January 29, 2013
Ceci Ferrara
Sports Writer
Sports Insider
A few days before the game, Peyton Manning made a plea to the players to save the Pro Bowl, the NFL’s annual all-star game. “The past two years, the play in this game has been unacceptable,” Manning said. “If it was a walkthrough, your coach would say it was a bad walkthrough. And that’s why [the league]could try to cancel this game.”
After a particularly lackluster Pro Bowl last year, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell spoke of eliminating the annual event. “We’re either going to have to improve the quality of what we’re doing in the Pro Bowl or consider other changes or even considering eliminating the game if that’s the kind of quality game we’re going to provide,” Goodell told ESPN in early 2012.
While the Pro Bowl doesn’t offer any incentive (the MLB All-Star Game awards the winning league home-field advantage during the World Series), it is both an honor and a meaningful tradition for some players, especially veterans like Manning.
Whether the players were moved by Manning–or felt threatened by Goodell–this year’s game was more competitive, with the NFC scoring sixty-two points in their win. The AFC put up thirty-five points–including fourteen in the fourth quarter–but it was not enough. The NFC was unstoppable on offense, scoring thirty-one points in the first half and twenty-one points in the third quarter alone.
Starting NFC quarterback Eli Manning threw for 191 yards and two touchdowns, while Minnesota tight end Kyle Rudolph earned the title of MVP with 122 yards and a touchdown.
Goodell told reporters he watched the game and “noticed the improved quality” but noted that, while he appreciates the effort from the players, he is not entirely convinced the Pro Bowl is worth keeping. “We need to continually work to make our game better for the fans,’’ Goodell said. ‘‘I look forward to getting detailed player comments and input over the next few weeks.’’
Capitals
Alex Ovechkin scored the game-winning goal on Sunday afternoon, giving the Capitals their first win of the season. Their 3-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres gave the team a much needed boost, as well as Adam Oates his first victory as an NHL coach.
The Caps hoped to continue their climb from the bottom when they traveled to Ottawa to take on the Senators Tuesday evening. While they started off strong, scoring two goals in the first period, they were unable to maintain that momentum. The Senators scored three unanswered goals, one in the second and two in the third.
Troy Brouwer and Matt Hendricks scored for Washington in the first period. Ovechkin was largely irrelevant during the game, except for a slashing penalty in the third. The star’s subpar performance has stunted Washington’s offense, who now fall to 1-5.
