Is it time for the NFL to discard the Pro bowl?

(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

This week, the NFL started discussing options on how to make the Pro Bowl more entertaining. The first thing that comes to mind is discarding the traditional AFC vs. NFC game. 

For years fans have complained about how boring the Pro Bowl game is. There is little contact in the game because players do not want to get hurt going into the offseason. What other options do they have?

“The (Pro Bowl) game does not work,” NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said. “We need to find another way to celebrate the players.”

It has been years since the traditional game was entertaining. The NFL has tried changing locations and adding skills competitions to increase viewership and attendance, but that does not seem to work. 

These new extra events are not helping. There is still a lack of competition during the Pro Bowl week. 

Players do not want to get hurt and potentially miss out on massive contracts. The fear of injuries creates little to no contact in the game and not much entertainment for viewers and players. 

Fans in the comments of Ian Rapoport and others have offered some good alternatives to the traditional AFC vs. NFC game. 

A flag football tournament would bring more competition and have no contact. This way, the players would still be able to show off their skills and not worry about contact injuries. Of course, there is no way to prevent non-contact injuries. Flag football only eliminates one aspect of injuries. 

The idea is a 7v7 tournament, where each division gets seven players that play both sides of the ball. This would showcase how athletic the players really are. The winning team would get money for whatever charitable organization they choose. 

Adding more skills challenges is an option too. Fastest player, track relays, more sports than just football. NFL softball games, bowling, or golf. The ideas are endless. 

There are many different arguments on how the NFL should change the Pro Bowl week. There is no correct answer, but all of the alternatives offered by fans sound more entertaining than the regular Pro Bowl game. 

If the NFL chooses to eliminate the exhibition game, they should turn to the fans to help decide on what to do with the Pro Bowl.