NFL Pro Bowl: What’s the Point?

Photo Credit: Kyle Terada/USA TODAY Sports

Every year, right before the Super Bowl, the NFL offers hurt fans another chance to see their favorite players compete. This is the NFL Pro Bowl. Fans vote on which players they want to see play and it’s the equivalent of the MLB All Star game.

The first Pro Bowl happened during the 1938 season and it was called the
“Pro All-Star Game.” The NFL champion New York Giants defeated the Pro All-Stars 13-10 at Wrigley Field in Los Angeles.

After a brief hiatus, the Pro Bowl returned with a new format in 1951. The new format pitted the “best of the best” from the American Conference and the National Conference against each other. When the Pro Bowl was AFC vs. NFC it was more bearable to watch. You could root for the conference that your team was in and it acted as a supplemental Super Bowl game.

During the 2013 season, the Pro Bowl format changed again. Instead of the conferences playing against each other, two Hall of Fame captains were selected to draft the players fans voted for. On January 26, 2014, Team Jerry Rice beat Team Deion Sanders 22-21.

This year, the Pro Bowl’s captains will be former wide receivers Cris Carter and Michael Irvin. The only reason I would even contemplate watching is because John Harbaugh is coaching Team Carter. Other than that, I find myself asking “what’s the point anymore?”

Viewership

Most experts speculated that the format change in the 2014 Pro Bowl was an attempt to boost the low ratings. According to Seth Kaplan of FOX 9 News, last year’s Pro Bowl received 11.7 million viewers. That’s a half million fewer than 2013 and almost one million less than 2012’s 12.5 million viewers.

While those numbers are large for a television audience, they are low by the NFL’s standards.

According to Domonique Foxworth, former president of the NFLPA, commissioner Roger Goodell thought about cancelling last year’s Pro Bowl due to the apparent lack of interest and the cost of the game.

“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.

Powderpuff Playing

Speaking of play quality, I’ve seen more aggressive tackling at a Black Friday sale than at the Pro Bowl. I’ll admit that I’d be crushed if one of my players got seriously injured during a friendly competition. That being said, how can that still be considered playing football?

It is extremely noticeable on the defensive side of the ball that there is a lack of typical competitiveness. During the 2011, 2012, and 2013 Pro Bowls, the combined scores were over 90 points each year. They might as well been playing flag football.

While watching the Pro Bowl is already annoying, especially with this year’s new rules, the hardest part is seeing those hideous uniforms take the field.

Awful Uniforms

For decades, teams either wore red or blue, America’s colors. In 2014, the NFL introduced electric yellow and orange uniforms. Why? I would love for Project Runway to have a challenge where they redesign the Pro Bowl jerseys.

The sad thing is people actually buy the jerseys. Online, you can get one of these vibrant hot messes for a little more than $20.

Another Option?

Every year, someone writes that there might not be a Pro Bowl the next year. Obviously that hasn’t happened yet. I propose to the NFL another idea. An award show honoring the best plays, catches, hits, and blocks during the season.

This still allows for the “Hollywood” element that the Pro Bowl offers, but it recognizes actual excellence in the game.

As much as I complain about the Pro Bowl, I’ll probably turn it on for a bit and watch JJ Watt play every position in the game because that’s what the Pro Bowl is now.