Why 2016 Pro Bowl may have foreshadowed dark days to come in the NFL. (Part II)
So, let me recap Part I for those that did not care to read it:
Average total points per game in a Pro Bowl from (1996-05): 61.7
Roger Goodell era average total points per game in a Pro Bowl (2006-15): 72.9
This year 43 players opted out of the Pro Bowl (14 of those are in Super Bowl)
Average non-premium regular season ticket: $86
Average Pro Bowl ticket: $129 (Not including travel/lodging)
In short. The game is becoming less interesting, has less star studded and more of a glorified 7-on-7 with third tier team players. In Part II I want to talk about moving the Pro Bowl date and who is really missing out and why.
In 2010 Goodell thought it was a good idea to move the Pro Bowl before the Super Bowl. I have no idea who is this for or why this is good for the game. With the current system you automatically lose every player that is going to the Super Bowl. Which, most likely, is a lot of players that received Pro Bowl bids. And it is also very likely that one or both of the offensive/defensive MVPs are playing in it. If not the MVP I am the odds are there are a few runner ups in it as well as slew of sought after players.
Lets use this year as an example. TEN Carolina Panthers and FOUR Denver Broncos were supposed to play in the Pro Bowl. Lets also highlight one of those ten Panthers is the possible league MVP in quarterback Cam Newton. Now Carolina fans and Denver fans careless about the Pro Bowl because they no longer have a 'dog in the fight' if you will. Yes. They get to go to the Super Bowl. Yes. That is much better than any Pro Bowl. But, by moving it to the week after it you can bill certain players as Super Bowl Champ and now both cities can now participate in viewing or attending the Pro Bowl. And more than likely the winning team's fans would be more included to watch or go now because they just won a Super Bowl and would like to:
A. Rub it in others' faces
B. Keep celebrating the win
C. Continue to rub it in others' faces
Also, with that extra week in between maybe a few players would be more inclined to play. Maybe they skipped because they were still reeling from a post-season loss, or they had a little ache or pain that has now dissipated. Yes, that is just guessing but anything has to be better than the current system in place.
Lets not forget the payday that comes with a Pro Bowl game.
According to www.statista.com this years Pro Bowl winners received 58k and the LOSERS 29K. (http://www.statista.com/statistics/206560/nfl-pro-bowl-player-compensation/) I am sure that compensation for a week in Hawaii to play in a fluff bowl is more than appealing to guys that have had more down time. And I think once the dust is settled after the Super Bowl I believe more players would be inclined to participate because by that time the season is officially over.
Finally, in Part III (which will be out tomorrow) I will talk about why all these Pro Bowl problems are pointing to dark days ahead in the National Football League and in football in general as a player, a coach and as a fan.
Average total points per game in a Pro Bowl from (1996-05): 61.7
Roger Goodell era average total points per game in a Pro Bowl (2006-15): 72.9
This year 43 players opted out of the Pro Bowl (14 of those are in Super Bowl)
Average non-premium regular season ticket: $86
Average Pro Bowl ticket: $129 (Not including travel/lodging)
In short. The game is becoming less interesting, has less star studded and more of a glorified 7-on-7 with third tier team players. In Part II I want to talk about moving the Pro Bowl date and who is really missing out and why.
In 2010 Goodell thought it was a good idea to move the Pro Bowl before the Super Bowl. I have no idea who is this for or why this is good for the game. With the current system you automatically lose every player that is going to the Super Bowl. Which, most likely, is a lot of players that received Pro Bowl bids. And it is also very likely that one or both of the offensive/defensive MVPs are playing in it. If not the MVP I am the odds are there are a few runner ups in it as well as slew of sought after players.
Lets use this year as an example. TEN Carolina Panthers and FOUR Denver Broncos were supposed to play in the Pro Bowl. Lets also highlight one of those ten Panthers is the possible league MVP in quarterback Cam Newton. Now Carolina fans and Denver fans careless about the Pro Bowl because they no longer have a 'dog in the fight' if you will. Yes. They get to go to the Super Bowl. Yes. That is much better than any Pro Bowl. But, by moving it to the week after it you can bill certain players as Super Bowl Champ and now both cities can now participate in viewing or attending the Pro Bowl. And more than likely the winning team's fans would be more included to watch or go now because they just won a Super Bowl and would like to:
A. Rub it in others' faces
B. Keep celebrating the win
C. Continue to rub it in others' faces
Also, with that extra week in between maybe a few players would be more inclined to play. Maybe they skipped because they were still reeling from a post-season loss, or they had a little ache or pain that has now dissipated. Yes, that is just guessing but anything has to be better than the current system in place.
Lets not forget the payday that comes with a Pro Bowl game.
According to www.statista.com this years Pro Bowl winners received 58k and the LOSERS 29K. (http://www.statista.com/statistics/206560/nfl-pro-bowl-player-compensation/) I am sure that compensation for a week in Hawaii to play in a fluff bowl is more than appealing to guys that have had more down time. And I think once the dust is settled after the Super Bowl I believe more players would be inclined to participate because by that time the season is officially over.
Finally, in Part III (which will be out tomorrow) I will talk about why all these Pro Bowl problems are pointing to dark days ahead in the National Football League and in football in general as a player, a coach and as a fan.
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