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Report: NFL Considering Having Captains Pick Pro Bowl Teams, Among Other Changes to Game

The Pro Bowl was the most-watched all-star game among the four major sports yet again this year, but the NFL is still considering putting a stop to the annual event. But some proposed changes could spice things up and make the game exciting again.

Led by commissioner Roger Goodell, the NFL is considering a bevy of changes to their all-star format, foremost among them using the NHL’s draft concept where team captains choose players for each team, according to the NFL Network.

The game could also see structural changes that would include the game moving from Hawaii and using rotating locations in the future. The owners have also discussed altered payout methods for the players.  The compensation could be broken down into quarters or halves to help entice more players to participate and increase the intensity level. The participation problem has been an issue for years now, and the NFLPA is attempting to do more to get the players involved.

The only aspect of the current state of the game that won’t change is the timing. The NFL seems to like the idea of having the game during the week before the Super Bowl, even though it keeps all Super Bowl players from participating, and plans to keep that same date.

The so-called “draft” idea is closer to being implemented than any of the other proposed rumors, according to NFL Network’s Albert Breer, but all ideas are being weighed and considered.

There is no specific timeline for the changes to be implemented, but the NFL hopes to have them in place by May.

It’s always nice to keep the product fresh, but this does seem like a whole lot of work for a game that is still drawing solid ratings.

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