The Pro Bowl has become a joke. I usually watch the game to get one last glimpse of football before the offseason, but I'm only one of maybe 20. The veteran players simply don't want to be there so it turns into a glorified game of touch football.
I think I have the solution, although it would never happen. Play a game that would be the equivalent of the futures game in football. You would take all the top rookies in the NFL from that year and put them on a team vs. the players entering the NFL through the draft.
Imagine a rookie offense with AP and CJ attacking a Chris Long and Glenn Dorsey led defense. This could replace the Senior Bowl as an even better college All Star game. The game could pull from 2 major fan bases pro and college. Plus if there is one thing we as fans love it's the draft. We could watch incoming players play against top NFL players, and as fans make judgements on who is the real deal.
The quality of play would also skyrocket. The players coming in could raise their draft stock, so they would be hell bent to perform well. Plus, the rookies are always the ones who are the most intense at the Pro Bowl. Adrian Peterson went nuts down in Honolulu, imagine if every player was playing at that speed.
So basically it is like the rookie sophmore game in the NBA only better, since 1/2 the players don't have teams yet. It would also be a platform to look at college juniors who don't get to participate in college all star games.
They also shouldn't invite so many players to the game. Instead of being consumed on making sure everybody gets ample playing time, the teams should have starters that start the entire game. This would increase the intensity and the quality of play.
I don't know what to call it since the futures game is a baseball thing, and I don't know what to name the teams either. Any suggestions?
I like the idea. We discussed a bunch of possible fixes a while back.
One of the ideas was to make it a rookie game-I think I like your idea even better.
My suggestion was to make it a travelling game. Each year played in a different US city (maybe a few that don't have NFL teams)-Give more fans a chance to get out to the game.
I think that would give the game a shot in the arm.
And generate more revenue than it does now.
Nice dream. No agent would ever let a potential first or second rounder play in a Futures game.
Career ending injuries are the worst scenario.
Most of the All Star games are lame anyway. Unfortunately, the NFL is the most physical of the four pro leagues. As a result, the NFL Pro Bowl is the worst of the four. Not much we can do except make sure people busted for doping, beating their girlfriends, taping other teams, etc. don't play. A player voted in who refuses to play gets a six figure fine.
Yep slshusker~ (I haven't figured out how to shorten your name-)
I figured injuries would be a factor.
I like the fine idea BUT I don't think it would fly-- since I'm in a fantasy mode anyway- how about if they refuse to play they have to be there and be available to the press and fans through-out the weekend?
(wonder how many would rather suit up?)
No one watches it. No one cares about it. It is a mockery of the game.
Just vote for a Pro Bowl team at the end of the season; let the winners wear the title Pro Bowler and let them go on vacation after the Super Bowl. Stop wasting everyone's time with a bad NFL product. Most of the Pro Bowl winners bail out with "injuries" anyways and it is filled with also-rans. So what's the point?
I am a 17 year old kid from Massachusetts who loves football wth an unequivocal passion. During football season between my high school practices and games, BC games, and Patriots games I spend roughly 30 hours per week on football related activities. Thats not quite enough though so I write and comment on basically every NFL blog I can find.
