving the league scrambling to fill the gaps. For instance, last season, Giants tackle Jermaine Eluemunor called the Pro Bowl “laughable” after Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders made it despite only playing eight games with a subpar record of seven touchdowns and ten interceptions.
To shake things up, the NFL has tried various approaches, introducing a week of skills competitions and a flag football game this past year.
“It’s gotten so ridiculous that players don’t even wear pads anymore for the Pro Bowl,” remarked Chad Johnson, Sharpe’s co-host, who is also a six-time Pro Bowler. “They’ve turned it into flag football because nobody wants to truly compete. It’s just so different from when Sharpe and I played. Back then, we played hard. Now, with all the changes, it’s like they might as well be playing with flags. The NFL is just wasting money.”
