Kent Nishimura - Getty Images
4 months ago: HONOLULU, HI - JANUARY 29: Brandon Marshall #19 of the Miami Dolphins poses with the Pro Bowl Cheerleaders after the 2012 NFL Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium on January 29, 2012 in Honolulu, Hawaii. (Photo by Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)
The 2012 Pro Bowl was officially a hit, at least as far as television ratings go. Despite heavy criticism, the Pro Bowl ranked as the second most watched all star game in more than a decade. The only all star game to get more viewers in the past decade was the 2001 Pro Bowl. That year's Pro Bowl brought in 13.4 million viewers, while the 2012 version had 12.5 million viewers.
So how does this effect Cincinnati? Cincinnati reportedly had the sixth-highest overnight rating for the Pro Bowl, with an 11.7/17 rating share. The only cities that showed more interest in the Pro Bowl than Cincinnati were New Orleans, Milwaukee, Pittsburgh, Charlotte, and Norfolk. Obviously, only three of those five teams sport an NFL franchise.
The Cincinnati Bengals had four players play in the game on Sunday. The last time the team had so many players participate in the Pro Bowl was in 2005, when five Bengals were invited to the game. This would seem to provide a reason as to why so many Cincinnati homes had the game turned on.
The Pro Bowl has traditionally had its share of detractors over the years. The 2010 Pro Bowl was mostly unpopular with the players and many complained about how the game wasn't played in Hawaii for the first time in decades. This year had a different set of complaints, mostly revolving around effort, and even Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers added to the widespread criticism:
"I'll 'be honest with you," Rodgers said. "I was a little bit disappointed. I felt like some of the guys on the NFC side embarrassed themselves."
Rodgers was part of a play early on in the game that drew heavy criticism from the fans at the game. He seemingly slow-motioned a hand-off to LeSean McCoy, and the fans could sense that the normal urgency of a football game wasn't there.
There are many problems with the Pro Bowl, but fans still tune in. Do they watch to see their favorite players perform one last time this season? Or is it because football fans will watch anything football-related? Do fans like that the games are incredibly high scoring? What ever the reason happens to be, don't look for the league to change the game anytime soon.
0 recs | 11 comments
bengals future
If Mike doesn’t have relapse and revert back, which I pray he don’t , happy days are here to stay, come on Katie, own this responsibility , and let the team and the greatest fans in the world have a Super party. I really think Mr. Brown sees the light, by hurting him where it counts…………………ATTENDANCE . The fans speak loud! under 40,000 or sell-outs from here and beyond. WE will watching you watching us watching you, how about that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Keith Call425 - January 31, 2012
I love football!!!
But first half sucked… Once Cam/dalton came in the whole game changed… More upbeat a faster moving
Toasted_Orange_Monster - January 31, 2012 via mobile
That blonde in the middle wooooo
njbengalstat - January 31, 2012
I watched it.
It was meh overall. But I watched for anther chance to see our boys this season.
keithster - January 31, 2012
I was there
and i caught him chatting it up with the enemy :P
ARoo - February 1, 2012
<img src="[IMG]http://i1265.photobucket.com/albums/jj510/ARooster83/P__11B0.jpg[/IMG]"/>
ARoo - February 1, 2012
Just remove the [IMG] tags from the url above
Oregonbengalsfan - February 1, 2012
Notice he's keeping his distance though
doesn’t want anything to rub off haha
Oregonbengalsfan - February 1, 2012
Oh and if you right click on your photobucket image
you can select “Copy image URL” and it will give you the url without the extra tags.
Oregonbengalsfan - February 1, 2012
Thanks here's another one
ARoo - February 1, 2012
Most Expensive Flag Football Game in the world
I would rather see a college all-star game in this slot Oh by the way I couldn’t see because it was on NFL Network. Really can we just put flags on these guys and then we would know what to expect. I felt I was held hostage by this game. What am I going to do flip over to the cooking channel? It’s the only game in town. Whatever.
Backyard Bengal - February 1, 2012
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