For Saints Fans, Watching the Pro Bowl Was Awful

by Andrew Juge on Feb 1, 2011 6:00 AM CST

Did anyone else get positively sick to their stomach watching the Pro Bowl? Yep, you got me figured out, I'm another one of those anti-Pro Bowl whiners that is just bitter his team is eliminated. What's more, one would think that after seeing the Pro Bowl for so many years, I'd know what to expect and complain less about what is always lazy and passive football. The thing is, this year was worse than ever before. Make the jump to find out why I think so.

TOO MANY FALCONS! Are you kidding me? I know they had a great season and all, but on any drive the possible players touching the ball were Matt Ryan, Ovie Mughelli, Michael Turner, Tony Gonzalez and Roddy White. Nevermind the fact that Brent Grimes seemed to get his hands on a number of footballs defensively. Something about Mughelli taking a handoff from Ryan and plunging into the end zone behind Jahri Evans just made me a little sick to my stomach.That turned to projectile vomiting when Drew Brees' first two passes were completed to Gonzalez and Mughelli. I was just waiting for Brees to hit Roddy White for a touchdown. That would have been the icing on the cake.

Seriously, how am I supposed to root for the NFC under those conditions? Forget the fact that the Falcons' coaching staff was running the show and that they clearly put their players in the best position to succeed. The top two leaders in receptions? Gonzalez and White. The lone goal line carry opportunity? Mughelli. Did you also notice that despite playing the entire second quarter, Matt Ryan came in again to start the 3rd quarter with the NFC up 42-21, delaying Brees' arrival? By the time Brees came in, the NFC was in clock run mode. Am I the only one that felt like Mike Smith did that to specifically try to get Ryan the MVP and keep Drew Brees from having a chance to win it?

Look, everyone knows the Pro Bowl is lame. No one tries, no one cares, and the game is never enjoyable. I knew this going in. The only thing we should be celebrating is that no Saints player got injured in the game, because I still have nightmares about the Pro Bowl where Terrell Suggs cheap shot-ed Brees and injured his left arm. I guess the Saints players can celebrate their game winning $45,000 checks, too.

But this game just felt like a painful reminder that: A) the Saints are out of the playoffs B) Roman Harper gets to end his season on a high note, when guys like Colston and Jenkins don't C) The Falcons won the NFC South and had a terrific season. For those reasons, watching the Pro Bowl this year was somehow worse than most.

Do I hate the Falcons too much? Should I lighten up? Anyone else out there feel the same way I do?

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By the time Brees came in, the NFC was in clock run mode. Am I the only one that felt like Mike Smith did that to specifically try to get Ryan the MVP and keep Drew Brees from having a chance to win it?

Perhaps. As the coach of the highest seeded non-Super Bowl team in the NFC, that’s his prerogative. Not like there isn’t a downside to that. Showcasing your own players versus the increased risk of injury in a meaningless game. Weighing the two, I wouldn’t have been upset if Brees got zero snaps.

"I was not on the boat in question" -Darren Sharper

by coldpizza on Feb 1, 2011 7:14 AM CST reply actions

I agree

After the the voting my only interest in the pro bowl is that nobody on the Saints gets hurt period.

"when an opponent is down, kick'em when they're down!" Bobby Hebert

by saintslam on Feb 1, 2011 10:21 AM CST up reply actions

Thank Goodness I was sleeping...

I was sleeping so I could go to work at Midnight. I did wake up in time to watch Drew run out the clock and am pleased to hear none of our players got hurt.

When I say WHO DAT U say TWO DAT!!!

by cajuncommando58 on Feb 1, 2011 7:33 AM CST reply actions

Brees definitely got snubbed by Mike Smith's staff

Our OG’s got used to capacity in that “game”, as did our LB and SS, but Drew Brees really got the shaft by only getting to play the last quarter with the game already well in hand. I do not know if I will ever watch another Pro Bowl again after that one. What a total joke and a slap in the face to the Saints and their fans by the Falcons’ coaching staff! My hatred of Atlanta only grows after that stunt for me.

by realheavyd on Feb 1, 2011 7:47 AM CST reply actions

Ok

I thought i was the only one who was thinking that the time allotment and coaching angle seemed to favor the Falcons. If you look at the box score the utilization of Gonzalez, White, Turner and other falcons were crazy. One pass each to Fitz, C. Johnson, Witten? The same number thrown to Gonzo. Is this just Mike Smith, Matty Ice and the boys trying to showcase themselves as they fell short of the ultimate prize?

Here Drew, just hand off all day. Kill the clock. Oh well. It was a nothing game, but really pointless to watch.

I like Hamburgers!

by Grumps on Feb 1, 2011 7:59 AM CST up reply actions

you definitely weren't the only one thinking that

too bad the Falcons were stuck playing in this game because they couldn’t win a home playoff game

by Andrew Juge on Feb 1, 2011 8:09 AM CST up reply actions

Too bad? Not in MY book.

Let the punk dirty birds have all the Pro Bowls they want.

by FriarBob on Feb 1, 2011 9:00 AM CST up reply actions

Come on, guys

Drew was the third quarterback. He was used as such. It wasn’t Mike Smith deliberately dissing us, it’s just how the voting worked out. He was Matt Cassel for the NFC.

Besides, I thought things would be tighter and heating up in the fourth quarter, and Drew would have the chance to play some meaningful snaps. Thanks to the ineptitude of the AFC defense, that didn’t happen…but Drew was set up from the beginning to have a chance at being the hero.

It was worth the wait.

by MtnExile on Feb 1, 2011 9:03 AM CST up reply actions 2 recs

Not necessarily. There have been times that the third-voted QB (or other positions) ended up playing second or even first. They aren’t required to play in the order of voting.

by FriarBob on Feb 1, 2011 9:05 AM CST up reply actions

There have been times that the third-voted QB ended up playing second or even first.

Citation needed. I would like to know of a specific instance in which the Pro Bowl QB with the least number of Pro Bowl votes on his team started the game.

"I was not on the boat in question" -Darren Sharper

by coldpizza on Feb 1, 2011 10:13 AM CST up reply actions

started? That has never happened. #1 always starts. With puffed up pride.

OmarSuleimanVP Omar Suleiman @monaeltahawy Have you seen my show on NileTV? It's called DemocracyNever!

by stujo4 on Feb 1, 2011 10:58 AM CST up reply actions

S/B “Number 3 started?”

OmarSuleimanVP Omar Suleiman @monaeltahawy Have you seen my show on NileTV? It's called DemocracyNever!

by stujo4 on Feb 1, 2011 10:58 AM CST up reply actions

There was a year, I think it was 2006, when the senior guy (older player) played before another guy because the young kid wanted the shot at winning the game in the 4th quarter to come out with the MVP trophy. Didn’t work out for him tho. All I remember for sure on things, but it has happened.

by FriarBob on Feb 1, 2011 1:42 PM CST up reply actions

A bit too vague. I’m calling BS.

"I was not on the boat in question" -Darren Sharper

by coldpizza on Feb 1, 2011 1:52 PM CST up reply actions

It's not the Drew playing time that irked me

But Fitz, C. Johnson, Witten, Davis and everyone else probably could have played full on hammered drunk. In watching i wanted to see some plays by the marquee players of the season. Not watch a Falcons game.

I like Hamburgers!

by Grumps on Feb 1, 2011 9:19 AM CST up reply actions

boom rec'd it

Drew was the third quarterback. He was used as such

Human Rights Watch: Egypt welcomed more CIA detainees than any other country from 1990s through 2005

by stujo4 on Feb 1, 2011 9:50 AM CST up reply actions

Agreed, Rec’d as well. It’s obvious people are just being grumpy because A. we’re not in the Super Bowl, and B. Falcons were involved.

"Aristotle was not Belgian. The central message of Buddhism is not 'every man for himself.' And the London Underground is not a political movement. Those are all mistakes, Otto. I looked 'em up."

by jeff.l.b on Feb 1, 2011 10:20 AM CST up reply actions

duh! And guess what, you're not a real Saints fan if you don't hate the Falcons!

by Andrew Juge on Feb 1, 2011 2:33 PM CST up reply actions

Then I’m very, very proud apparently not to be a real Saints fan. Guess that came with growing up and maturing.

"Aristotle was not Belgian. The central message of Buddhism is not 'every man for himself.' And the London Underground is not a political movement. Those are all mistakes, Otto. I looked 'em up."

by jeff.l.b on Feb 1, 2011 2:45 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs

Rec'd

I don’t hate any NFL team. I just don’t pull for them all with the same fervor.

"I was not on the boat in question" -Darren Sharper

by coldpizza on Feb 2, 2011 12:38 PM CST up reply actions

That is not it at all

Let’s see> Matt Ryan comes in and his throws are as follows: White, White, Gonzalez, Mughelli, Fitzgerald, Hester, Johnson, White, White, Johnson, Gonzalez, Johnson.

Just sayin. With that much talent you have to think the ball could have been spread around a bit more no?

I like Hamburgers!

by Grumps on Feb 1, 2011 3:00 PM CST up reply actions

Am I missing something? That’s six targets on 12 throws. That’s kind of the definition of spreading it around. If Brees was in there and you substituted Colston for White and Graham for Gonzalez on the throws nobody here would be saying anything. And that in and of itself is what is truly telling.

"Aristotle was not Belgian. The central message of Buddhism is not 'every man for himself.' And the London Underground is not a political movement. Those are all mistakes, Otto. I looked 'em up."

by jeff.l.b on Feb 1, 2011 3:28 PM CST up reply actions

7 targets to his teammates on 12 throws

I would honestly hope that the ball would be spread around more if Drew was in the game. It’s the Pro Bowl. Show the conference talent. When White gets the same number of looks as most of those other players combined you don’t see something slightly skewed? I have no hatred of the Falcons, I just thought that was a farce. Even my wife kept asking “isn’t that one of his teammates again”?

I like Hamburgers!

by Grumps on Feb 1, 2011 3:54 PM CST up reply actions

It’s the starting QB throwing to the starting WR and the starting TE….come on. White got the ball thrown to him 5 times the whole game. He simply caught all five. Megatron got it tossed to him 4 times. Not a lot of disparity there. Hester was targeted the same number as White as well with 5. It’s not Roddy’s fault he was open and caught them.

"Aristotle was not Belgian. The central message of Buddhism is not 'every man for himself.' And the London Underground is not a political movement. Those are all mistakes, Otto. I looked 'em up."

by jeff.l.b on Feb 1, 2011 4:02 PM CST up reply actions

Vick was the starter

Oh well. It’s far from a homer comment on my part. I was just hoping for more i suppose.

I like Hamburgers!

by Grumps on Feb 1, 2011 4:20 PM CST up reply actions

shrug just dont’ see what the big deal is. You have WR out there with ya. He threw to one 4 times, the other 3. People just put stuff behind a microscope and try to make more out of it than it is. Plus at the end of the day….who are you going to trust to throw to when you’re on the field. A guy you’ve been practicing with for a week…or the guy who’s been catching your passes for 3 years.

"Aristotle was not Belgian. The central message of Buddhism is not 'every man for himself.' And the London Underground is not a political movement. Those are all mistakes, Otto. I looked 'em up."

by jeff.l.b on Feb 1, 2011 4:27 PM CST up reply actions

Honestly

If that was me. I would want to see what i could do with other players. I don’t dispute that White is a talent, but if i was a QB and i had CJ and Fitz at my disposal whoa baby.

I like Hamburgers!

by Grumps on Feb 1, 2011 4:29 PM CST up reply actions

Especially in a game that is ultimately for fun and excitement and in no way impacts my season whatsoever.

I like Hamburgers!

by Grumps on Feb 1, 2011 4:30 PM CST up reply actions

Think we have to keep in mind it was Ryan’s first ever Pro Bowl. When you’re older and been there a few times, you probably tend to relax, wing it, enjoy it. Your first time there…you’re probably trying hard not to boink it in front of your peers. So you tend to go safer routes for the comfort factor.

"Aristotle was not Belgian. The central message of Buddhism is not 'every man for himself.' And the London Underground is not a political movement. Those are all mistakes, Otto. I looked 'em up."

by jeff.l.b on Feb 1, 2011 4:34 PM CST up reply actions

Of course he got snubbed. And you know what? I actually semi-enjoyed it. Why? Because it showed what a classless bunch of pricks that entire organization is from top to bottom.

Better yet, his desperate efforts to showcase his guys at our expense really FAILED. Ryan came in and was completely ineffective in the second half. So in an effort to sub Drew, he actually snubbed his own guys worse!

by FriarBob on Feb 1, 2011 9:04 AM CST up reply actions

Vick and Brees both took 19 snaps. Ryan took 29, but his final drive consisted of 9 snaps. Had he come out at the end of his penultimate possession, he would have totaled 20 snaps — which is fine, in relation to Vick’s — but Brees would have wound up getting 28. Why would you reserve that many snaps for your 3rd string QB? If anyone deserved the extra playing time, it was Ryan. This based on his 2 TD passes, both of which came within his first 11 snaps.

"I was not on the boat in question" -Darren Sharper

by coldpizza on Feb 1, 2011 10:06 AM CST up reply actions

It was a pointless game to watch

but I still don’t like the fact that the Falcons players got more playing time and touches than any other team not only the Saints. As you said Grumps, Fitz, Johnson, Witten, and all other recievers and tight ends didn’t seem to get much play. I noticed how even though AFC lost they rotated their players better and gave everyone a chance to play some good minutes. It was complete BS in my opinion. I would have loved to see C. Johnson or Fitz catch some bombs from Brees or even Vick.

" I’ve never done drugs but I think watching Matty Ice stare blankly towards the field as Drew Brees kneels down while clock hits zero in a playoff game would be like doing cocaine off a strippers @$$#….yeah that good.
Yes my hatred for Atlanta is unhealthy/ possibly illegal" - Malbrough

by born in areacode 318 on Feb 1, 2011 8:11 AM CST reply actions

And it was probably just me but I could tell

Brees wanted to play more. he looked like he wanted to air it out and have some fun but didn’thave the time to do so.

by born in areacode 318 on Feb 1, 2011 8:12 AM CST reply actions

Fun fact though

All QB’s on the NFC were or are NFC South QB’s.

I like Hamburgers!

by Grumps on Feb 1, 2011 8:17 AM CST reply actions

Mind numbing fact

Went to the Falcoholic to see if they had a post about the Pro Bowl. They do.

Suffice to say, they do not seem to agree with the general consensus that the play call was lopsided.

I like Hamburgers!

by Grumps on Feb 1, 2011 8:36 AM CST reply actions

Andrew you can never ever hate the Falcons too much. Hating Atlanta warms us through the winter. As for the Pro Bowl, no one ever admits to liking it or watching it but the rating have gone way up the last two years since they moved it to before the Super Bowl. It got 7.7 TV rating which is about equal or better than a World Series game which may say more of how awful baseball is but we will wathc anything football right through the Super Bowl.

The Pro Bowl is like the porn of football; no one ever admits to watching but it makes millions.

I admit I watched the first half then bailed because I figured all Brees would do was hand off.

by Malbrough on Feb 1, 2011 9:52 AM CST reply actions

no one denies watching porn

let’s be serious!

by Andrew Juge on Feb 1, 2011 2:35 PM CST up reply actions

Only when my wife askes me about it

We can't win at home. We can't win on the road. I just can't figure out where else to play!
-- Pat Williams

by Fat Punk Kicker on Feb 1, 2011 3:45 PM CST up reply actions

Depends on what kind of porn you are watching.

"I understand this is a violent game. It's the only place you can hit somebody and not go to jail. So you understand that it's a privilege to play this game." Danny Clark

by cscmember on Feb 1, 2011 4:14 PM CST up reply actions

2 girls...

1 cup.

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by Dave Cariello on Feb 1, 2011 4:27 PM CST up reply actions

Lucky cup.

"Aristotle was not Belgian. The central message of Buddhism is not 'every man for himself.' And the London Underground is not a political movement. Those are all mistakes, Otto. I looked 'em up."

by jeff.l.b on Feb 1, 2011 4:28 PM CST up reply actions

The reference

your head

Offseason Motto: Burn the damn black pants.
The Official CSC-TWSS Commenter
Canal Street Chronicles-you know you want to

by Jon Banks on Feb 1, 2011 7:15 PM CST up reply actions

BARF

We can't win at home. We can't win on the road. I just can't figure out where else to play!
-- Pat Williams

by Fat Punk Kicker on Feb 1, 2011 5:21 PM CST up reply actions

DUDE

NSFA..NSFA

Offseason Motto: Burn the damn black pants.
The Official CSC-TWSS Commenter
Canal Street Chronicles-you know you want to

by Jon Banks on Feb 1, 2011 7:15 PM CST up reply actions

At the end...

I turned to my wife and said “Did I just watch the entire pro-bowl?” Sure enough, I did. It wasn’t terrible. I like to think of it as a recruiting trip for our all stars to convince other FAs to come to NOLA.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qais_eGMnWk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39GH-nzrY_I&feature=relatde

by tlsk1066 on Feb 1, 2011 10:14 AM CST reply actions

As it should be

That’s why for 40+ years they have been the “Hated Falcons”.

A SAINT in Panther country

by carolinasaintsfan on Feb 1, 2011 10:51 AM CST reply actions

Let's just hope that next year the Saints are back in the Super Bowl

That way none of us will have to watch this crap

We can't win at home. We can't win on the road. I just can't figure out where else to play!
-- Pat Williams

by Fat Punk Kicker on Feb 1, 2011 11:00 AM CST reply actions

My only problem...

Gonzalez seemed to take the majority of snaps at TE while Witten rode the bench. I actually enjoyed watching the NFC destroy the AFC. I liked the ending where they actually wanted to score some points and I loved watching Mack get a TD(also ended Harper’s day on a bit of a bad note, giving up the TD, which made me feel a little bit happier about his awful playoff game). I would have loved for Brees to actually showcase his skills but the NFC wanted to end the game

Superbowl bound!!!...I know! do you?! Go Saints!!

by skinnykinney on Feb 2, 2011 3:47 AM CST reply actions

I hate Atlanta. I’m just relieved that no saint was injured in support of that ridiculously lame ballclub. That game makes me want to boycot home depot and coke…but doing that won’t change my lifestyle.

by xen-cuts on Feb 3, 2011 9:33 PM CST via mobile reply actions