For Saints Fans, Watching the Pro Bowl Was Awful

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?