Cam Rodgers (Photo: Dan Hicks via Twitter)

In case it slipped your mind (it almost did ours), the NFL’s finest players – minus the Giants and Patriots, of course – have gathered in Honolulu for a week of golf, beach time, goofing off and some half-assed preparation for the 2102 edition of the Pro Bowl.

Everyone knows the Pro Bowl is a joke as far as professional sports all-stars games go, since nobody – including the players – cares about the outcome, and therefore nobody really tries. And ever since they got rid of the NFL Skills Challenge in 2007, there’s even less of a reason for fans to tune into the week-long all-star festivities. I mean, has anyone ever gotten a decent explanation for why they stopped doing skills competitions? Instead of a half-speed football exhibition, wouldn’t it be far more compelling to watch these all-stars compete for the title of NFL’s fastest man, strongest leg, best hands, biggest arm, etc? Does anyone genuinely think there’s any more risk of injury here than with the game itself? Hell, I even tuned into the NHL’s All-Star skills competition yesterday just to check it out, and I don’t watch hockey at all.

But I digress. If you’re so inclined, the game itself starts at 7pm ET tonight, and you can watch all the non-action live online.

In the mean time, here are a few Pro Bowl links that caught our eye this week:

• Our banner pic (above) is Aaron Rodgers rocking his Cam Newton look earlier this week in Hawaii, from NBC’s Dan Hicks’ Twitter. Oh, and these are the shoes Cam is rocking this week
• The Jared Allen Experience gives you some insight into a Pro Bowl practice through the eyes of one of our favorite NFLers. Allen was not only mic’d up, but wearing a helmet cam for the day, and has plenty of fun with his fellow NFC elite while making sure not to work too hard. Best moments: Allen imitating the “Wide Nine” stance of Eagles DE Jason Babin, and jokingly asking Clay Matthews “How’d that Super Bowl run work out for you?” Matthews reply: “Shut up.”
• Nike released their brand new Vapor Jet gloves just in time for the Pro Bowl, and also in time to leak the Panthers new logo
• In an effort to increase the social profile for the game (and in stark contrast to their regular season policy), the NFL will allow players to use Twitter during the Pro Bowl game … but only from computers located in designated areas on each team’s sideline. 
• Speaking of the NFL Skills Challenge, here are Ben Roethlisberger (2005) and Ken O’Brien (1991) competing in the QB Challenge from back in the day. This wasn’t actually a Pro Bowl week event, but was cancelled at the same time as the Pro Bowl Skills Challenge in a sweeping ban of all skills-based competitions by the league back in November of 2007. Yeah … after watching those, I guess it wasn’t that exciting after all. Even with the dramatic music.
• And last but not least, here is the biggest hit in the history of the Pro Bowl: Washington’s Sean Taylor destroying punter Brian Moorman on a fake punt:

VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP

We’re not likely to see any hitting like that tonight.

If you disagree as to the awesomeness of this piece, I don’t think things are going to work out between us … sorry.

(Via WithLeather)

Darrius Heyward-Bey working hard at Raiders mini-camp. I think he just sprained his elbow. (Photo: BaltimoreSun.com)

WR Darrius Heyward-Bey became the pariah of the 2009 NFL Draft when he was selected with the 7th overall pick of the draft by the Oakland Raiders, ahead of top-ranked receiver Michael Crabtree.  Al Davis clearly had visions of Cliff Branch dancing in his head, and took DHB primarily because of his blazing speed (4.3 40-yd dash).

But apparently, the Maryland product has got too much of the quick stuff for his own good, having “sat out the final day of the Oakland Raiders’ minicamp Sunday because of a sore hamstring and fatigue”

“Just tightened up,” Heyward-Bey said. “My legs are a little too tight. Running too fast.”

Heyward-Bey, who had the fastest 40 time at the Scouting Combine in February, was injured late in Saturday’s practice and did not work out in the afternoon.

That’s right.  He was running too fast, and got tired.  Yikes.  This one is going south faster than anyone could have expected.  Oh, and the Raiders’ 2nd round pick – S Mike Mitchell – missed the workout as well…. for “similar reasons”

I think it’s nice that they let people sit out practice in Oakland because they’re too tired.  I hope they give the guy a nice comfy couch to sit on, and maybe a nice parfait while he’s hanging out on the sidelines too.  He’s worked hard enough already.

Check out an ESPN video report on Darrius Heyward-Bey, after the jump.

Here are your Monday Evening Links:

• Peter King lists his early NFL Power Rankings.  1) Pats 2) Steelers 3) Giants 4) Bears
• In case you’d like to get caught up on who your favorite team signed and re-signed this off-season, here is a comprehensive list of the 2009 NFL unrestricted & restricted Free Agent Signings
• This is what Vikings DE Jared Allen has chosen to do with his head [Shutdown Corner]
  

Chris Kane had this same haircut back in the day (Photo: Shutdown Corner)

ESPN did this report on Heyward-Bey on day 1 of camp.  I can’t wait to see the video from day 2.  Should be riveting stuff: