Big Mac's Strange Pro Bowl Absence
by Anthony21 on Jan 30, 2010 11:31 PM CST
in Minnesota Vikings
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PrintSo that story about Bryant McKinnie not just turning down his Pro Bowl invite -- but actually getting kicked off the roster? It's provoked a reaction around the league, which ain't an easy thing to do when we're talking about the Pro Bowl. Pro Football Talk notes that Big Mac had been tweeting about clubbing when he should have been practicing with his NFC counterparts. Not that there's anything wrong with enjoying oneself after a tough week, but the puzzling part is why McKinnie didn't provide earlier notice that he was physically unable to play.
Here's the explanation Big Mac provided via Twitter:
I never said I didn't go out! But I do have some on going injuries that I spoke 2 the trainer about last nite on the phone.
And the ppl who have been following me should already know my body was feeling bad late in the season cause I've said it a numerous amount of times. Getting a massage, getting in the cold tub and all the other things I have 2 try 2 do. I was trying 2 push myself 2 play n this game and I thought my body would start feeling better the later we got in the week. So yesterday I called my agent and said I don't think I will be able 2 play. He called and got in touch with the trainer, the trainer called me last nite and I told him what was bothering me.
We ended up missing each other and that was that.
And here's some reaction from a league source:
"Why didn't he just not refuse to come?" a league source told us tonight. "That way, they could have gotten someone to replace him. Now, they have to play the game with one less tackle."
I can see both sides of this now that McKinnie's had an opportunity to share his side. To some extent, this could just be an honest mistake on Big Mac's part, desiring to play but misjudging his ability to get physically prepared for the game. But the NFC is caught in a bad situation and will need to play shorthanded. McKinnie would have been better off not even trying to prepare for the game, and hitting the club scene right before the weekend doesn't make him look good at all -- but at minimum, he did what seemed impossible in my book. He improbably generated some controversy for the Pro Bowl, a game that isn't exactly conducive to controversy.
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I believe McKinnie
One other thing that made him look bad last night was Willis McGahee saying on Twitter he thought McKinnie was lying about being hurt. Now, though, McGahee takes that back.
http://twitter.com/23McGahee/status/8431327218
McKinnie has wanted to make the Pro Bowl for years, but he was always behind guys like Orlando Pace in the voting. Now that Pace is slowing down, McKinnie finally makes the Pro Bowl. Being from Miami, he probably wanted to play. That said, it seems like whenever something goes whacky in Bryant’s life, he was drinking at the time. Maybe he should take a look in the mirror and reduce his intake.
Non-Controversy
There’s got to be at least 100 other NFL tackles that would be happy to go to the Pro Bowl and play in McKinnie’s stead, on 1 single day’s notice. Guys who were otherwise out of the Pro Bowl nomination process, but now, suddenly find themselves on the dangle if they’ll take the bait, and would have their stock rise accordingly. I seriously doubt that finding an alt is a problem.
And if it is… maybe THAT is what the NFL needs to look at. That no other LT is willing to go play…. gee, wonder why that is….
Ah, ah,
We come from the land of the ice and snow,
From the midnight sun where the hot springs blow.
The hammer of the gods will drive our ships to new lands,
To fight the horde, singing and crying: Valhalla, I am coming!
SKOL!
THat's not the problem
You have to learn the plays, even if they are simple plays, in football. You can’t just put some guy who doesn’t no his responsibilities out there.
What if he run blocks for a pass play or vice versa? That’s why only two guys are playing now
Never assume skill at bouncing a ball makes you smarter than the guy who built the court.
When there's a WILL there's a WAY
I wonder with his sloppy play late in the season, if he deserved to be in the Pro Bowl.
He is good, but really looked bad in Arizona, Carolina and against the Saints. I get the feeling he doesn’t train as hard as he could, but those are hearsay stories. He is good at home, but when he can’t rely on the snap count on the road he struggles. He is a little slow off the ball.
I wouldn’t say that Favre’s backside was covered very well this year. I won’t question his run blocking.
Hard one(loss) to swallow, thats what she said.
You mean for his career
Big and slow does not a Pro Bowler make.
He’s been average to mediocre his entire NFL career, not just late in the season. Some how he makes the Pro Bowl based off the media’s claim that the Vikings have an elite line and not the fact that it is just OK.
Boy do I miss BIRK holding the line together.
Sully has been pretty good. Especially for his 1st year starting. He will be even better next year.
Hard one(loss) to swallow, thats what she said.
The Pro Bowl is never going to be the NBA All Star game.
It can’t be played mid-season due to injury risks. Well over half of the players on conference champioship losing teams won’t be able to play because they are banged up. Guys like Gerrard and V.Young have no business being Pro Bowlers.
Keep it how it was. More players will play. Nobody cares more about the Pro Bowl more because it is one week before the SB. People will actually care less because half the PB players arent playing.
The Pro Bowl was as good as it was going to get and has taken a big step backwards.
Hard one(loss) to swallow, thats what she said.
more than half
at least after superbowl, the players on the championship losing teams have three weeks to recover, those from divisional, four, etc.
this way, the cahmpionship losers only have one week, the divisional two.
what a really dumb idea to move it up two weeks.
I just don't accept the notion that the timing of his "withdrawal" from the game...
… was coincidental. The league says he was kicked off, so in their minds, that’s what happened. If you accept that he was too injured to play, then he tried to get a free trip to Miami out of the league so he come down and hang with guys he knew from the U. If you don’t, he’s a liar trying to come up with an explanation for his absence from the team that doesn’t make him look like an ass. Either way, he’s behaved poorly and in a misleading fashion.
As for me, I’ll take McGahee’s reaction, since McGahee’s both familiar with the way the league works on pro bowl weekend AND with McKinnie in particular, and his response to McKinnie’s explanation was: “That’s bullshit.”
What begins in fear usually ends in folly.
by Ted Simmons Speed Camp on Jan 31, 2010 12:08 PM CST reply actions
McKinnie was unfortuantely late in learning that Drew Brees would not show up
He was planning to let Vanden Bosch really hammer Drew with a cheat shot, but once he learned that couldn’t happen and that not many actually watch the silly game anyway, being a Hurricane (named after those acts of God which are so good at devastating New Orleans), McKinnie just decided to to something better, like go to a club with some old friends and get stinking drunk.
I could not be any prouder. If nominated I will not run; if elected I will not serve. Way to go Bryant. I’ve got your back, no matter what they might say at Richard Simmons Speedo Camp.
by Elgar on Jan 31, 2010 11:12 PM CST up reply actions 2 recs
This comment should be green by now.
It keeps getting funnier every time I read it.
What begins in fear usually ends in folly.
by Ted Simmons Speed Camp on Feb 1, 2010 8:55 AM CST up reply actions
Another sad episode
You wish the guy would have grown up by now. He needs better influences in his life before it’s too late.
by VikesNCubsDeadEnder on Jan 31, 2010 12:59 PM CST reply actions
Who Cares
Who really cares if BIg Mac was kicked off the pro bowl team .. That game is a joke anyway. The only reason most players even go to the pro bowl is to get a free trip to Hawaii with thier friends and family … But seeing its in Miami this year .. Yawn .. it really gives the players an incentive to go and play well… Besides the man said he was hurt ..
by VikinginCalifornia on Jan 31, 2010 7:00 PM CST reply actions
McKinnie
McKinnie played OK this season, and I thought he was growing up, after the Love Boat crap!! but NOOOOOOOOOO . here we go again, he is a liar, always has been always will be. Im glad he was kicked off the team, what a poor team mate, other players hurt showed up, look at Hutch. he is going to have shoulder surgery and he played, this just hurts McKinney becouse his value as a team mate in the league just went down, I’m also glad to see other players call him out. Thanks Willis… thats the only way we will know, because this pro athlete will always come up with a lie to cover his ass. what a great guy. I hope my kids look up to him ….. NOT !!!
If Aaron Rodgers had gotten hurt...
… I would have sent Bryant a thank you letter for winning us the division next year. Alas…
Go Nevada Wolf Pack!
He might have...
… if Mario hadn’t jogged past Rodgers on the third snap when no one bothered to even try to block him. In a regular season game Rodgers probably would have finished that play by looking for his teeth.
What begins in fear usually ends in folly.
by Ted Simmons Speed Camp on Feb 1, 2010 6:47 PM CST up reply actions
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