Switch Pro Bowl to Mid-Season? (1 Viewer)

[FootBallin]

So here's the situation. No one watches the Pro Bowl. Why? Because the Super Bowl is over. No one cares about anything after that. The Pro Bowl is totally anti-climactic.

I think the Pro Bowl should be moved to the middle of the season! What do you think? Would this work? Would the players take the risk? I think if they would, it would be a nice break from their regular games, have some fun, people would watch it to speculate for future games, they could still play "lightly" so as to not get hurt... I just think it would be way better.

I really wanted to see LT in the Super Bowl this year and then I didn't even get to see him in the Pro Bowl either! He's one of my favorite players ever. I'm sick of people saying he's a wimp or a baby! LT I will defend you til the bitter end!!

I found these great videos about LT on YouTube with awesome clips of games as well as interviews with him, his teammates, etc. It's amazing how someone with his ability can still remain humble. Or at least seemingly humble haha...

(Part 2)A lot of people say changing the Pro Bowl time wouldn't work for football because of the constant fear of injury. But how else could we make this exhibition game actually popular? Or is it just not worth the risk to the players to have any sort of exhibition game?

 

[BroadwayG]

I think the pro bowl should be abolished.

 

[ClownDogs]

NEVER would work at Mid-Season. Players won't take that chance of injury while in the hunt for the superbowl. I think the best scenerio would be the week between the conference championships and the super bowl. It takes the super bowl participants out of it, but most of the time they pull out anyways, and would think that the chance to play in the super bowl would make not playing in the pro bowl alright.

 

[baldbird]

I say keep in where it is . I like to watch the pro bowl week .You see the players just letting lose relaxing and having fun . A nice way to end the year .

In the middle of the season would never work . To much on the line .

 

[Ted Lange as your Bartender]

If it has to stay on the schedule, it needs to be at the end of the year, after the Super Bowl. I wouldn't miss it if it went away though.

 

[Koya]

MID Season? That's simply ludicrous.

Either where it is now, or the week before the Super Bowl - except then you definately lose all players from both SB teams and it would be a pain in the ### for the press to cover. But it would be awesome to have some football (with a lot of upcoming SB talk mixed in) during that mid-weekend.

 

[mad sweeney]

That would mean you're voting for who had the best season after only 6 games or so. It would make Pro Bowl bids even less valuable than they already are. Plus the players don't want to watch their diets, keep up their conditioning and game plan for their next opponent while on a Hawaiian vacation. It's an end of the year bonus vacation for a select group of players, if it's any other time it's more useless than it already is. Plus some SB players want to go and deserve to go so moving it before the SB is a bad move too.

 

[VTjkru]

So here's the situation. No one watches the Pro Bowl. Why? Because the Super Bowl is over. No one cares about anything after that. The Pro Bowl is totally anti-climactic.

What? No one watches the Pro Bowl? How bout having the highest ratings since 2000. http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-p...p&type=lgnsThose ratings are comparable to what an NBA Finals game gets. The Pro Bowl is supposed to be a fun experience for the fans and the players and their families. Nothing really wrong with even though I would like to see them abolish some of the rules that favor the offense.

 

[Koya]

So here's the situation. No one watches the Pro Bowl. Why? Because the Super Bowl is over. No one cares about anything after that. The Pro Bowl is totally anti-climactic.

What? No one watches the Pro Bowl? How bout having the highest ratings since 2000. http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-p...p&type=lgnsThose ratings are comparable to what an NBA Finals game gets. The Pro Bowl is supposed to be a fun experience for the fans and the players and their families. Nothing really wrong with even though I would like to see them abolish some of the rules that favor the offense.

I wonder if the high ratings were due to a truly fantastic playoff's. I never really thought of it, because as a Giants fan I was obviously glued to the games. But even if you take that out of the equation, Giants-Dallas was a pretty good game and the underdog won only to have that bitter cold game in Green Bay for the NFC. The AFC had the perfect season story every week past the first, and then other teams that are great to watch (SD, Indy). Then you had this crazy Super Bowl including the largest media market and nation's darlings (compared to NE) and the evil NE dynasty waiting to annoy the world by untold proportions with its perfect season that wasn't. I know this was one of the highest rated SBs. I wonder if the same could be said of the playoffs as an aggregate - if so, more people may have held interested later in the season this year than in many years.

As a Giants fan, if they are out of it, especially if the Giants made the playoffs then lost, I might lose a good bit of interest if its an uninteresting matchup. And I am a pretty big fan. If you are just an average fan / sorta fan / slightly fair weather but like to watch a good game, then this was a fantastic viewing season that might have kept you watching through the SB - parlaying into interest in the Pro Bowl.

 

[Capella]

I still don't get why people want to 'fix' the pro bowl. There's nothing to fix. It's a meaningless exhibition game that players aren't going to take seriously after a grueling 20-week season. And why should they?

Either you like it or you don't. But it doesn't need fixed. It's fine the way it is.

 

[zed2283]

Playing mid-season would make it the same kind of joke that the other all-star games are. How do you vote for all-stars after only (before, actually) only half the games have been played?

I think they should just get rid of it. Name the all-Pro team, give them some sort of bonus, and forget about it.

 

[mozzy84]

I still don't get why people want to 'fix' the pro bowl. There's nothing to fix. It's a meaningless exhibition game that players aren't going to take seriously after a grueling 20-week season. And why should they?Either you like it or you don't. But it doesn't need fixed. It's fine the way it is.

I agree, I am one that actually watches it or one that at least admits to watching it. Its cool if your favorite team has guys playing in it anyways. Its played the same way any other all star game is played, not sure why people want to just get rid of it all together.

 

[obxlegends]

The Pro Bowl should be held the Monday prior to the Super Bowl in the city the Super Bowl is being played. This would build intrique and kill the boring 2 week period between the championship games and Super Bowl.

My .02.

Edited to add: I'd also throw in the skills competition they do and promote it big time. Make it more like NBA All-Star weekend.

 

[tombonneau]

The Pro Bowl should be held the Monday prior to the Super Bowl in the city the Super Bowl is being played. This would build intrique and kill the boring 2 week period between the championship games and Super Bowl.My .02.Edited to add: I'd also throw in the skills competition they do and promote it big time. Make it more like NBA All-Star weekend.

I'm pretty sure this idea was on the table at some point. IMO, it is the perfect solution. The only downside is you wouldn't get the players from the SB teams, but a lot of those guys bail on the Pro Bowl anyway since they've played more games than everyone else.

 

[Captain Spaulding]

Playing mid-season would make it the same kind of joke that the other all-star games are. How do you vote for all-stars after only (before, actually) only half the games have been played?I think they should just get rid of it. Name the all-Pro team, give them some sort of bonus, and forget about it.

The game is meaningless...do away with it.You could replace the "game" with a bunch of various tests of skill challenges for the pro-bowlers (things that are much less injury risk). Weight lifting challenges by position, races, flag football....make the lineman "skill players" and make the skill players lineman etc.. just fun stuff that would be more enjoyable to watch than a half-hearted football game.I'd much rather see which QB can throw the ball the farthest from they're knees / which RB is the fastest/strongest etc. Which punters can drop the most balls inside the 10 yard line/punt the furthest etc....

 

[mchaps55]

The Pro Bowl should be held the Monday prior to the Super Bowl in the city the Super Bowl is being played. This would build intrique and kill the boring 2 week period between the championship games and Super Bowl.My .02.Edited to add: I'd also throw in the skills competition they do and promote it big time. Make it more like NBA All-Star weekend.

I think this is a great idea. I say keep play it the night before the superbowl or the weekend before the superbowl..........Like you said before players on the superbowl teams would not make the bowl.

 

[reg]

The Pro Bowl should be held the Monday prior to the Super Bowl in the city the Super Bowl is being played. This would build intrique and kill the boring 2 week period between the championship games and Super Bowl.

My .02.

Edited to add: I'd also throw in the skills competition they do and promote it big time. Make it more like NBA All-Star weekend.

This is what the commish wants. Tony Richardson was talking on KFAN a while ago about it. He is the players rep for the Vikes and stated that the commish REALLY wanted this and that the players would probably go along with it. It is one of the podcasts on KFAN and might be this one, but I cannot verify for sure.If I remember correctly, the main argument is that most markets cannot afford to send dedicated coverage to the pro bowl every year, but can to the super bowl.

ETA: I believe that he also said that players in the SB would not be eligible to play, but would wear a commemorative patch or something of that ilk.

 

[pizzatyme]

I'd offer up that I'd like to see the Pro Bowl rotated between 3 or 4 cities. Maybe Oahu, Miami, Phoenix, and San Diego.

They need to give the average Joe the chance to see the game. I've been in 2006. The festivities around the game were amazing, the game itself, not so much.

 

[pizzatyme]

The Pro Bowl should be held the Monday prior to the Super Bowl in the city the Super Bowl is being played. This would build intrique and kill the boring 2 week period between the championship games and Super Bowl.My .02.Edited to add: I'd also throw in the skills competition they do and promote it big time. Make it more like NBA All-Star weekend.

So, this year, had the Pokes made it, we'd have had the pleasure of seening 12 replacements from the NFC team and whatever it was from the AFC team. No thanks!I like my idea better!!!

 

[NY/NJMFDIVER]

If you want to get these guys to play hard in the pro bowl, give them a "get out of the first two weeks of training camp for free" card. They'll be hitting little Bednarik on Gifford if you dangle that carrot.

 

[cstu]

I'd offer up that I'd like to see the Pro Bowl rotated between 3 or 4 cities. Maybe Oahu, Miami, Phoenix, and San Diego. They need to give the average Joe the chance to see the game. I've been in 2006. The festivities around the game were amazing, the game itself, not so much.

I went to my first Pro Bowl game last year and was disappointed, even though I didn't expect much. The players, with the exception of Chad Johnson, looked like they would be happier back at home watching their Vizio.

 

[thayman]

The Pro Bowl should be held the Monday prior to the Super Bowl in the city the Super Bowl is being played. This would build intrique and kill the boring 2 week period between the championship games and Super Bowl.My .02.Edited to add: I'd also throw in the skills competition they do and promote it big time. Make it more like NBA All-Star weekend.

FWIW. I'm in hospitality out here in Hawaii. I talked to a few players, and quite a few NFL operations execs. They are saying that there is little chance the Pro Bowl will be moved from Hawaii. Currently they are in talks to refurbish Aloha stadium and are looking into building a new stadium somewhere on the island. With the exception of 2 or 3 players they said they would not go to the Pro Bowl at all if it wasn't in Hawaii, "Why bother?" was the most popular answer.

 

[FUBAR]

The Pro Bowl should be held the Monday prior to the Super Bowl in the city the Super Bowl is being played. This would build intrique and kill the boring 2 week period between the championship games and Super Bowl.My .02.Edited to add: I'd also throw in the skills competition they do and promote it big time. Make it more like NBA All-Star weekend.

FWIW. I'm in hospitality out here in Hawaii. I talked to a few players, and quite a few NFL operations execs. They are saying that there is little chance the Pro Bowl will be moved from Hawaii. Currently they are in talks to refurbish Aloha stadium and are looking into building a new stadium somewhere on the island. With the exception of 2 or 3 players they said they would not go to the Pro Bowl at all if it wasn't in Hawaii, "Why bother?" was the most popular answer.

If your business sent its top performers to Hawaii for a week, would you vote to change? Fans don't get a vote here except with $ and viewing.

 

[renesauz]

I'd offer up that I'd like to see the Pro Bowl rotated between 3 or 4 cities. Maybe Oahu, Miami, Phoenix, and San Diego. They need to give the average Joe the chance to see the game. I've been in 2006. The festivities around the game were amazing, the game itself, not so much.

There are no football fans in Hawaii? How many regular season/playoff games do they get to see without spending the same arm and leg you're complaining about?They should leave it as it is.

 

[Liquid Tension]

I think the pro bowl should be abolished.

I agree. In the "old" days there was something special about seeing the players you never got to see, but now we see almost every team and players jump from team to team so there is nothing special about it. Leave it at the end of the year or abolish it, I really don't have an interest in it

 

[Darth Cheney]

Just eliminate the game altogether and do the skills competitions.....the game is a joke. Why does any defensive player even bother to play in the game?

 

[noneother]

Instead of a pro bowl it should be a 4 team playoff weekend... the worst teams play sauturday and sunday, in elimination to get an extra first round draft pick.

make it mean something.... it should be the weekend after the combine...

 

[Neil Beaufort Zod]

The Pro Bowl should up the amount for the winning team and have everyone play for their favorite charity. Make it so the difference between winning and losing is significant in dollar amount, so they have a reason to try. The losing team still gets a free vacation and some money for their charity, but the winners get to bring them 100K or something. That might guilt some stars into actually playing.

 

[jonessed]

The teamwork and player coordination in football just doesn't lend itself well to a Pro-Bowl. You can still have the nominations and just have other activities though. Skill challenges, charity events, etc. I wouldn't mind seeing a 5 on 5 flag football competition or something.

 

[NY/NJMFDIVER]

The Pro Bowl should up the amount for the winning team and have everyone play for their favorite charity. Make it so the difference between winning and losing is significant in dollar amount, so they have a reason to try. The losing team still gets a free vacation and some money for their charity, but the winners get to bring them 100K or something. That might guilt some stars into actually playing.

I'd put my money on an XFL team to beat whoever showed up under that premise.

 

[Autumn Wind]

Remove the all-stars from it. Hold it during the preseason and stock it with players identified as "on the bubble" by their teams. The winning team keeps their jobs, the losing team gets cut.

 

[pizzatyme]

I'd offer up that I'd like to see the Pro Bowl rotated between 3 or 4 cities. Maybe Oahu, Miami, Phoenix, and San Diego. They need to give the average Joe the chance to see the game. I've been in 2006. The festivities around the game were amazing, the game itself, not so much.

There are no football fans in Hawaii? How many regular season/playoff games do they get to see without spending the same arm and leg you're complaining about?They should leave it as it is.

Have you ever been to the game? If they want to see the NFL, let them buy a franchise. That's what Indy had to do to see it. Or watch it on TV.That game is attended by 10,000 or so fans and 40,000 locals. I bought tickets for well below face value. It is a joke. Put the game in the hands of the REAL fans.I never complained about spending an arm and a leg. But, for the average fan, the Pro Bowl in Hawaii is unattainable.

 

[BLOX]

The Pro Bowl is being moved, or is likely to be moved as soon as this upcoming season.

There was an article in Sept or August about Goodell making his mark and one of the things he intends to do is make the Pro Bowl more fan friendly by having it played during the Super Bowl bye week.

It makes sense. Yeah, the NFC and AFC Champion teams won't participate, but I don't think they'll miss it too much.

I think it's a good idea. It looks like it's going to happen too. I'll try and dig up the article this afternoon if I have time.

 

[obxlegends]

The teamwork and player coordination in football just doesn't lend itself well to a Pro-Bowl. You can still have the nominations and just have other activities though. Skill challenges, charity events, etc. I wouldn't mind seeing a 5 on 5 flag football competition or something.

I'm sure Roberts Edwards would fully support this.

 

[thayman]

The Pro Bowl is being moved, or is likely to be moved as soon as this upcoming season.There was an article in Sept or August about Goodell making his mark and one of the things he intends to do is make the Pro Bowl more fan friendly by having it played during the Super Bowl bye week.It makes sense. Yeah, the NFC and AFC Champion teams won't participate, but I don't think they'll miss it too much.I think it's a good idea. It looks like it's going to happen too. I'll try and dig up the article this afternoon if I have time.

I'll post a link as soon as I can find one, but the rumor out here now is that the NFL is scouting locations to build a new stadium.