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.
Given the high financial value placed on these elite players, I’m quite surprised they are playing a game like this any more.
Plus the fact that a good number of players can’t even play in it because they are playing in the Super Bowl.
Who is the numbnut that thought having the game the week before the SB was a good idea?
Honestly, the NFL should have the Senior Bowl on the same day the Pro Bowl is on now.
If pro football is around five years from now, we won’t recognize it.
No kick-offs? Seriously? One of the most exciting parts of football is the kick-off and return.
Those who champion the changes that are coming, are the same folks who have tried to destroy the nation. It is the Leftists.
What is so bad about football that it must be destroyed?
Folks, it’s a man’s sport. It is a very physical game where women can’t come in and claim they’re just as good. It puts the lie to that, and that can’t be allowed.
It’s time for men to tell these people to F off.
Goddell wanted to cancel it, the players didn’t want it cancelled, so Goddell does this draft BS to punish the players for not doing what he wanted.
no kick-offs and no more AFC vs NFC
he might as well have cancelled it
when is the pro-bowl anyway?
What’s a Pro Bowl?
Time to cancel Roger Goodell at $29 Million a year.
Good. The Commish must've read my thread a few weeks ago when I called for the ending of the conferences.
There's no difference between the AFC and NFC so there's no need for conferences.
There's also no need for divisions. The teams should be ranked 1 thru 32 with the top 4 teams getting a first round bye in the playoffs while the next 8 teams play each other in the first round.
That way you won't have teams with inferior records making the playoffs while teams with better records stay home or travel to the home of a team with an inferior record.
Hopefully Goodell will see the brilliance in this idea and start working towards it.
I suppose it’s of some economic value to Hawaii?
Maybe another crony capitalist deal with Baraq.
They used to have the game after the superbowl of course...but most people forget about football as soon as the superbowl is over. So they moved it, in attempt to make the game less ‘forgot about’. I don’t know if its worked - but I see why they did it. And frankly, even with the game after the superbowl, a lot of top tier players chose not to attend.
Split the league into two groups of 16........
The first level is the Premier League, they play the other 15 teams. Top Four make the playoffs.
The three worst teams get relegated to the Second Division. And the best three teams in the Second Division get promoted.
They should cancel it. Permanently. The latest version, as describe in the article, is the worse thing imaginable. Plus, who the heck wants to put their best players at risk?
I think the Pro-Bowl needs to go away, it is the least viable of the all-star games.
I could do without the Pro bowl, in fact I haven’t watched it in years and I don’t plan on watching this one either.
It’s boring.
Almost don't recognize it NOW! Sheesh, what happened to actually TACKLING someone? Tackling seems to be a rarity now -- it seems like every play is one player trying to knock or bump the other either out of bounds or down. Aside from Offensive running plays, and kickoffs/punt returns, there's very little tackling anymore.
And don't get me started on how QB's are treated like premadonna's!
Please don’t pollute football with British soccer ideas.
ESPN SportsCenter..."DaDaDa, DaDaDa"
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.