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Report: NFL ditches Pro Bowl format for fantasy draft
Posted by Mike Florio on July 31, 2013, 1:48 PM EDT
Getty ImagesThe people have spoken. And regardless of what they really said, the NFL will be getting rid of the traditional Pro Bowl structure, dumping the AFC and NFC teams for a fantasy draft format.
According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the change has now officially been made, and it will be used for the first time in early 2014.
Schefter also reports that Jerry Rice and Deion Sanders will serve as draft captains for the two teams. This meshes with our recent item regarding a fan survey that explained the teams would be chosen by two retired players, the player getting the most Pro Bowl fan votes on offense, the player getting the most Pro Bowl fan votes on defense, and the two fans getting the highest score in NFL.com fantasy football.
It’s unclear whether the final proposal will include the two fans who generate the highest scores in fantasy football at NFL.com. (But the league nevertheless would like you to sign up for fantasy football at NFL.com.)
Per Schefter, the Pro Bowl also will eliminate kickoffs, as a safety measure. In our view, whatever the league uses as an alternative could end up being the thing that eventually replaces kickoffs for all games.
So there it is. And when we asked for input last week on this potential change, nearly 40 percent of those who responded indicated no interest at in the changes.
Which likely means that the TV ratings will only double.
Report: NFL ditches Pro Bowl format for fantasy draft
Posted by Mike Florio on July 31, 2013, 1:48 PM EDT
Getty ImagesThe people have spoken. And regardless of what they really said, the NFL will be getting rid of the traditional Pro Bowl structure, dumping the AFC and NFC teams for a fantasy draft format.
According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the change has now officially been made, and it will be used for the first time in early 2014.
Schefter also reports that Jerry Rice and Deion Sanders will serve as draft captains for the two teams. This meshes with our recent item regarding a fan survey that explained the teams would be chosen by two retired players, the player getting the most Pro Bowl fan votes on offense, the player getting the most Pro Bowl fan votes on defense, and the two fans getting the highest score in NFL.com fantasy football.
It’s unclear whether the final proposal will include the two fans who generate the highest scores in fantasy football at NFL.com. (But the league nevertheless would like you to sign up for fantasy football at NFL.com.)
Per Schefter, the Pro Bowl also will eliminate kickoffs, as a safety measure. In our view, whatever the league uses as an alternative could end up being the thing that eventually replaces kickoffs for all games.
So there it is. And when we asked for input last week on this potential change, nearly 40 percent of those who responded indicated no interest at in the changes.
Which likely means that the TV ratings will only double.
ThoughtExperiment
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Sounds like Goodell has done the near impossible... Make the Pro Bowl even more of a joke.
What exactly did you expect from that moron?
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Chris Kluwe brought up a good point on twitter today: this will royally fuck some guys that have pro bowl bonuses.
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you just cant make this stuff up...
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BTB: NFL Announces Pro Bowl Changes; Begs The Question - Do You Care?
Taking a break from training camp for a moment, let's take a look at the changes the NFL just made to the Pro Bowl. Most NFL fans range from indifference to loathing of the NFL's version of an All-Star game. I'd guess I've watched 20 minutes total of the last five Pro Bowls. To me, the NFL version of an All-Star game suffers from some inherent disadvantages that just can't be fixed.
One is the violence of the game. For it to be played right and in a compelling nature, players need to go all out and hit each other, and hit hard. But no one wants to get hurt in the Pro Bowl. It leads to a bastard form of football that isn't very watchable. As a corollary reason, partly because of the violence they have to play it at the end of the year instead of in-season. This leads to apathy from many fans. Also, because of safety issues, the rules are significantly altered to limit blitzes, going in motion, overload formations and a variety of other strategic decisions. Again, this leads to a bastard form of football. Lastly, football is the ultimate team game, it requires intricate design with players working in unison to make things happen. Throwing together a bunch of guys from different teams and systems makes that hard to replicate. It's a dumbed-down version of the game. Other leagues suffer from some of these issues, but not all of them at once and not as severely as the NFL does. Because of this, I don't know that it can ever be truly fixed.
Still, the NFL is determined to try. Today they announced a whole slew of changes to the Pro Bowl. At the top of the list is that there is no more AFC/NFC teams, they will be going to a fantasy style draft. In basic form, the two highest vote-getters, along with two fantasy winners at NFL.com, and Deion Sanders and Jerry Rice will form two teams, and they will draft players who were voted in. So one top vote-getter, one fantasy winner and Deion will be one team, the others will form the other team. This draft will be televised.
I'll bet even money that the draft will be more entertaining and draw more of an audience than the game. We'd love to see if someone will choose Peyton Manning over Adrian Peterson. Do you want to draft the best wide receivers early and try to run up the points? Will some system players who have their abilities limited by rule changes in the game drop towards the bottom of the draft? And how about the Mr. Irrelevant in the draft? Will he take some abuse for being the last child picked on the playground? Now that could be interesting.
Also, they will be making these rule changes.
Game within the Game - A two-minute warning will be added to the first and third quarters and the ball will change hands after each quarter. This will increase the opportunities for quarterbacks to direct "two-minute drills," which are especially exciting for fans.
No Kickoffs - The coin toss will determine which team is awarded possession first. The ball will be placed on the 25-yard line at the start of each quarter and after scoring plays.
Rosters - The rosters will continue to consist of 43 players per squad. The kick return specialist will be replaced by an additional defensive back.
Cover Two and Press Coverage - The defense will be permitted to play "cover two" and "press" coverage. In previous years, only "man" coverage was permitted, except for goal line situations.
Stopping of the Game Clock - Beginning at the two-minute mark of every quarter, if the offense does not gain at least one yard, the clock will stop as if the play were an incomplete pass. This rule will make the team with the ball attempt to gain yardage toward the end of each quarter.
Game Timing - The game clock will start after an incomplete pass on the signal of the referee, except inside the last two minutes of the first half and the last five minutes of the second half.
Play Clock - A 35-second/25-second play clock will be adopted instead of the typical 40-second/25-second clock.
Sacks - The game clock will not stop on quarterback sacks outside of the final two minutes of the game. Currently, the game clock stops in these situations outside of two minutes of the second and fourth quarters.
Taking a break from training camp for a moment, let's take a look at the changes the NFL just made to the Pro Bowl. Most NFL fans range from indifference to loathing of the NFL's version of an All-Star game. I'd guess I've watched 20 minutes total of the last five Pro Bowls. To me, the NFL version of an All-Star game suffers from some inherent disadvantages that just can't be fixed.
One is the violence of the game. For it to be played right and in a compelling nature, players need to go all out and hit each other, and hit hard. But no one wants to get hurt in the Pro Bowl. It leads to a bastard form of football that isn't very watchable. As a corollary reason, partly because of the violence they have to play it at the end of the year instead of in-season. This leads to apathy from many fans. Also, because of safety issues, the rules are significantly altered to limit blitzes, going in motion, overload formations and a variety of other strategic decisions. Again, this leads to a bastard form of football. Lastly, football is the ultimate team game, it requires intricate design with players working in unison to make things happen. Throwing together a bunch of guys from different teams and systems makes that hard to replicate. It's a dumbed-down version of the game. Other leagues suffer from some of these issues, but not all of them at once and not as severely as the NFL does. Because of this, I don't know that it can ever be truly fixed.
Still, the NFL is determined to try. Today they announced a whole slew of changes to the Pro Bowl. At the top of the list is that there is no more AFC/NFC teams, they will be going to a fantasy style draft. In basic form, the two highest vote-getters, along with two fantasy winners at NFL.com, and Deion Sanders and Jerry Rice will form two teams, and they will draft players who were voted in. So one top vote-getter, one fantasy winner and Deion will be one team, the others will form the other team. This draft will be televised.
I'll bet even money that the draft will be more entertaining and draw more of an audience than the game. We'd love to see if someone will choose Peyton Manning over Adrian Peterson. Do you want to draft the best wide receivers early and try to run up the points? Will some system players who have their abilities limited by rule changes in the game drop towards the bottom of the draft? And how about the Mr. Irrelevant in the draft? Will he take some abuse for being the last child picked on the playground? Now that could be interesting.
Also, they will be making these rule changes.
Game within the Game - A two-minute warning will be added to the first and third quarters and the ball will change hands after each quarter. This will increase the opportunities for quarterbacks to direct "two-minute drills," which are especially exciting for fans.
No Kickoffs - The coin toss will determine which team is awarded possession first. The ball will be placed on the 25-yard line at the start of each quarter and after scoring plays.
Rosters - The rosters will continue to consist of 43 players per squad. The kick return specialist will be replaced by an additional defensive back.
Cover Two and Press Coverage - The defense will be permitted to play "cover two" and "press" coverage. In previous years, only "man" coverage was permitted, except for goal line situations.
Stopping of the Game Clock - Beginning at the two-minute mark of every quarter, if the offense does not gain at least one yard, the clock will stop as if the play were an incomplete pass. This rule will make the team with the ball attempt to gain yardage toward the end of each quarter.
Game Timing - The game clock will start after an incomplete pass on the signal of the referee, except inside the last two minutes of the first half and the last five minutes of the second half.
Play Clock - A 35-second/25-second play clock will be adopted instead of the typical 40-second/25-second clock.
Sacks - The game clock will not stop on quarterback sacks outside of the final two minutes of the game. Currently, the game clock stops in these situations outside of two minutes of the second and fourth quarters.
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It gets good ratings actually but yea this is retarded .
Feels like a trial balloon for the elimination of the kickoff
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I love the guy. He runs his mouth like crazy, and he is pretty funny. Only downside is he talks about World of Warcraft...alot.
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Pro Bowlers may not be wearing their usual team helmets
Posted by Mike Florio on July 31, 2013, 2:55 PM EDT
The elimination of conference affiliations creates all sorts of interesting possibilities at the Pro Bowl. Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs could have a chance to sack Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco.
Making the moment even more surreal would be the wearing of a Ravens helmet by each player at the moment of impact.
For that reason and others (like distinguishing receivers from defensive backs), there’s a chance that the Pro Bowlers won’t be wearing their normal team helmets.
“To be determined,” NFL spokesman Greg Aiello told PFT via email as to the question of whether the helmets the players ordinarily wear would be replaced with, for example, helmets matching the name and color of the Pro Bowl teams.
Though many will object to the ditching of the players’ helmets, there’s a marketing opportunity that comes from coming up with new uniforms, logos, and colors for the two Pro Bowl teams. Instead of the usual red and blue duds, the Pro Bowl uniforms could become the league’s 33rd and 34th franchises, with names and jerseys that would cultivate fan allegiances that would endure year to year, generating more interest in watching the game.
They’d be two largely fictional teams that, for five days per year, would become very real. And kids everywhere possibly would want the jersey or helmet of whichever team becomes their favorite team in the two-franchise Pro Bowl league.
Of course, improved game play would help in that regard. In an upcoming post, we’ll address whether that can be expected.
Posted by Mike Florio on July 31, 2013, 2:55 PM EDT
The elimination of conference affiliations creates all sorts of interesting possibilities at the Pro Bowl. Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs could have a chance to sack Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco.
Making the moment even more surreal would be the wearing of a Ravens helmet by each player at the moment of impact.
For that reason and others (like distinguishing receivers from defensive backs), there’s a chance that the Pro Bowlers won’t be wearing their normal team helmets.
“To be determined,” NFL spokesman Greg Aiello told PFT via email as to the question of whether the helmets the players ordinarily wear would be replaced with, for example, helmets matching the name and color of the Pro Bowl teams.
Though many will object to the ditching of the players’ helmets, there’s a marketing opportunity that comes from coming up with new uniforms, logos, and colors for the two Pro Bowl teams. Instead of the usual red and blue duds, the Pro Bowl uniforms could become the league’s 33rd and 34th franchises, with names and jerseys that would cultivate fan allegiances that would endure year to year, generating more interest in watching the game.
They’d be two largely fictional teams that, for five days per year, would become very real. And kids everywhere possibly would want the jersey or helmet of whichever team becomes their favorite team in the two-franchise Pro Bowl league.
Of course, improved game play would help in that regard. In an upcoming post, we’ll address whether that can be expected.
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I like the idea of making it into a bunch of skill challenges. I don’t know if they still do them but i enjoyed the QB challenges. Something like Pros vs Joes would be cool. The pro-bowl doesn’t work, because the risk vs reward isn’t worth it.