Best of The Ben Maller Show

The NFL's Pro Bowl is dead. The league is scrapping the game entirely, though it will still name Pro Bowlers—88 players will get the distinction. The host of The Ben Maller Show notes that even a "goofy" Pro Bowl event drew over five million viewers, a number other leagues would envy. But the NFL decided the event was beneath it. The host approves of one consequence: no more alternate Pro Bowlers. He points to Tyler "Snoop" Huntley, a quarterback who made the Pro Bowl as an alternate after everyone ahead of him declined. Huntley's Pro Football Reference page now reads "Pro Bowl: 1," which the host calls "insanity." The distinction should mean something.

The case for sitting Fernando Mendoza

The episode's central argument is about quarterback development, specifically why the Las Vegas Raiders should not start rookie Fernando Mendoza in Week 1. The host lays out a detailed case. Mendoza struggled in his second preseason game—7-for-14 with an interception—after a strong first outing. More importantly, he is learning a completely different style of offense. In college, Mendoza took only 3% of his snaps under center. Last season, NFL quarterbacks averaged about 35% under center. He is learning on the job.