Pro Bowl: How would you fix it?

[s3antana5757]

So I think it's safe to say that the Pro Bowl is pretty much an epic fail year in and year out. It's very unentertaining and the players have no motivation to play hard or actively participate. So my question is how would you fix it?

My suggestion, and it's far from perfect, would be to simply play 7 on 7 with a twist. No pads, just shorts. Takes care of the players not wanting to hit and/or be hit, and will likely reduce or eliminate any injuries. Here's the twist part of it. Let the QBs and WRs and RBs do their thing per usual, but allow the lineman and defensive players play offense also. It's the only way to get everyone involved.

So team A's(assuming they'll keep this fantasy draft idea) offensive lineman would play 7 on 7 against Team B's offensive lineman. Then the dline playing the dline. DBs against DBs, etc. Mic everybody up and make it fun/entertaining for the players and the fans. Seeing Vince Wilfork or Patrick Willis try to play QB or run routes and catch footballs would atleast be more entertaining than guys tiptoeing around trying not to tear an ACL.

Give me your ideas/thoughts? I'm curious to see what others can come up with.

 

[patman12]

Honestly, I'd cancel it. The players that are selected make enough money to afford a trip to Hawaii. It's not a ratings haul or huge money maker for the league . Just seems kinda pointless.

 

[RayClay]

I've said it before, have it in a different country each year, Asia, S America and Europe.

You could still have a pass oriented game with the lineman on tranquilizers or something.

Anyway, this could stop this delusion of in season foreign games while giving enough of a taste so they can sell TV packages around the world.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

dump it...

 

[ctpatsfan77]

My suggestion, and it's far from perfect, would be to simply play 7 on 7 with a twist. No pads, just shorts. Takes care of the players not wanting to hit and/or be hit, and will likely reduce or eliminate any injuries. Here's the twist part of it. Let the QBs and WRs and RBs do their thing per usual, but allow the lineman and defensive players play offense also. It's the only way to get everyone involved.

As long as it's not on the beach. :bricks:

 

[Tunescribe]

So many good reasons to cancel the damn thing.

* The players don't play hard because they don't want to risk injury.
* ANY injury suffered in that game is a senseless tragedy.
* Playing it before the Super Bowl omits star players.
* Too many players opt out from playing anyway.

I've been saying for years the league should stop playing the Pro Bowl and replace it with a televised awards ceremony showing clips of the honorees in action. THAT would be worth watching.

 

[RayClay]

Playing it before the Super bowl is just stupid.

 

[Tunescribe]

Many years ago the NFL played a consolation game between the two runner-ups prior to the championship game. I'd rather see that resurrected. (Although, the losers of that game would feel extra rotten unless it was somehow made worthwhile regardless.)

 

[PatsChamp88]

Bring back the skills competition and move it a couple weeks after the Super Bowl when people are desperate for football lol

 

[AzorianPats]

I actually enjoyed the game this year...

But I agree, move it after the Super Bowl

 

[DarrylS]

Why would a player in the Superbowl who has just played 17-18 games, want to play another game?? 53K would not be much of a motivator.

I favor an individual skills competition, and just make it fun... cannot remember the last time I watched any of these games...

 

[Froob]

As long as it's not on the beach. :bricks:

 

[1960Pats]

Why would a player in the Superbowl who has just played 17-18 games, want to play another game?? 53K would not be much of a motivator.

I favor an individual skills competition, and just make it fun... cannot remember the last time I watched any of these games...

This is the best idea, but I'd keep the competition AFC vs NFC with prize money. I'd watch that.

 

[RhodyPatriot]

Never understood and am always amused at the level of handwringing that goes on over the Pro Bowl. It's a freakin' exhibition game. My question would not be how to fix the Pro Bowl. My question is how to cure the fans who actually care about it.

 

[Rob0729]

The only way to fix the Pro Bowl is to just give players the award of making it and trip to Hawaii and not play an actual game. The game is useless. I haven't watched one in over a decade.

 

[IcyPatriot]

I remember back in the 60's and 70's how much we looked forward to all the 4 major sports all star games. We would talk endlessly about who should be on which team. The internet and cable/satellite TV changed it all ... we don't need to wait for the all star game to see these people anymore ... and that's all they were good for back in the day.

 

[Galeb]

I'd like to see an NFL awards/variety show in Hawaii. Have it almost like an Oscar's format with pairs or current/ex players giving the awards and a variety of performances by current and former NFL'ers. Wouldn't mind seeing a couple of SNL type skits thrown in there too. Make a weekend of it with a day of skill competitions.

 

[GaryfromTO]

You can't have an All-Star game in a contact sport. Nobody is going to play all out risking a career ending injury in a meaningless game.


Just honour the players by naming them as best at their position, but don't bother with actually playing the game. (believe it or not this is how the CFL does it)

 

[cardiak]

Have each team contribute 4 million per year into a probowl game pool. Total of 128 million will be raised. Players on winning team each get 2,000,000 and players on losing team get 500,000 the remaining $18,000,000 left in the pool is used to put huge one game insurance policy's on each player in case they are injured. It would turn a lame game into a playoff like atmosphere and they could recoup that money easily. Obviously play the game after the SuperBowl as well and keep the system of captains selecting teams.

 

[scout]

Why would a player in the Superbowl who has just played 17-18 games, want to play another game?? 53K would not be much of a motivator.

I favor an individual skills competition, and just make it fun... cannot remember the last time I watched any of these games...

Maybe like the combine at Indy with a twist, or the weekend TV athlete competition that was on a number of years back.......or just drop the thing. Maybe play the best college players. They did that decades with NFL versus college. That might be fun, although its still an injury thing.