Some sports are simply not meant to have an All-Star event, and professional football is absolutely one of them.
In an effort to create a Pro Bowl weekend that was safer for players while providing entertainment value to fans, the NFL created the revamped Pro Bowl Games. Basically, the league had its Pro Bowl players compete in various skills challenges and play a flag football game. And despite the attempts to make it an injury-free Pro Bowl, the event still resulted in an injury.
After competing in an obstacle course challenge against Brian Burns, Myles Garrett was seen limping off the field at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
Burns got that speed 😳@Fire_Burns99 pic.twitter.com/w3GpjyH9jx
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) February 5, 2023
Here’s what happened as the broadcast went into a commercial break:
It’s all fun and games until MYLES FREAKING GARRETT IS LIMPING OFF THE DAMN FIELD
— McNeil (@Reflog_18) February 5, 2023
Not great!
Garrett needed to be helped to the locker room for evaluation, and he ended up suffering a dislocated toe from that obstacle challenge.
#Browns star DE Myles Garrett is believed to have suffered a dislocated toe while competing in today’s Pro Bowl Games, per source. X-rays came back negative. Garrett limped off the field in Las Vegas.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) February 5, 2023
Thankfully, Garrett should be fine for next season. But there was no reason to even put him in a situation where he could get hurt in a meaningless skills challenge. The NFL should just name Pro Bowl rosters and leave it at that. Fans understandably were not thrilled with the NFL given Garrett’s injury.
This was how Twitter reacted
I’m calling the police. https://t.co/zybUpENvMS
— VF1🏁 (@TheVFCastro) February 5, 2023
So basically they didn’t avoid any injuries by playing flag https://t.co/JIp9ta9Bin
— Christian Esparza (@CEsparzaSports) February 5, 2023
End this clown show already https://t.co/kKqIFhW210
— justin (@justinontwt) February 5, 2023
There are times when the NFL overvalues itself. America is not clamoring to see players compete in dodgeball or flag football. There's too much money on the line for players and teams. Just let everyone go home and enjoy their offseason. #ProBowl https://t.co/KyrKqYGPTw
— Jamie Burkart (@Jamie_Burkart) February 5, 2023
Replace it with a bonus and vacation for the (actually voted) players and swap the event for like a charity drive. Lunacy that the NFL is still trying to make the Pro Bowl work. https://t.co/1SsJESDgHK
— PJ Moran (@Real_Peej) February 5, 2023
Fans went from "cancel the Pro Bowl" to "cancel to the Pro Bowl games" https://t.co/jkjaNII2Yu
— Dean Schleicher (@DeanSchleicher) February 5, 2023
Abolish the pro bowl at this point https://t.co/rsLhm6H3Gb
— Buckeye Realm (@BuckeyeRealm_) February 5, 2023
🗣 cancel the pro bowl 🗣 https://t.co/Ie6w2evVwz
— Deanna (@deeincle) February 5, 2023
Fire the pro bowl into the sun https://t.co/ZA5HOjPnLb
— Keith Appreciation Society (@Keith2TheCity) February 5, 2023
Just end the Pro Bowl already.