- The Washington Times - Sunday, January 27, 2019

If you tuned in to watch the Pro Bowl Sunday afternoon and have no idea what sport you’re even watching, welcome to the club.

Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk wrote after last year’s Pro Bowl that the players “have come to a gentlemen’s agreement to do little if any tackling.” Whether that was hyperbole or the truth, the 2019 edition looked exactly the same way, because who would want to risk an injury in a rainy exhibition game?

Offensive players, particularly running backs, could be found plummeting to the ground as soon as a defender got close enough for a tackle.

Looking out for your health is only logical, but fans (and some current players watching from home) took to social media to discuss their annoyance with the product the Pro Bowl has become.

Two years ago, Jimmy Graham took a hard hit in the Pro Bowl and got angry with the AFC opponent, Lorenzo Alexander, for trying to tackle him at all.

• Adam Zielonka can be reached at azielonka@washingtontimes.com.

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