In The Know: Pro Bowl Problems ??

Pointless Pro Bowl?

Many people enjoy watching the NFL Pro Bowl, but many players who participate in the pro bowl believe that it is pointless. The players who are part of the continuing Super Bowl team only see it as a possible way to get hurt. Many players don’t make a lot of money playing in the game either. The bonuses can range anywhere from 25k all the way to 500k. Too many of us average Americans this seems like a lot of money. But to someone who makes 10-13 million dollars a year this is pocket change. After a long hard fought season most athletes just wish to relax. But instead those chosen for the Pro Bowl must continue to practice.

Also this year the Pro Bowl has changed from NFC vs. AFC to a captain chosen game where two captains are selected and they will choose their team. These players for the Pro Bowl will be chosen by popular vote. And yes that is now giving us the FANS some type of say in who plays and who doesn’t. There also is some major changes to game play. Now there will be no kickoffs. Instead the ball will be placed on the 25 yard line before the start of every drive and after scoring plays. The play clock will now consist of 35 seconds instead of the original 40 second game clocks.

Many players don’t want to play but still support the idea of the Pro Bowl in the NFL. They believe that it is a good thing to showcase some of the greatest players in the NFL even though the timing does seem a bit strange being one week before the Super Bowl. It has been a hollowed tradition in the NFL since 1971 to play a game featuring some of NFL’s greatest. They also have decided to keep playing the Pro Bowl in Hawaii where it has been played since its birth.

The new rules and regulations of the Pro Bowl have some players angry and some happy. It is kin of a win lose situation for Rodger Goodell. Players believe he is changing the whole point of football. Believe it or not special teams have a big part in a football game and to take away a team’s chance of scoring. I don’t know if that is the correct move. Goodell needs to stop and think about what he is doing to this NFL. If something isn’t broke you can’t fix it?

In reality there is no chance that the Pro Bowl will go away. It is a hollowed tradition in the NFL and has been going on for too long to just end it now. But if you are not going to stop changing the rules this will only continue to frustrate fans and players alike. The best way to keep the Pro Bowl from being hated is to just keep it the way it is. Just because you have the power to do something doesn’t mean you need to do it.