NFL Debate #40: How to bring legitamacy to the Pro Bowl?

[Reya Serra]

The Pro Bowl pulls in major numbers ... so cancelling the game is out of the question.

Actually, it doesn't pull in major numbers due in part to many of the fan favorites people want to see either not being selected or opting not to take part.  That's why cancelling the game was discussed until this new format came about.  If it hadn't, there very well might not be a game this year at all.

[Hondo]

You gotta make the game mean something if you want players to put the effort in.

Throw out some incentives or something. Get some sponsors involved. Have every player on the winning team get a brand new Chevrolet, or have the game MVP get a brand new Corvette. Most of these guys already have cash, get some prizes involved.

Also, bring back the skills stuff. Or at least the NFL Quarterback Club-type stuff.

[¿PapaPancho?]

Actually, it doesn't pull in major numbers due in part to many of the fan favorites people want to see either not being selected or opting not to take part.  That's why cancelling the game was discussed until this new format came about.  If it hadn't, there very well might not be a game this year at all.

2013 7.7 rating 12.3 million people watched it. Thats down from 2012 that did a 7.8 ....

It was the most watched of all the all star games.

[The TeeJ of Philly]

How do you bring legitimacy to the Pro Bowl?

You don't act like it means something. It's players who had good seasons playing half assed against each other. So how do you sell it? The same way that the NBA does. All star Skill comps. This way, you'd see Alshon Jeffery and Desean and other snubs be recognized.

Also, fuck the Pro Bowl, how Evan Mathis hasn't been named to a Pro Bowl any of hte last three years, I hate football fans that don't pay attention to the offensive line 60% of the play.

[Cory]

Also, fuck the Pro Bowl, how Evan Mathis hasn't been named to a Pro Bowl any of hte last three years, I hate football fans that don't pay attention to the offensive line 60% of the play.

Preach.

[T-Bonizzle]

Could start by doing what MLB does and guaranteeing at least every team is represented. The casual fan might not watch if his team isn't even represented. 5 teams don't have representation this year. Where's the incentive for those 5 teams to even give a shit to begin with?

Add competitions to the Pro Bowl. Skills competitions would be cool. MLB has the homerun derby? Let's do some trick throwing competition for the QBs, trick kicking contests for the kickers, some other feats of excellence that can be measured. Throw some crossfit games or something in.

Make the pro bowl mean something. The players will play if the outcome is tangible. The winning conference gets to be the "home team" at the Superbowl. In practice it doesn't really mean much since Superbowls are typically played at a neutral location for the teams involved anyway. Maybe the winning conference gets to have the first primetime game of the following season. The prizes aren't monumentally important like the MLB game is, but the outcome still means something.

[The TeeJ of Philly]

Make the pro bowl mean something. The players will play if the outcome is tangible. The winning conference gets to be the "home team" at the Superbowl. In practice it doesn't really mean much since Superbowls are typically played at a neutral location for the teams involved anyway. Maybe the winning conference gets to have the first primetime game of the following season. The prizes aren't monumentally important like the MLB game is, but the outcome still means something.

Here's the thing, it will never mean anything, adding something won't change that. The MLB all-star game means nothing and will always mean nothing. "Home field in the world series on the line!" means nothing. You know why? Because of the 2-3-2 split that they have for the WS. Only two times since 03 has the home field advantaged team returned home to win the series. The best team wins regardless, always has always will. Adding something to an all star game to make the illusion to add meaning doesn't do that. The NBA doesn't try to sell their All Star games as they're important. They sell it as the finale of an entire weekend.

As far as what the Pro Bowl weekend should add to it, look at what College football does. Kicking competition, QB throwing comp, hands comp, big men races, but change it up. I want to see some linemen in a hands comp, WRs flipping tires and pushing a tackling sled. Show that the players aren't just WRs, OL, or something they're athletes. You hear announcers always talk about how athletic a lineman is, well show them off to the casual audience that views them as fat guys.

[Jon]

If you don't think home field advantage in the World Series means something, you're crazy.

EVERY MLB Player will tell you otherwise.

Since the homefield advantage started...

Team that has homefield has won 8/11 times.

[The TeeJ of Philly]

If you don't think home field advantage in the World Series means something, you're crazy.

EVERY MLB Player will tell you otherwise.

Since the homefield advantage started...

Team that has homefield has won 8/11 times.

Every player in any sport will tell you otherwise because that's what the fans want to hear. But in a day of age where you can play a game, get on a plane that only you and your team is getting on, travel across the country (using the furthest distance as the worst case), get in your hotel and have a day off to adjust then play another game, it doesn't mean anything. They're pro athletes, they'd prefer to sleep at home with their family, but as long as they play the game they love and get paid to do it, they don't care where it is they play.

[Jon]

Every player in any sport will tell you otherwise because that's what the fans want to hear. But in a day of age where you can play a game, get on a plane that only you and your team is getting on, travel across the country (using the furthest distance as the worst case), get in your hotel and have a day off to adjust then play another game, it doesn't mean anything. They're pro athletes, they'd prefer to sleep at home with their family, but as long as they play the game they love and get paid to do it, they don't care where it is they play.

No, they'd tell you that because the opposing fans make a difference in the outcome of a game, regardless of how small it may be.