Did the NFL finally get it right? vol: Pro Bowl

[slicknick951]

The Pro Bowl was horrible for the past couple years. So the NFL is taking a page out of the NBAs Rookie Sophomore game.

Out is the AFC vs. NFC format that had existed for more than four decades. In its place will be a Pro Bowl draft with two team captains — leading vote-getters for the game — determining their rosters with help from two NFL.com fantasy football champions and alumni captains and Hall of Famers Jerry Rice and Deion Sanders. They will pick players from a pool still determined by votes of players, coaches and fans, though conference affiliation will no longer sway who becomes a Pro Bowler.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2013/07/31/pro-bowl-afc-nfc-scrapped-player-draft/2604163/


I think it will be ok for a couple years then the same as it is now but only time will tell.

Thoughts?

 

[mrpopadopolous]

Meh. Who really cares about the Pro Bowl in general?

 

[WASPS ANDD ASPS]

it would be better if Rice and Sanders would play too lol

 

[7thave btn 31stn33rd st]

Make it 7 on 7.

 

[extraordinary swag]

Skills competition is all they need, scrap the game itself

 

[slicknick951]

Make it 7 on 7.

I can agree with this.

Plus a lineman challenge Tug of war, bench press, Sled pushing etc

 

[sonoftony]

Skills competition is all they need, scrap the game itself

This^^

and repped

 

[asianplayer]

Bring back the skills competition. Would love to see a 40 yard dash race to see who is truly the fastest player.

 

[Hahahaha]

Bring back the skills competition, make players tackle and have the game at a different stadium each year.

 

[fraij da 5 11]

Did the NFL finally get it right? vol: Pro Bowl

 

[kaygee6]

Always wondered why not have the game in the middle of the season like all leagues do? It would be much easier...

 

[jking0821]

Def should have a combine-like skills competition.

40 yard dash
bench press for reps or even a one rep max
Some sort of passing challenge moving and stationary targets, long throw comp,
Some sort of receiver challenge (like madden player surrounded by passing machines or qbs and just have to turn and catch a ton of balls). A one handed catching competition would be cool too
Some basic obstacle course, for individual or relay

Would love to see Larry Allen every year destroy the bench press.

But at the end of the day if the players don't want to do it who cares. Im sure they will still be like oh i don't want to pull anything or get hurt or get embarrassed in these skills competitions...so im gonna half-*** it or not do it at all.

 

[gunna get it]

U really dont get why its not in the middle of the season?


Robert Edwards wants no parts of pre pro bowl festivities and neither should any other player.

 

[johnnyredstorm]

still won't watch

 

[dland24]

A few rule changes that haven't been brought up in this thread yet:

» Game within the Game: A two-minute warning will be added to the first and third quarters and the ball will change hands after each quarter. This will increase the opportunities for quarterbacks to direct "two-minute drills," which are especially exciting for fans.

» No Kickoffs: The coin toss will determine which team is awarded possession first. The ball will be placed on the 25-yard line at the start of each quarter and after scoring plays.

» Rosters: The rosters will continue to consist of 43 players per squad. The kick return specialist will be replaced by an additional defensive back.

» Cover Two and Press Coverage: The defense will be permitted to play "cover two" and "press" coverage. In previous years, only "man" coverage was permitted, except for goal-line situations.

» Stopping of the Game Clock: Beginning at the two-minute mark of every quarter, if the offense does not gain at least one yard, the clock will stop as if the play were an incomplete pass. This rule will make the team with the ball attempt to gain yardage toward the end of each quarter.

» Game Timing: The game clock will start after an incomplete pass on the signal of the referee, except inside the last two minutes of the first half and the last five minutes of the second half.

» Play Clock: A 35-second/25-second play clock will be adopted instead of the typical 40-second/25-second clock.

» Sacks: The game clock will not stop on quarterback sacks outside of the final two minutes of the game. Currently, the game clock stops in these situations outside of two minutes of the second and fourth quarters.

 

[RyGuy45]

IMO They will get it "right" when the game itself is finally scrapped and they just name the teams on paper so those players can collect their bonuses and media accolades.

Why it will probably never be scrapped, however:

2022 -- The year the current Pro Bowl TV contract expires
12.2, 12.5, 13.4 -- the number of TV viewers, in millions, of the Pro Bowl the last 3 seasons
118 -- the amount of NFL players in 2013 named as a "Pro Bowler"


NFL players and their agents love having an actual game to play because starters are named, reserves are named, and then injury replacements are named and then more injury replacements are named.

Resulting in more and more agents being able to tell owners and media lackeys that their player up for a contract is a certified Pro Bowler.

 

[kingfoamnyc]

Skills competition (especially 40 yard dash) , 7 on 7 , and make the game 40 mins total. Would watch every year

 

[romedadude]

Half assed football is never entertaining. I think they should've let the fans determine the true direction of the game and I co-sign bringing back the various skills competitions.

 

[sonunox34]

This thing is a joke.

Give the guys a one-week vacay out in Hawaii along with the media mentions. Toss around some 7 on 7, sure, but an actual "full contact" game is just ridiculous. No one cares.

 

[tyonenine]

No

 

[airjordan jb23]

interesting format, but i don't see the pro bowl getting any better... skills competition would be a great move though.