Bengals tight end Tyler Eifert is done with the Pro Bowl.
Eifert, lest we forget, underwent a small procedure to fix the ankle he tweaked in this past season's All-Star game and is not sure when he'll return to the field. According to the team's official site, Eifert told reporters Friday that his walking boot will come off a week from now and added that there is no specific timetable for his return to practice.
While the sentiment is understandable, Eifert, along with many of the NFL players in attendance, did a lot of good in Hawaii and will continue to do a lot of good during Pro Bowl week. As we noted in a piece from the Pro Bowl draft held at the Wheeler Army Airfield in Wahiawa, Hawaii, Eifert went around asking troops for their autographs in a lighthearted display of respect. Unfortunately, an awkward landing in the game soured the experience on the game as a whole.
Clearly, the Pro Bowl needs to be re-evaluated. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell was open about his dissatisfaction with the current state of play and Giants quarterback Eli Manning was honest about the temptation for players to try and protect themselves in a game that doesn't count. So hopefully this can be an agent of change, so that players like Eifert can continue to bring unique experiences to fans during a week of festivities without the worry of missing time.
While they wait, the Bengals are hoping to break in 2015 third-round pick Tyler Kroft, who caught 11 passes for 129 yards and a touchdown during his rookie season.
