Hypothetical Pro Bowl Solutions
Long ago are the days of Sean Taylor lighting up Brian Moorman. The Pro Bowl used to mean something to players and fans. Having your team represented was huge. But it has been on a steady decline every year. It's understood that players do not want to get hurt in a game that doesn't matter. The NFL doesn't care about the game, so why should fans? The 2022 Pro Bowl had the lowest viewership since 2006, with only 6 million fans tuning in to the game. How does the NFL get this issue turned around? Here is a list of my top five ways they could make the Pro Bowl better.
1. Certificates
The first option is to cut the game completely. No one is getting anything out of it and this way you could include the Super Bowl contenders. You could take all of the year's awards and have a ceremony for them, kind of like the ESPY awards. Everyone gets dressed up, we get to see highlights, hear some motivational speeches, and honor past players. Then there could also be more emphasis on greater awards like the Walter Payton Man of the Year and see what they were able to accomplish throughout the year.
2. Add Incentives
One glaring issue is a lack of competition in the game. As I said, the players have no reason to go out and play an intense game. You could almost make it a 7-on-7 game because the quarterbacks are virtually untouchable with the quick whistles. So that takes the offensive and defensive lineman out of the game. But what if you gave bonus payouts for stat leaders. Have preassigned criteria for each position group, receiving, passing, rushing, pancakes, sacks, interceptions, tackles, points scored, etc. The downside of it is that a quarterback can audible to a pass at any time, or if he's the fourth quarter QB, he may be running a 2-minute drill and the running backs just struggle. Every plan has kinks that need to be worked out. In the end, it's the NFL, money talks.
3. #1 Pick on the Line
I really liked the initial thought of the bottom two teams competing for the number one overall pick. That is going to be a heated all-out game, with the winner upgrading their team's draft capital. But, it's complicated by trades. This year the Lions got a pick from the Rams for Matt Stafford, what if it was the other way around? Are you going to put a team that plays in the Super Bowl the next week against the bottom team for the pick? Or would you play it out with the Lions and Jags and hope the Lions don't tank in spite of the Rams. I like the idea, but there would have to be some deeper thinking on that one.
4. Rookie Show
This could go a couple of ways. You could have a first-round showdown. Take this year's top draft picks and have a rookie showcase. It could be something less intense but game-related. Kind of like an NBA dunk contest/three-point shootout. Figure out some skills everyone could participate in like trick catches, touchdown/sack celebrations, or something like a weighted sled push based on their weight. Or you could get the top drafted and undrafted performers, kind of a rookie Pro Bowl voting, and have them play a game. They still have the college mentality of playing hard and they have something to prove to their team.
5. The NFL Combine
The Pro Bowl skills test has made a comeback. It shows competition with big names on game skills. One of the highlights of the Pro Bowl week. But what if we made it a week-long event and put the Pro Bowl players through the NFL combine again. Is Tyreek Hill still as fast as his 4.29 combine 40? According to the race he had with Micah Parsons, Nick Chubb, and Trevon Diggs, the answer is no! This is bragging rights for players and fans. It is also a way for newer players to show they are improving or for veterans to show they still got it.
