New Pro bowl format....

[crash]

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.

Rules

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.

 

[deep9er]

these rule changes seems reasonable to me?

as long as they keep holding the game in Hawaii. so spend, spend, spend all your money.........in Hawaii.

 

[threelittleturds]

So, it is basically a live-action Fantasy Football game? Getting rid of the AFC vs NFC thing might be interesting, Brady or Manning throwing to Megatron sort of thing.

They just eliminated one way to determine if a player is HoF worthy. Now a Pro-Bowl selection means nothing. I'm guessing the Rice and Deion positions are there to prevent some dummy from skipping over players just because he hates the team?

 

[Pattersonca65]

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.

Rules

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.

Havent watched a probowl game in years. They ought to just do away with it.

 

[#1BostonFan]

Doesn't matter it's a meaningless game that no one watches. Just get rid of it.

 

[imac_21]

So, it is basically a live-action Fantasy Football game? Getting rid of the AFC vs NFC thing might be interesting, Brady or Manning throwing to Megatron sort of thing.

They just eliminated one way to determine if a player is HoF worthy. Now a Pro-Bowl selection means nothing. I'm guessing the Rice and Deion positions are there to prevent some dummy from skipping over players just because he hates the team?

I assume they're doing it the same way as the NHL, who introduced this a couple years back. The captains don't get to choose from the entire NFL population. There will still be the traditional pro bowl voting by fans, players and coaches. The captains will then pick from that pool of players (the top two vote getters are the captains).

 

[Pattersonca65]

Doesn't matter it's a meaningless game that no one watches. Just get rid of it.

I agree

 

[darken65]

I agree with most here. the pro bowl as it is should be gone. My idea some years back was to make it a position competition ,I.E. QB challenge with O and D lines present ,WR challenge with DBs Etc. Fan voting only counting for 15% due to homerism....the rest split between players and coaches. I still feel that it would be a good release for these great players to get down to Hawaii to have some fun but it should happen well after the SB so many of those chosen could attend. Just my opinion.

 

[deep9er]

yes, they will never be able to make it a good game, but at least they're trying. i'd think the NFL would just get rid of the game, but wasn't it the NFLPA that wanted it?

everyone knows its an exhibition game, especially the players, but as long as enough fans want it (ie TV $$), keep holding it. think of it as a 'reward' for players and their families. i'm sure the players want the recognition whether for incentives and/or future pride?

 

[purguy12]

Just get rid of it if they are going to do this. This isnt football. Make the Probowl count. Whoever wins gets the superbowl the following year. NFC wins a NFC team get the superbowl.

 

[NinerSickness]

Just get rid of it if they are going to do this. This isnt football. Make the Probowl count. Whoever wins gets the superbowl the following year. NFC wins a NFC team get the superbowl.

The Pro Bowl does count. They get like a $20,000 bounus for winning the game.

And I don't like your idea about which conference gets the Super Bowl. The Super Bowl is too big to be decided by the Pro Bowl.

 

[tallglassofwater007]

Unless the players actually try, the game will still suck.

 

[imac_21]

The Pro Bowl does count. They get like a $20,000 bounus for winning the game.

And I don't like your idea about which conference gets the Super Bowl. The Super Bowl is too big to be decided by the Pro Bowl.

I'm not sure what you mean by "too big" (importance, or planning), but it would be impossible to give the winning conference home field. SF/SC was just awarded a Super Bowl 3 years before it happens. It isn't like baseball where the two teams playing each host games, and the all star game decides who gets game 7 (essentially).

I think people need to accept it for what it is. It's not a serious game, and if anyone wants that from it they will always be disappointed. I don't know what it is, but I don't really care because I don't watch it.

I don't see how these changes make the game worse or less than what it is. By allowing more coverages, it makes it more like real football.

I wonder if the votes will still be split 50/50 between the AFC and NFC, or will this open up the opportunity for, say, the top 6 QBs to get in regardless of the conference they play in. Maybe we see Kaepernick, Wilson, RG3, Rogers, Brady and Manning next year (except at least one will be in the SB).

 

[MHSL82]

I wonder if the votes will still be split 50/50 between the AFC and NFC, or will this open up the opportunity for, say, the top 6 QBs to get in regardless of the conference they play in. Maybe we see Kaepernick, Wilson, RG3, Rogers, Brady and Manning next year (except at least one will be in the SB).

I think it might evolve to that, as someone gets "snubbed." I put that in quotes because a lot of people or players don't care. But right now, I think they are sticking with the same numbers of players per conference picked, but one team may end up with one more QB than usual and the other with one fewer. Then, it'll switch in some other position.

I wonder if they'll ever go to a drafting system when all the QBs are picked, then the WRs, etc. The only advantage to that would be most QBs would get the same number of plays as their counterparts (starter with other starter, first backup with second backup, etc.) and the drafters could pick which receivers to go with the QBs they have. Like Manning and his former Colts receivers who've switched conferences.

I give the example of Manning because he'll be in the Pro Bowl after he loses in the playoffs. Glad we didn't get him - he in retrospect didn't have much better chance of getting the SB win than Kaepernick, Smith was able to play a bit so we could trade him to a team where he will start (Smith would be a backup right now for some team if Manning came, as the decision was made late in the off-season), and the biggest reason of all, Kaepernick might not have had his chance. And when he did, he'd be replacing "Peyton Manning" - not that anything has been too big of a stage for him.

 

[imac_21]

I think it might evolve to that, as someone gets "snubbed." I put that in quotes because a lot of people or players don't care. But right now, I think they are sticking with the same numbers of players per conference picked, but one team may end up with one more QB than usual and the other with one fewer. Then, it'll switch in some other position.

I wonder if they'll ever go to a drafting system when all the QBs are picked, then the WRs, etc. The only advantage to that would be most QBs would get the same number of plays as their counterparts (starter with other starter, first backup with second backup, etc.) and the drafters could pick which receivers to go with the QBs they have. Like Manning and his former Colts receivers who've switched conferences.

I give the example of Manning because he'll be in the Pro Bowl after he loses in the playoffs. Glad we didn't get him - he in retrospect didn't have much better chance of getting the SB win than Kaepernick, Smith was able to play a bit so we could trade him to a team where he will start (Smith would be a backup right now for some team if Manning came, as the decision was made late in the off-season), and the biggest reason of all, Kaepernick might not have had his chance. And when he did, he'd be replacing "Peyton Manning" - not that anything has been too big of a stage for him.

I don't see that (bold) happening. Each team will have 3 QB slots, once they're filled the other QB(s) automatically go to the other team. As I said in an earlier post, the NFL tranistioned to this a couple years ago. No team has ever had more than half the goalies. If that were a possibility then the strategy is just to draft all the OL (or whatever position group).

 

[MHSL82]

I don't see that (bold) happening. Each team will have 3 QB slots, once they're filled the other QB(s) automatically go to the other team. As I said in an earlier post, the NFL tranistioned to this a couple years ago. No team has ever had more than half the goalies. If that were a possibility then the strategy is just to draft all the OL (or whatever position group).

I didn't know about that and in fact, I had no idea how many QBs are in the pro-bowl because I hadn't paid attention to it. You were talking about changing who gets in the game when your previous post basically said that they won't - as in the voting would be the same to get in. That's what threw me off, I presumed your comment was then about the "drafting" of those players after they were chosen.

I presume that's a rule that the remaining automatically go? Or is that just a practical assumption that will always happen by pragmatic reasoning?

 

[imac_21]

I didn't know about that and in fact, I had no idea how many QBs are in the pro-bowl because I hadn't paid attention to it. You were talking about changing who gets in the game when your previous post basically said that they won't - as in the voting would be the same to get in. That's what threw me off, I presumed your comment was then about the "drafting" of those players after they were chosen.

I presume that's a rule that the remaining automatically go? Or is that just a practical assumption that will always happen by pragmatic reasoning?

I'm not entirely sure what you're saying/asking here, but here goes. . .

Focusing just on QB, there will always be 6 QBs in the Pro Bowl. However, with a fantasy style draft for it, the idea of AFC vs NFC is gone. It stands to reason then, that there is no need to ensure a perfect 50-50 balance at each position from the conferences. Take the top 6 QBs, regardless of team/division/conference and play the game.

I wonder if next year the team names will be "Team Rice" and "Team Sanders."

 

[MHSL82]

I'm not entirely sure what you're saying/asking here, but here goes. . .

Focusing just on QB, there will always be 6 QBs in the Pro Bowl. However, with a fantasy style draft for it, the idea of AFC vs NFC is gone. It stands to reason then, that there is no need to ensure a perfect 50-50 balance at each position from the conferences. Take the top 6 QBs, regardless of team/division/conference and play the game.

I wonder if next year the team names will be "Team Rice" and "Team Sanders."

So you ARE talking about choosing the players for the Pro Bowl game, but not the teams itself. And it was a suggestion, not what you were thinking it was. I read it as what you thought the current arrangements in light of the "draft."

My understanding is there will be 3 AFC QBs and 3 NFC QBs and then there will be a draft with all the players - equal numbers from both conference (43?). I thought this was what you were saying.

From there, I got to this: I was saying that Rice could pick 4 QBs and Sanders be left with 2, regardless of conference.

What you are saying sounded like you were suggesting that this year they will already be choosing the best 6, which could be 4 and 2, for example, from the NFC and AFC, respectively. I don't think they will be doing that, yet - and it turns out I misread you and you were not saying that was what it is right now. One day, someone will say, "hey, we should just pick the best regardless of conference" which will be your scenario, IMO.

 

[MHSL82]

Wow, sometimes things get so convoluted. Oh well, they will happen less and less often, hopefully (but realistically never going away).

 

[Darth_Tom]

It still doesn't seem to interest me to spend time watching.

Get rid of it or put in a skills competition.