By Jordan Long
The NFL is looking at ways to improve the Pro Bowl . This could include scrapping the game altogether. This may be having a Madden competition with the players who are selected. That wouldn’t excite fans. One alternative that might make sense is a flag football tournament.
The NFL knows the game needs an uplift. It isn’t really a game compared to other All-Star Games. The MLB All-Star game is the best out there because it is a game. It looks like real baseball. The NBA is more for entertainment, but the two teams are playing for charity. The winner of the quarter, whichever charity they represent, the money goes to that charity. In the 4th quarter, though, they have a set number of points. Whoever reaches that number first wins. For the NHL All-Star Game, they added a 3 on 3 tournament for all the periods which means the Atlantic takes on the Metropolitan in one period and Central vs. Pacific in the other. The teams who win those periods play each other in the final. The winning team splits $1,000,000. It has made it more exciting even though there is no checking.
According to NFL.com, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said, “ I think the conclusion was that the game itself, doesn’t work. And that we needed to find a different way to celebrate our players. Celebrate the fact that, these being our Pro Bowler players, the best players in our league, and give them an opportunity to celebrate that with our fans. We talked an awful lot about some of the events around the Pro Bowl are really extremely popular, whether it’s the quarterback challenge or some of the other events, so those are things that we’ll probably build on.”
He is right. The game doesn’t work. It is basically a glorified touch football game. Nobody wants to get hurt tackling. With that, the game is unwatchable because it is not real football. The easiest fix is to make the game a flag football tournament which would be 7 on 7. Fans can be part of it by the fan vote to create the teams. The tournament could be just like the NHL, one division playing a division. Whichever team wins, moves on. There are 8 divisions so there would 4 games. The winners would face each other which would be 2 games and then a championship game. It dosen’t need happen in one day but during the course of the week. At the end there would be a trophy and each year they could add the division that wins it. Money would be involved. The amount of money given out depends on how long the team lasts. The winning team receives the most. This is a better alternative than what they have now.
The NFL will look into modifications, but something needs to be done to the Pro Bowl. It’s just not a fun game to watch since it isn’t the same game fans watch week to week.
Leave a Reply