There’s no doubt players want the game in Hawaii

Maybe there is a current NFL star hiding out somewhere who doesn’t want the Pro Bowl in Hawaii. Someone who really dislikes warm weather in January, great food, friendly people and watching whales and bikinis.

There was Brett Favre. Most years he chose to chill back home in Mississippi with a hunting rifle instead of in Waikiki with a mai tai. But he doesn’t count since he’s retired (we think).

We’ve yet to find that guy among the players who make it out here for the league’s all-star game who would rather be somewhere else.

And we try. We’ve been asking around since 2006, ever since rumblings first started about moving the game (former commissioner Paul Tagliabue wanted to take it to China, remember that?).

The players always say keep it here. But the game was moved, anyway. Two years ago it was played at Sun Life Stadium in South Florida, the week before the Super Bowl. For the first time since 1978, the Pro Bowl was not held at Aloha Stadium. Now, after two years back "home," the latest contract with Hawaii is done, and the NFL might move it again.

Ray Lewis, the sure-fire Hall of Fame linebacker for the Ravens, said he didn’t think playing the Pro Bowl in the Miami area made any sense, because so many NFL players are from Florida, live in Florida and/or work in Florida. In his view (and I agree), the Pro Bowl should be a reward type of working vacation for the league’s best players. You know, how some big companies send their top salespeople to "seminars" in the tropics.

Lewis, like most other multi-millionaires, doesn’t do stay-cations.

ROOKIE PRO BOWLERS are automatically going to say they love everything here. The double high of recognition as one of the NFL’s best for the first time and Hawaii in the winter must be incredibly intoxicating.

So, to get any sense of altered perception now that the game has gone, come back and might go away again, you have to go to the vets.

Broncos safety Brian Dawkins (16 NFL seasons, ninth Pro Bowl) is to the point, but repeats himself for emphasis.

"I love it, leave it right here," Dawkins said, while signing autographs on picture day Friday. "I love it, leave it right here."

And Dawkins’ secondarymate at Denver, cornerback Champ Bailey (13 NFL seasons, 11th Pro Bowl), should be on the Hawaii Tourism Authority’s negotiation team for a new contract.

"I’d really like to see it remain here in Hawaii. It’s become a tradition to have it here. I played in the one in Miami, too, and this is just a little bit more special. A lot of guys wouldn’t come if it wasn’t here."

A lot of guys don’t come, anyway. But if frequent Hawaii visitor Champ wants to champion our state, who am I to argue?

Finally, though, I found a player who logically might like the next Pro Bowl in New Orleans, which seems to be what the NFL wants since the 2013 Super Bowl will also be there.

Who Dat? Drew Brees, of course. Saints quarterback and unofficial mayor of The Big Easy.

But as much as he loves New Orleans, Brees says don’t mess with the Pro Bowl again, leave it here.

"That’s what all the players want. And I love it here, but next year I hope I’m playing in the Super Bowl in New Orleans and that the Pro Bowl is still here."

So, the players have spoken, again. Will it matter this time?

Reach Dave Reardon at dreardon@staradvertiser.com or 529-4783.