Honored, But Hope to Miss

Peyton Manning, Dallas Clark, Reggie Wayne, Dwight Freeney, and Robert Mathis have all been named as starters on this year’s AFC pro bowl team. Joining them will be Jeff Saturday as a backup, giving the Colts a total of 6 members on this years squad. The Colts are tied for the second most with 6 total members, the Vikings leading all teams with 8. Although the fans determine who will be the starters for the pro bowl teams, all of the members of the Colts are honored to make the trip to Miami, especially Dallas Clark. Clark was able to earn his first trip to a pro bowl this season, and will be a starter ahead of Antonio Gates. Granted Clark has statistically been deserving in years past, but with the absence of Tony Gonzalez in the AFC Clark was finally able to break through. However, even though the Colts are honored to earn spots on the roster, Colts fans can only hope that none of the players will be able to attend the pro bowl.

This season the NFL has elected to hold the Pro Bowl in Miami a week before the Super Bowl. While I understand the idea of increasing the popularity and interest around the game, I cannot imagine this idea working for the long term. The idea of the Pro Bowl is to see the league’s elite players on one field, but with two teams playing in the Super Bowl a week later, the NFL will be restricting elite players from the two best teams in the NFL. Thus, the two teams in the Super Bowl will not be able to send their players to the pro bowl. So even though it is great to see as many Colts as possible honored, I believe I speak for most Colt’s fans when I say that it would be much better to see the Colts playing for the Super Bowl opposed to the pro bowl.

However, on a positive note it is great to see players like Dallas Clark and Robert Mathis finally being honored for their production on the field. They have been two key players for the Colts for a long time, and it is time that they became known on a national stage.