Poll: Should The NFL Just Cancel The Pro Bowl?
by JasonB on Feb 9, 2012 9:02 AM EST
in Philadelphia Eagles News
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PrintThe Pro Bowl has long been a joke, but in recent years it has sunk to a whole new level. Not only are more guys choosing to skip it altogether, but the effort by those that do show up is comical. If you watched this year's game you would have seen lineman just standing there, defensive backs jogging and generally very few guys even trying.
Fans even started to boo at the complete and total lack of effort. This led Roger Goodell to say that the game just can't continue the way it is.
"We're either going to have to improve the quality of what we're doing in the Pro Bowl or consider other changes or even considering eliminating the game if that's the kind of quality game we're going to provide."
I really don't see how there is a way to improve the quality. You really can't make guys care. And let's be honest, no one cares about the Pro Bowl. They care who makes the Pro Bowl... but not the actual game.
So if they did kill the Pro Bowl, I really wouldn't care. But, I think we would all still like to see there be a way to recognize players. That said, you can't really call it the Pro Bowl at that point though? Can guys get named to a game that doesn't exist?
Let's hear your solutions in the comments.
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Cancel it and implement a skills contest. It’s that simple.
People should actually get voted to the pro bowl, but it should be like the NBA all star game. 1/3 vote is from the fans, 1/3 vote from the owners, 1/3 vote from the coaches. Then you can see which QB has the strongest arm. Have an NFC vs AFC WR relay race. Offensive line vs defensive line tug of war. Seriously, the possibilities are endless and it would be way more entertaining than the stupid pro bowl.
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well done
I like the idea. Pick up football aka the pro bowl loses it’s allure vs. a band of brethren(team football) knowing each others in’s and out’s for a common goal. There is absolutely nothing on the line in this game. I haven’t watched the whole thing ever.
At least one more year of Andy and Juan. If they don't win it all they both better be gone!
No way Eagles draft a LB in the first round 2012.
We will see if Spags was in the right place at the right time in the Gmens SB run. Or was that the fluke year and he really is just mediocre.
by MightyJoeBanner on Feb 9, 2012 9:20 AM EST up reply actions
Yes. All of the above
A skills competition would be far more entertaining. Even a flag football game of retired players vs current players would be better.
Other ways to make the game more interesting would be:
-Over 30 vs under 30 team
-Black vs White team
-teams made up by round they were drafted 1-3 vs 4-7 or something like that
-do like the NHL and have a “draft” for the players
"In every life there have to be some shadows. Look at me. My life has been filled with sunshine. A beautiful and caring wife. Five healthy children. I got to do what I loved. How many people are that lucky?" THE Joseph Vincent Paterno.
Good call jman
I LOVE the new format of the NHL all-star game…and there doesn’t even necessarily need to be a game…combine a “fantasy all-star draft” with a skills competition and make it a few day long event. Have a couple events each night, let the players commentate, do tons of interviews with the guys just being themselves and culminate the whole thing with an awards ceremony on the final night. Hell, make the awards show fun or funny, get a comedian to host it and give out various (serious and non-serious) awards. Personally, I’d rather watch Brees vs. Brady in a long ball competition, DJacc vs. Wallace in a 40yd dash or something like a trick catch competition for the receivers. The possibilities are endless and the NFL needs to realize what we want to see as fans..
"I was the first option on the play and the quarterback made a great throw. I landed on my shoulder and neck and blacked out for a little while, but I'm fine now." - Djacc
Black vs White team
LOL, I don’t know why, but if they did that, there would probably be some controversy.
"If I can get you to think twice, I'm in your head."
-Brian Dawkins
The SOPA and PIPA bills must be eradicated! Contact your local Representative and/or Senator. Spread the word! NO CENSORSHIP OF THE INTERNET!
I was wondering when that would be noticed
And I’m not saying that there wouldn’t be controversy but everybody I have ever said that to agrees, that everybody in America would be tuning in. Mainly due to the controversy but still, we all know the NFL loves it some ratings.
"In every life there have to be some shadows. Look at me. My life has been filled with sunshine. A beautiful and caring wife. Five healthy children. I got to do what I loved. How many people are that lucky?" THE Joseph Vincent Paterno.
So would Julian Edelman would make the Pro Bowl as a cornerback?
Nobody in football should be called a genius. A genius is a guy like Norman Einstein.
- Joe Theismann
by FloridaEagle on Feb 9, 2012 11:21 AM EST via Android app up reply actions
I like this idea. Compared to guys playing in 1 exhibition baseball game, the risk of injury in a football game is much greater. Recognize the guys, but a skills competition would have less risk of injury (I would think).
Or just go totally relaxed and fun and have an NFC vs. AFC softball game. Nobody would watch it, but nobody watches the pro bowl either.
lol i came here to post the same thing.
my concern with this – these players now have to risk injury to their body for something even less meaningful than the pro bowl. There is still a good chance that players will look at this skills competition and say “a tug of war match? i haven’t been training to do that so there is a higher chance of injury. i’ll pass.”
There should be additional incentives for the player.
Get a cash bonus of some amount for being voted to the skills comp.
Get a much larger cash bonus for actually attending the skills comp.
Get other cash bonuses for participating in certain events.
Get more cash bonuses for winning those events.
etc.
if the players are not going to be motivated enough just to compete in a fun way, there is always money….
by RogerPodacter on Feb 9, 2012 9:58 AM EST up reply actions
This is a great idea
I would much rather watch this. Plus, I hate seeing pro bowl injuries and Football is just not entertaining unless they go all out.
They used to have the skills competition in like 05. It was awesome. Races, qb accuracy test, kick contests, etc. Also Dan Marino and I think Steve Young Captained teams of great vets vs each other in flag football.
Just make it like the all-pro list. Keep the voting method the same (fans, coaches, players) but change the name to something like All-AFC/ All-NFC roster (or team or whatever). The players deserve the recognition and the fans enjoy being a part of that. The game just sucks.
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by Jason-E on Feb 9, 2012 9:15 AM EST via mobile reply actions
This
No skills competition, not flag football, no nothing – remember Robert Edwards?
Injuries are part of the game and if a player gets injured during a game or even during practice, it happens. But to lose a career due to an injury for some exibition game? Intolerable!
"Difficulties strengthen the mind, as labor does the body."
― Seneca
Just what I came to post
In NCAA you have All-Americans but no all-star game. NFL can have All-Pros (already does!) but no game. Have an All-Pro list for each conference and some league-determined bonus check to go with it.
I’m OK with the skills competition thing, but to me that’s not really necessary either, esp. if the players aren’t into it.
by Georgia_Flyer on Feb 10, 2012 1:26 PM EST up reply actions
Make it a flag football game. Something like a 7 v 7 round robin tourney like backyard football. All the skill but no players worrying about injury. And for the love of god move it back to after the superbowl so all teams can be represented.
Like this and
Jimmy;s just striaght up skills comp. And yes after the superbowl… I think that was much better then how it is set between games.
nfl athletes are more fragile than we think...
most ACL tears seem to occur on non-contact plays (see Wes Welker, Stewart Bradley). Of the two ACL tears in the SB, I know at least one of them the guy just fell down weird.
They used to play 7 on 7 flag football on the beach
That ended abruptly when Robert Edwards seriously ripped up his knee in that very game after he had a fantastic year for the Pats. No one else ever wanted to play in it again.
yea in a lot of these things, the risk of injury is still there
collisions can happen in flag football. and the players are less likely to be wearing pads.
heck – as we saw in the superbowl, you can tear an acl with minimal contact.
There will always be some amount of risk of injury no matter what you do
if i’m a player, if its not training, a practice, or a game, i’d probably sit out.
by RogerPodacter on Feb 9, 2012 10:02 AM EST up reply actions
I just posted a similar comment above and then saw yours… yea it’s absurd how easily pro athletes can get injured… the most devastating long term injuries can happen out of nowhere like that.
I mean I’ve never ever known a “normal person” (non-pro-athlete) that tore an ACL just running around in recreational games.
Award Ceremony
I’ve always thought that the NFL could pull off an award ceremony like the ESPYs, except everybody already knows the winners. Put together a couple of the player’s highlights from the year and call the Pro Bowl players to the stage one at a time. Perhaps even announce the All Pro team on the same night…
I run alot, I often think about football while I'm out there.
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Even though I hate watching golf and not very good at playing it, I would suggest a player- fan golf tourny. Fans get to bid to play in a foursome with their favorite players. Money would be donated to charity….or do a player-fan pass and catch type game. Fans bid to play a game of flag football (7v7) with the players
Why not
do like all the other major sports and have the pro-bowl be a mid season event. All teams get week 9 as a bye week for pro-bowl week… and instead of a game (since players still wouldn’t put forth effort, the lazy bums) they just do a full day long skills competition at a new city each year. If you’re invited and healthy, you’re mandated to go or forfeit a weeks pay. All players there are pushed through skills events and autograph booths round robin style. They get individual & team bonus money for winning the events… and their conference is given points. And the conference with the least points at the end is forced to go play a game in hawaii at the end of the year. (i’d kill for that punishment)
A lot of things make sense now.
put it in middle of the offseason
maybe after the draft and before the hall-of-fame game.
how bout...
every winning player gets $500k, and then an additional $1m to donate to the charity of his choice?
every losing player gets $250k to donate to the charity of his choice.
NFL gives up some profits, players are happier, charities are happiest, pro bowl becomes a meaningful game.
Were you here last offseason?
NFL gives up some profits, players are happier
If this statement was acceptable, we would not have had the lockout.
A lot of things make sense now.
I don’t think there is a way you can fix the Pro Bowl to make it something I would watch.
Let the beasting begin.
by TransplantedFan on Feb 9, 2012 10:40 AM EST reply actions
Winners live, losers die in a pit of fire. Thatll make them play hard.
E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES!!!
by Mikesta on Feb 9, 2012 10:47 AM EST via mobile reply actions
Turn it into The Running Man!!!
Let a contest winner actually play in the game and take bets on how long they last before getting hurt.
"I’m the real macaroni you cheesy b@#$%, I’m demonic with the Kraft" - Eminem
"Don't bother getting married - just find a woman you hate and buy her a house." - some anonymous great man
Judging from the comments, it seems that the players would not want to do anything that requires energy due to the risk of being injured.
So why bother? Just add some more categories to that award show that I didn’t watch and then go on with Super Bowl and get the season over with.
"I once had a friend named Charlie, and Charlie was always late to school
He had a black eye one day, but he wouldn’t say just what happened to him
Charlie got mad in class one day, and stood up with a .22 pistol
Told everybody that he couldn’t take it anymore, he was over being the victim"
by Snax on Feb 9, 2012 10:59 AM EST via mobile reply actions
Have You Ever Met A Pro Bowl Enthusiast?
Someone that looks forward to it every year? In a genuine real way?
Just curious. I haven’t met anyone like that, but it would certainly amuse me if I had.
The year i went to it, i was absolutely stoked for it.
If you dont like Big Red, then F#%@ You!
-Ricky Bobby
by GreenInBaltimore on Feb 9, 2012 11:30 AM EST up reply actions
Players will want it
Because of the bonuses that come along with a Pro-Bowl selection. Talking at least 10-20k and up for a player to get selected.
I want the Pro-Bowl to stay.
I think it needs to be in Hawaii, and should also be moved to the post-SB week again.
I think the decline is directly related to the game being moved to the week before the SB. Several “top” players miss, fill-ins who dont deserve it step in knowing that the only reason theyre there is because the guys that are better than them are in the SB, or decided not to go.
I went to the Pro Bowl back in 2005. It was an incredible experience. Sure, the game wasnt super hard hitting. But the guys did try. And they get an off-season vacation out of the whole deal.
Keep the Pro Bowl in Hawaii, and Move it to after the SB….
If you dont like Big Red, then F#%@ You!
-Ricky Bobby
by GreenInBaltimore on Feb 9, 2012 11:23 AM EST reply actions
I never understood why they moved it to Miami
Plus the fans in Hawaii need some football too
"There is no struggle too vast, no odds too overwhelming, for even should we fail, should we fall, we will know that we have lived.--"Anomander Rake, Son of Darkness
Evil is relative…You can’t hang a sign on it. You can’t touch it or taste it or cut it with a sword. Evil depends on where you are standing, pointing your indicting finger. -Glen Cook The Black Company
Something with the NFL and the Hawaiin Tourism council. I dont know details, but its a contractual thing…..
If you dont like Big Red, then F#%@ You!
-Ricky Bobby
by GreenInBaltimore on Feb 9, 2012 12:02 PM EST up reply actions
should be free-agents only
it can be like the senior bowl, but with professionals. and we should vote for the coaching staffs too… that might be too crazy — imagine if jim washburn got the chance to coach albert haynesworth again… or marty morhinweg coached TO again…
oh wait… i think that was brad childress… remember the whole “he’s antagonizing me by calling me teRRELL!” thing?
I like your idea of FA only . Winning team has option to void franchise
by TimmyGee on Feb 9, 2012 12:11 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
with the coaches vote, it would be promotion based
so, head coaches would be chosen from the 64 coordinators, and coordinators would be chosen from position coaches, and position coaches would be chosen from their assistants. so everyone gets real experience, and it could lead to promotions. plus, new connections can be made when they actually do get promoted.
Cant they just
Name a 1st,2nd,3rd team All-Pro, mabye throw in an honorable mention too. And if you didnt get recognized you didnt really have an elite season anyway
Pro Bowl Parade.......
followed by a Pee wee , or high school super bowl , with all the pros in attendance , mingling with the kids on the sidelines.
It's never easy being an Eagle fan........but I'll be damned if I ever stop !
Ok....forget Spags......Draft well for once in your life , PLEASE.
its a combonation
I think you have all-star rosters, id keep it seperate from all-pro, they are seperate honors. This way you acknowlege for example the 3 best (and not 4 more alternates) QBs in each conference, but then you still honor the top 2 through all-pro awards.
We see how popular the combine is so i think the skills competition is great. Theyve toyed with it but its certainly a good replacement for the game and its proven to work for sports. The high school skills challenge, draft entrants have one, baseball has the HR derby, etc, its a draw that is safe as you’ll realistically get but you still have your top stars honored.
by Mc5 on Feb 9, 2012 1:52 PM EST via mobile reply actions
If the NFL made it where players would play the Pro Bowl like they would every game
I’d watch it, other than that, remove it or flag football like a few others have suggested. That would be interesting.
"Remember, it's not over until the fat lady drops one."
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