Bart Scott: Goodell Can’t Take Away Pro Bowl

The never shy Bart Scott has spoke out about the NFL and Roger Goodell considering canceling the Pro Bowl. Goodell and many others, fan and media like, have questioned players’ efforts in the game. However Bart Scott isn’t going to let Goodell keep him from going to Hawaii and says the game is part of the “fabric of football.”

“The Pro Bowl was before his reign, it’ll be after his reign,” said Scott. “It’s not up to him, I believe, to cancel the Pro Bowl. It’s tradition.”

Scott did agree with Goodell about the players efforts in the game, but thinks the solution is to tweak the system not eliminate it.

"“Who wants to get hurt the last game of the season?” Scott said “I’m not going to blow a receiver up coming across the middle. It’s the offseason, why? It’s an exhibition game. It’s not preseason, no jobs are on the line. You’re having fun, you don’t want to hurt anyone.”"

Scott, speaking from Jets’ OTAs said that he thinks the perceived lack of effort isn’t any different from any other professional sport.

"“Have you ever seen an All-Star game that was competitive, or played for real?” Scott said. “I mean, NBA All-Star Game, really? They get serious at the fourth quarter? Nobody’s trying to dunk, everybody gets a clear path. I mean, you think all the All-Star games are like that. It’s an All-Star game; it’s not really about the game, it’s about the festivities. … The game is just the cherry on top.”"

Scott eludes to a misconception of the NFL game. He eludes to the fact that the Pro Bowl is a celebration, a reward for the players for a successful season and a chance for fans and players to interact.

“It’s a part of the fabric of football,” Scott said. “It’s a day of celebration, for everybody to enjoy, for them to get their families out. They earned the right to be an All-Star.”

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