No more Pro Bowl?
The National Football League’s team owners are contemplating removing the Pro Bowl from the schedule.
Players and owners have been locked in discussions about what to do with the Pro Bowl weekend, with some suggesting the entire tackle game should be removed from the action. No vote is needed to approve any measure, and the league hopes to have an answer by the end of the summer.
The Pro Bowl has taken a severe hit in popularity in recent years as players have been opting out or playing extremely carefully in attempts to avoid injury or unnecessary strain during a time that is supposed to be devoted to rest and recovery. The league implemented different competitions such as a game of dodgeball and a 40-yard dash race to spice up the weekend, but even that has not entirely curtailed the fleeting ratings.
The NFL has had some sort of Pro Bowl every year since 1938. They have experimented with celebrity-led teams, conference-based teams, and all-star games pitting the league’s best against the previous Super Bowl champions.
The AFC defeated the NFC 41-35 in last season’s event; Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert won offensive MVP and Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby won defensive MVP.
