No more Pro Bowl?

[dead_poet]

ESPN's Chris Mortensen reports that the NFL is moving toward suspending the Pro Bowl game, as soon as this year.

Per Mort's report, teams would still honor Pro Bowl incentives to avoid a conflict with the NFL Players Association. "There may be no Pro Bowl this year," ESPN's John Clayton said on SportsCenter Thursday. Commissioner Roger Goodell has spoken of eliminating the Pro Bowl game since February. Last year's 59-41 AFC win over the NFC was booed for its lack of intensity.
Source: ESPN.com

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I don't think it should be eliminated insomuch as adapted. Still give fans a good show by putting on a skills challenge and other fan-friendly activities. Maybe do some SportScience stuff, autograph signings...heck, what was that thing called in the late '80s and '90s in the NBA and MLB that hosted basketball and baseball game? It had celebraties, a goofy, laid-back format. Man...I can't remember what it was called. Rock-'N-Jock? That might be fun TV. I always enjoyed watching those. Honestly, I'd have more interest in watching the Lingerie Football League game than the Pro Bowl the way it has become.

[HardcoreVikesFan]

I think they should still give the players the Pro Bowl designation, but just make the Pro Bowl a skill competition like they use to. I loved those old competitions they used to do.

[joe h]

All star events can work, but with the penny pinching attitude within the NFL, there is no incentive. Plus having it prior to the Super Bowl, you have a lot of sore losers, Aaron Rodgers being one the worst I can ever remember.

[Crax]

Does Snapple(They were just a main sponsor later I guess, didn't run it) still do those overall athletic skill contests? I always though those were pretty cool. Something in a bigger format with fans voting on who should be in it could be interesting at least.
I remember Jason Sehorn winning it a few times in a row.

EDIT: Looks like it stopped back in 2003. Something similar with voted in NFL guys only.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superstars

[Eli]

Good riddance. And the 'Pro Bowl' designation in recent years has become meaningless, as everyone and his second string brother gets bumped into the game because the starters either can't or don't want to play.

[jackal]

Pro bowl is a joke anyways ...

[viking_guy]

Not that i ever really cared about the Pro Bowl, but the NFL really made a mistake by moving it before the Super Bowl. If it went away altogether I probably wouldn't even care.

[cusm]

I think they should still give the players the Pro Bowl designation, but just make the Pro Bowl a skill competition like they use to. I loved those old competitions they used to do.

I would like to see this. If you look at the NBA All Star Weekend, the competitions, 3pt, dunk, etc are what really draws the viewers.

[Demi]

yeah I used to love when they'd have the quarterbacks try and throw as far downfield as they could inside the lines, or have the guys run a race to see who was the fastest among a few top caliber speed guys, things like that.

The game is a joke. Not sure how they get the ratings they do.

[HornedMessiah]

a skills competition the week after the Super Bowl sounds like a great idea.

now watch the players piss and moan about no Pro Bowl game free trip to Hawaii.

[hibbingviking]

just give them a engraved plaque, award, or trophy.

[dead_poet]

The NFL has decided against postponing the 2013 Pro Bowl, and will hold it in Hawaii on January 27.

The NFL had internal discussions about getting rid of the game altogether, which would have been a better idea. Instead, they're giving it one last shot. In a Wednesday press release, the NFL and NFLPA acknowledged that "in recent years ... quality of the game has not been up to NFL standards." The players ultimately decided that the Pro Bowl is "an important tradition." (And they get free trips to Honolulu.)

[dead_poet]

Good for Peyton.

Peyton Manning implores Pro Bowl participants to play hard

"The past two years, the play in this game has been unacceptable," Manning said. "If it was a walkthrough, your coach would say it was a bad walkthrough. And that's why (the league) could try to cancel this game."

http://www.nfl.com/probowl/story/0ap100 ... -play-hard

[Mothman]

Good for Peyton.

Peyton Manning implores Pro Bowl participants to play hard
http://www.nfl.com/probowl/story/0ap100 ... -play-hard

I agree. Good for Peyton and good for AD and Bailey and other players who intend to play hard. Hopefully, the networks will follow suit and cover the game more like a game. I think one of the reasons many don't find the Pro Bowl fun to watch is the broadcasters don't seem to take it seriously at all. The broadcast is usually filled with casual chatter and a disinterested attitude toward the play on the field. I'd enjoy watching the game a lot more if there were fewer extensive sideline interviews and more focus on the action (especially if players are really trying).

[indianation65]

I'm not a big fan of Troy Aikman, but he did say one thing that sounded interesting. He wasn't a fan of the Pro Bowl and suggested the NFL might try something along the lines of the old ABC Superstars competition. That probably would be more interesting.

...wisdom