Jan 26, 2012, Honolulu, HI, USA; NFC quarterback Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers (12) signs autographs for fans during practice for the 2012 Pro Bowl at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

The National Football League Pro Bowl has become a joke.

Sure, it’s an honor for every player who is selected, to be recognized for their accomplishments during the season. All the players say that.

Aaron Rodgers, Clay Matthews and Jeff Saturday – The Packers players named to the team yesterday – said exactly that.

Clay MatthewsRob Grabowski-USA TODAY Sports

Clay Matthews:

“It means a great deal to me to continue to maintain the success on a personal level year-in and year-out, but ultimately this is a testament to the team that we have. The players around me, the coaching staff, the personnel department, and everybody who is involved with allowing me to do the things I can do on the field and helping to put me in a position to excel.”

Aaron Rodgers
Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Aaron Rodgers:

“It’s an honor to be voted in, knowing that it’s a combination of the fans, my fellow players and the coaches. To be recognized by all of those people, it’s pretty special.”

Jeff SaturdayJeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Jeff Saturday:

 “Obviously, it’s always an honor. Anytime you get to go to the Pro Bowl, it is an honor and you appreciate everyone, the players, coaches and fans that voted for you. As an offensive lineman, it is nice to get the award.”

But it’s one of those hollow honors for football players, a chance to hop a plane and head to Hawaii for a week’s vacation following a long, hard season. A time to bask in the sun, play some golf, tour the sights, take a swim and play a football game.

Play a football game?

Well, if that’s what you can call it.

Unlike Major League Baseball’s All-Star game that is not only a stage for the game’s best players, it’s a competition with something on the line – home field advantage for the league’s championship World Series. They have something for which to play.

The NFL’s All-Star game is just that – a whole bunch of multi-millionaires jogging through the motions with quarterbacks and wide receivers playing pitch and catch. It’s not a game … it’s a joke … and something needs to be done with it.

I say scrap it altogether. If the league is going to have a season-ending picnic in Hawaii, then that’s what they should have. Forget the game … play a softball game, volleyball game, pick-up basketball game … whatever. Just get rid of the football game because it’s an embarrassment to the players, the coaches and the league. Everybody laughs out loud about it – heck, even Aaron Rodgers came out last year and blasted the players and the game for what it really is … a laid back laugh.

So, when the players come out today and for the next week and describe how proud they are for having been selected, we all know that in the backs of their minds they are laughing. They are thinking it’s just another bargaining chip that will land them a few million more dollars in their next contract.

You know they are not looking at film, meeting with coaches and actually developing schemes to beat the other team. They are planning their itinerary for themselves and their family. They are scheduling their 10-minute appearance on the NFL Network (another joke, for another column), deciding what they will say when interviewed on the sideline during the game and making flight plans for their next destination after leaving Hawaii.

Sure, they have earned the honor of selection. That’s a good thing. But when the league says there will be an actual game, that is a joke and an insult to the fans who follow the game so passionately and closely.

In the meantime, we have to extend our congratulations to the three Packers selected: Matthews, Rodgers and Saturday – which brings me to the next issue – Jeff Saturday? Really?

I love Mr. Saturday as much as the next Packers fan, but in my mind he really hasn’t had the standout, stout season that we all expected – and to be selected to the Pro Bowl only emphasizes what I’ve been stating all along here.

Jeff Saturday? Really? He was benched last week because he wasn’t meeting team expectations and now he’s an Pro Bowler … hmmmmm.

Anyway, that’s enough … congrats to all who have been selected.

Now, let’s get on to the real games that will be played this weekend. These will be the most important games of the season for so many teams in the league – starting right with the Packers vs. Vikings in Minneapolis.

I’m sure the players are watching plenty of film, meeting with coaches, practicing their butts off and scheming on ways to beat the opponent.

That’s what football’s all about.

Dec 11, 2011; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers cornerback Charles Woodson (21) during the game against the Oakland Raiders at Lambeau Field. The Packers defeated the Raiders 46-16. Woodson is one of five Packers playing in Sunday's Pro Bowl. Will you watch? Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-US PRESSWIRE

It’s that time of the NFL season when just two of the 32 teams are still alive and the rest have to be satisfied with watching the Pro Bowl.

What a sad consolation that is.

For the Packers, six players – no make that five because of the injury to John Kuhn – will hit the field for the pseudo-football game to be held tomorrow in Hawaii. Sure, it will be good to see the the Packers’ star players once more at the end of an incredible season that ended with a thud at Lambeau Field. But, for me at least, this is certainly not the way I thought it would end. I figured this would be the week of preparation for at team that should have been 17-1 at this point. With the New York Giants headed to Indianapolis to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl all Packers fans are feeling pretty dejected these days.

Next season can’t start soon enough.

But the sad reminder of a crushing end to a great season concludes tomorrow with the Pro Bowl – that meaningless game that has no defense (kind of like the Packers) and plenty of offense (just like the Packers).

Aside from the halftime show which might be worth watching, I’m still wondering if I’ll tune in.

As a football blogger, I’m almost obliged … with ALMOST being the key word here.

I guess the question for other Packers fans is whether you will watch.

Take the poll and let us know.

Greg Jennings, though injured, has been selected as a Pro Bowler this season.

Winning always brings post-season awards – a fact that led to seven Packers being named today to the 2011 Pro Bowl.

That’s the most Pro Bowlers from one Packers team selected to the Pro Bowl since 1967 … another not-too-shabby team from Green Bay.

In recognizing the seven players’ accomplishments, the Packers PR department released the following press release outlining each of the selections’ accomplishments in this season where the team now stands at 14-1 with one game left in the regular season.

With their win Sunday night against the Bears, the Packers secured home field advantage throughout the playoffs.

After the jump is the information released earlier today by the Packers … and don’t forget to Like Lombardiave.com on Facebook and follow us on Twitter …

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