Criticism of the play in Sunday's Pro Bowl reached a new level when Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers blasted the effort of some NFC teammates Tuesday.

"I'll be honest with you," Rodgers said on ESPN 540 in Milwaukee. "I was a little bit disappointed. I felt like some of the guys on the NFC side embarrassed themselves."

The AFC routed the NFC 59-41 in a game that drew boos at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu for its lack of early intensity. Rodgers, who started and played the first quarter for the NFC, didn't name specific players.

"I was just surprised that some of the guys either didn't want to play or when they were in there didn't put any effort into it," Rodgers said.

Avoiding injuries in a meaningless all-star game is a high priority for many players. Rodgers, however, said that playing half-speed isn't the answer.

"I've always found that when you're going that tempo, that's when the injuries are going to happen, not if you're going full speed," Rodgers told ESPN 540. "You're more likely to get an injury standing around a pile or just going through it half-speed."

Some New England Patriots players said Wednesday that going full-speed in the game is a risky proposition. Players from the Super Bowl teams do not play in the game but still collect the game check based on their conference's result. AFC Pro Bowl players received $50,000 for the win, while NFC players were paid $25,000.