It's always a good day when common sense wins.
No, I'm not talking about the Rams and Jeff Fisher. I'm referring to the NFL's announcement that this year's Pro Bowl week itinerary will include the return of a skills challenge. Competitions will include: "Epic Pro Bowl Dodgeball," "Power Relay Challenge," "Precision Passing" and "Best Hands."
These all sound like events I would watch on the DVR on a cold day in January, but naturally the most buzz centers around the dodgeball. Dodgeball! This is a great idea. Dodgeball has always been one of the most underrated childhood leisure activities, and it opens up the world to wild possibilities and big questions like, "How will Drew Brees react when he gets drilled in the face by a Geno Atkins fastball?"
Quite frankly, it's a minor miracle this event is even happening. Twenty years ago? Sure. But today's NFL has a much more serious-minded culture when it comes to body maintenance and preservation. Guys sleep in hyperbaric chambers now! We're going to get a huge turnout for competitive dodgeball, a game in which 1 in 5 players will have their thumb bent back to their wrist at some point in the proceedings?
I'll shut up. I don't want to ruin this for us.
The Pro Bowl Skills Showdown will air on Thursday, January 26 at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN. Speaking of skills competitions, let's get pumped up by watching this classic clip of Jake Delhomme going up in flames during the "On The Mark" competition (2:20 mark).
