Every year around this time, the Pro Bowl happens. And every year around this time, no one cares about it. At all. Even die hard football fans don’t care about the Pro Bowl. It obviously needs to be fixed, but no one has come up with any ideas good enough to matter.
It was moved from the week after the Superbowl to the week before, and that didn’t matter. The best players don’t want to play in it, and for that matter, most players don’t because of fear of injury. No one wants to get hurt playing in a meaningless game of football. It’s already dangerous as it is.
But I have a proposal that could at least deal with the fact that the general public wants nothing to do with this game. And also help entice some of the best players to play in the game.
First of all, and the most important point, is that this game should be played in June. After the NBA Finals are over and before NBA free agency starts. The NFL loves attention and having the Pro Bowl in June would maximize that attention from the general public.
People LOVE football. But people also get burned out from consuming it multiple times a week all the way from September to early February. But by the time the preseason comes and training camp starts, we are chomping at the bit to watch some real football. Which brings me to my next point.
The Pro Bowl should actually just be a flag football game.
I know I just said people want to watch real football, and that’s not what flag football is, but we are so desperate in the summer for real football to get started that we will take whatever we can get.
Making the Pro Bowl into a non-contact game lowers the chance of injury that so many players and organizations are worried about currently. The skill position players would be doing what they do anyway in the summers, and the lineman would get a chance to work on their pass protection.
This would devalue the running backs a bit in this game, but hey, no idea is perfect.
The third point about fixing the Pro Bowl is fixing the location. It is currently in Orlando. Why on Earth would you have it in Florida, and not have the darn game in Miami??? In order to bring out the best of the best athletes, this game either needs to be in Miami, FL or Las Vegas, NV. That’s it. The only two places.
It will obviously be very hot in June for both these places, so in order to combat that, have it at night in Miami, or have in the Raiders’ new stadium in Vegas which is indoors.
Both these cities can bring out the stars for a nice vacation, along with a nice opportunity to get some summer work in alongside their peers.
The NFL wants people to care about the Pro Bowl, but hasn’t done anything to make them care. Well Roger, I just gave you the blueprint. I expect the check in the mail.
Brandon Jackson 