Your ideas to make the Pro-Bowl more competitive.

[Renegade7]

That's not really gonna solve it. The issue with the pro-bowl is it's not football because no one want's to really play football in a meaningless game. And frankly, I don't blame them based on the violent nature of the game. Pitching in baseball the same way, but less so.

An interdivision skills competition where you throw in a 7 on 7 flag tourny would work much better IMO. The interdivision thing would add a unique flair to it as well.

And maybe get some legends to come back and have them play as well? I'd love to see Darrell Green come back and rep the NFC east in a competition or two.

That's not a game. If you're going to have the best offensive players go up against the best defensive players, you can't handicap them off jump and expect them to give a damn about this game. They'd probably be more competitive if they had the chance to be competitive, you can't stop a pro bowl offense without being able to blitz.

---------- Post added January-30th-2013 at 08:57 PM ----------

If I was an NFL owner, I would make it a contract term that no QB on my team could play in a Pro Bowl that allowed blitzing..

That's you, I wish they would ask the players what they feel. If you're worried about them getting hurt, they shouldn't be playing in the first place...

[balki1867]

These, exactly.

Why the hell does it bug so many people that its not a high-quality game? Who the **** cares? So.....don't watch the damn thing. The players are having fun and are basically on vacation, being rewarded for good play throughout the regular season. The fact that its televised shouldn't matter, if you don't like the product.

The players are having fun, and no one's getting hurt. The only thing that could make it better would be to bring back the skills competition...but other than that, people just like to *****.

This a million times over.

I actually like the concept of having what is basically a backyard pickup game featuring the best in the sport. You see a totally different side of the game. I'd be up for anything that encourages more crazy trick plays but that's about it.

I do feel bad for the defensive players though. They are rewarded for an awesome season but basically marginalized during the game, barely allowed to do anything (no blitzing, nothing that remotely resembles a hit). Its unfortunate but its the right thing to do.

[Lombardi's_kid_brother]

That's not a game. If you're going to have the best offensive players go up against the best defensive players, you can't handicap them off jump and expect them to give a damn about this game. They'd probably be more competitive if they had the chance to be competitive, you can't stop a pro bowl offense without being able to blitz.

---------- Post added January-30th-2013 at 08:57 PM ----------



That's you, I wish they would ask the players what they feel. If you're worried about them getting hurt, they shouldn't be playing in the first place...

I don't really think the game should exist.

There is no way to make this a real game. It's impossible for the simple reason that you are bringing together players from all teams and giving them about six hours of practice. Week One of the NFL season is often a bit of a mess and that's after off-season workouts, training camp, and four exhibition games. What on earth could these guys actually learn in three days of practice?

---------- Post added January-30th-2013 at 10:10 PM ----------

They need to embrace the fact that it's a joke and just make it as big a circus as possible. I mean you have players switching teams, why not do more? Let fans come in and kick XPs/FGs, or call plays for a series. Have guys randomly switch positions, like WRs play CB and CBs play WR. Let OL run the ball. Just have a lot of fun with it. Don't treat it like a regular football game because it's anything but that. The problem is the NFL takes itself so damn seriously it'll never happen.

That's actually pretty brilliant.

I would totally watch if Adrian Peterson was playing QB and - I don't know - Tony Romo was playing Dback.

The baseball all star game works (well used to work) because it's neat to see the best hitters going against the best pitchers over and over again. The NBA and NHL games more or less work because it's just a glorified pick up game. The NFL game does not work because it is neither fish nor fowl. It's not real football, but it's not a backyard pickup game.

[Renegade7]

I don't really think the game should exist.

There is no way to make this a real game. It's impossible for the simple reason that you are bringing together players from all teams and giving them about six hours of practice. Week One of the NFL season is often a bit of a mess and that's after off-season workouts, training camp, and four exhibition games. What on earth could these guys actually learn in three days of practice?

It isn't about making it another super bowl. As competitive as these guys are, I imagine the defensive players would take it more seriously if they were allowed to. It's a challenge I do believe they'd be will to except if they were allowed to even try.

That's just my opinion. Big reason I can't get into pro blow isn't the effort (don't notice or care), its the fact its damn near arena league with all the scoring. That's not the kind of football I personally like.

[pjfootballer]

Not like today. Of course, in the past, there were some players that missed out on the pro bowl. Now, it's massive. Most of these teams are filled with alternates now. The Ravens and the 49ers had 14 pro bowlers combined this year. It's getting to the point where the 5th and 6th guy in line becomes a pro bowler. It begs the question, who is a pro bowler? Were there really 10 pro bowl QBs this year?

When the Pro Bowl was after the big game, the Super Bowl winners arrived later in the week to great fanfare. Now, playing in the Pro Bowl has become an insult... "Have fun in the Pro Bowl".

I'd like to see them switch it back to after the SB. Give the guys who "bow out with an injury" 3 weeks of rest and you may see them go ahead and play. Like Tom Brady and Tony Gonzalez. Any really belive they were injured after the conference championship games?

They need to embrace the fact that it's a joke and just make it as big a circus as possible. I mean you have players switching teams, why not do more? Let fans come in and kick XPs/FGs, or call plays for a series. Have guys randomly switch positions, like WRs play CB and CBs play WR. Let OL run the ball. Just have a lot of fun with it. Don't treat it like a regular football game because it's anything but that. The problem is the NFL takes itself so damn seriously it'll never happen.

I kind of like this idea and agree with you. The NHL and NBA allstar games are the same exact way. I mean, do you regularly see 18-16 hockey games or 160-158 basketball games? I can't remember the last time I watched either allstar game. I'm usually doing other things on those weekends. I like the skills competitions for both leagues better except for the dunk contest. Not a big fan of that.

[justice98]

There's no solution. The risk of injury is just too great and the upside to participating is next to zero.

The Pro Bowl will never be a really competitive game. Once they stop worrying about that and embrace the exhibitional nature of the event, they'll be better off.

[SteveFromYellowstone]

Why do people care? It gets great ratings and it's a reward for good players at the end of the season. They love it. I think they played hard, but you have to expect high scoring games when the D is handicapped. I think people just like to complain.