HONOLULU -- The Honolulu Star Advertiser on Sunday morning billed this year's Pro Bowl as Peyton Manning vs. Eli Manning, a battle of the brothers, with the headline: "Footballs Will Fly."
But hours away from kickoff of the NFL's all-star game -- a game that likely will determine if others are played in the future -- a weather system coming through Oahu could make footballs fly in all sorts of directions.
The National Weather Service has issued a flash-flood watch for the entire island of Oahu, which includes Honolulu where the game will be played. On Sunday morning, winds starting picking up, creating a choppy Pacific. A cold front is expected to bring showers with heavy rainfall to Oahu by the afternoon. Also, there's a chance of thunderstorms that could bring intense rain.
The flash-flood watch remains in effect through Monday afternoon when most players and fans will depart for the continental United States.
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It will be interesting to see the effort level if the weather conditions don't improve. Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning and the two head coaches -- Broncos coach John Fox of the AFC and Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy of the NFC -- have emphasized the importance of this game. And NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has threatened to pull the plug on the Pro Bowl if it isn't played more seriously.
After Friday's practice, Peyton Manning said, "The guys will be ready to play. It will be a good, competitive game, I think. This is an important event for the NFL and for the players. The commissioner's made it clear that he's making considerations to cancel it. And I think it's important to have more of a quality game."
But injuries at this event always have been a concern for players and, with inclement weather, the risk of injury seemingly would increase. It might be unfair to get upset with players if they choose to hold back a little in a rain-drenched contest.
Andy Fenelon is a senior editor at NFL.com. You can follow him on Twitter _@AndyFenelon_.
