DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum NFL Moving to Suspend Pro Bowl

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/7857508/nfl-moving-suspend-pro-bowl-sources-say

Many players who will be selected during this week's NFL draft are regarded as future Pro Bowl selections, but the game itself likely will be suspended this season and beyond, according to league sources.


Beyond 2013, another league source believes the Pro Bowl is "DOA (dead on arrival)."


The next Pro Bowl is scheduled the week before the Super Bowl in New Orleans on Feb. 3, but a game site has not been listed because of its precarious status, sources added.


NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, who has previously voiced his displeasure with the lack of competitiveness of recent Pro Bowl games, remains in serious dialogue with the NFL Players Association about suspending this year's game, sources say.


Per the collective bargaining agreement, the league must consult with the union on Pro Bowl matter but can unilaterally suspend the game. The league would like to have a joint consensus with the union, sources said.


In response to ESPN's report, NFL spokesman Greg Aiello told The Associated Press on Thursday that "no determination has been made yet about this season's game."

If the game is suspended, the league still would have a Pro Bowl balloting process to identify the season's top players and would direct teams to remain open to negotiating Pro Bowl clauses into player contracts and to honor Pro Bowl incentive clauses to avoid any serious conflict with the players association. Those players also likely would be honored in some fashion during Super Bowl week.


The league and union held discussions last week on whether the Pro Bowl can become more attractive but neither side has embraced an alternative solution, sources said. Both sides also concede that heightened player health and safety issues have been a contributing factor to a diminished product.

Goodell said in February that eliminating the game was under consideration. In an appearance on ESPN Radio's "Mike and Mike in the Morning" on Super Bowl Sunday, he said the league must address the quality of the game and even said he would consider eliminating it if it can't be improved upon.


The AFC routed the NFC 59-41 in last season's Pro Bowl, which drew boos at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu for its lack of early intensity.


Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers had said that some of his NFC teammates "embarrassed themselves" with the effort they gave in the game.

Good.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

- nobody

Go through the voting, give the players the weekend somewhere, have some parties, autograph sessions, interviews, have some skills challenges, whatever... but stop pretending to play a game.

Good. I'm all for recognizing the best players in the leage and treating them and their families to a nice, expensive vacation somewhere.

The game was meaningless (and BORING) to watch. I see no reason to risk injury for such a thing.

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Go through the voting, give the players the weekend somewhere, have some parties, autograph sessions, interviews, have some skills challenges, whatever... but stop pretending to play a game.

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And any monies made from this should go directly to food charities, soup kitchens ect. spread around to all NFL cities....Players get room, meals, ect free for being voted in and no money.

Give forward........

I'd hate to see the honor disappear but the game can go and I'd not miss it.

Treat the probowl players for a vacation in Hawaii all expenses paid..

It should have been suspended 20+ years ago. Worthless.

we did get to see Alex Mack run for a TD

(at least on SC as I didn't actually watch the game)

Good. It's just a chance for somebody to get injured.

Do everything as it has, get your players and doing something for them SB week is a good idea.

They still get a week of fun with the family...their reward for a great season.

Make the week fan friendly with those players. Rather than practice and play a game, get them to put in X hours that week at fan events.....autographs etc.

Totally worthless, meaningless game and a total snorefest.
I'll be glad if the ax it.

I wish they'd just get rid of it, all this BS about trying to make it more "competitive" ?

It's not possible...

Bring back the skills challenge, send everyone to Hawaii for a vaction, whatever, noone cares...

I haven't watched a Pro-Bowl since Kosar. They still have that thing?

Maybe they could move it to mid-March when we would appreciate some football.

The Pro Bowl is the worst "all star" game in sports, it's boring, there's next to no festivities preceding the pro-bowl either, like the NHL's skills competition or the NBA w/ the slam dunk contest. I think the only time I've bothered to watch the Pro-Bowl is when Browns are represented, the times Joe Thomas has made it ... can't think of anyone else outside JT. The point remains, there's nothing inspiring me to watch it, maybe cancelling it is the best thing.

They could do a skills competion then the game the following day. But move it to end of Feb when players are rested..

they used to do skills, had bench press competition etc. dont know what happened to those.. but the game is 1st non-watchable..Only All- Star game i know of players turn down the invite