Posted on 01/26/2014 12:47:19 PM PST by Dave346
In case you didn't notice, the NFL has added a few new wrinkles to the Pro Bowl this year. There's new uniforms, there's no kickoffs and instead of the AFC against the NFC, Sunday night's game will feature two teams that were selected in a scintillating Pro Bowl Draft that was held on Jan. 22.
However, those new wrinkles almost didn't happen because there almost wasn't a game, according to NFLPA president Domonique Foxworth. Foxworth said NFL commissioner Roger Goodell almost canceled the Pro Bowl.
"Roger was very serious about potentially canceling the Pro Bowl because apparently it's very expensive and isn't of a ton of value to them," Foxworth said this week, via USA Today. "To be honest with you, I was completely comfortable with eliminating it until I talked to the players, and they said they loved it and they want to be there."
Goodell talked about the possibility of eliminating the Pro Bowl two years ago after a 2012 game that seemed to have everything except for effort, "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," Goodell said in February 2012.
Instead of eliminating the game, the NFL decided to make drastic changes. Instead of kickoffs, teams will start at the 25-yard line and there will be a two-minute warning at the end of each quarter to give quarterbacks an opportunity to direct more two-minute drills.
One rule change the players aren't a fan of? The whole drafting thing. It's not specifically the draft they don't like, it's the possibility of having to hit their own teammates. For instance, Colts linebacker Robert Mathis might have to lay a hit on Colts quarterback Andrew Luck because the two players are on opposite teams.
"That's the only legitimate concern, and I completely understand it," Foxworth said. "I was faced with the possibility of canceling the game or trying to make it interesting. If some of these conflicts that we create make it so we can't go forward, then we'll throw the game out."
Basically, if the fans and players don't like the 2014 version of the Pro Bowl, there might not be a 2015 version. The Pro Bowl will air at 7:30 p.m. ET on Sunday on NBC.
I don’t mind the extra week, and I don’t mind the hype. It’s the “circus” part of Bread and Circuses, and people seem to like it. However, I’m biased because I live in a warm climate, and more often than not this hype comes to my hometown with the “bread” part.
Now that we have a real Stadium, we get considered a lot more often (I’m in Phoenix, so there’s essentially no football the rest of the season). Every once in a while they have to award it to a Northern city in an open Stadium, just to remind them why that’s stupid.
-PJ
I always thought of it as simply a free vacation to Hawaii for the players after the season was over.
-PJ
he might as well have cancelled it
The players blocked him from cancelling it, so he turned it into a parody of itself.
Goodell is doing his best to destroy the NFL. I've never seen a commissioner before him that I was convinced hated the sport over which he ruled.
As an aside, what is the need for a Commissioner in any professional sport? It started only because of the Black Sox Scandal, but what is the need for it now?
Instead, though, he chose to turn it into a ridiculous joke this year.
How and why does Roger Goodell have so much power?
And I thought Gary Bettman was bad.
I still can’t figure out which “team” to pull for. Let’s see: shirts or skins? Well, since I could care even LESS than previous Pro Bowls as to who wins, no way am I going to watch this travesty.
Maybe they should just continue to the Pro Bowl selection, give the players a free vacation to Hawaii, but just skip the game itself. Given the way the players play,skipping the game wouldn’t be too much different than playing it anyway.
They should cancel it, the probowl is just awful. Of course the ratings beat most of the championship games of other sports, so it won’t be canceled.
The players are OK with canceling it, half the players opt out. He did the draft to try to get some sense of pride in the game and get the players actually playing football. And it won’t work.
... between "Pro Bowl Cheerleaders"!!!.....
yeah, that's it.... yeah.... in BIKINIS...
aaaand.... ON THE BEACH!!!! Yeah, THAT'S the TICKET!
As an owner, if I’m paying my stars millions a year, I don’t want them risking my investment on a stupid thing like the Pro Bowl.
Here’s another aspect...
How about a prowl bowl player on one team hitting a team mate on the other team?
What a great idea! I’m sure no one will be playing hard....
They already give bonus $$$ to the winners.
This year it’s $53,000 to winners, $26,000 to losers, and $39,500 for anyone missing the game because they’re in the Super Bowl.
I never bother to watch the Pro Bowl. They should name all-star teams but there is little point to the game.
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