Football
Related: About this forumNFL replaces Pro Bowl with 'The Pro Bowl Games' featuring weeklong skills competitions
The NFL is replacing the Pro Bowl with weeklong skills competitions and a flag football game, the league announced Monday.
The new event will replace the full-contact showcase started in 1951. It will be renamed "The Pro Bowl Games" and will feature AFC and NFC players showcasing their football and non-football skills in challenges over several days. The 2023 Games will be held in Las Vegas, and the flag football game at Allegiant Stadium is Feb. 5.
Peyton Manning and his Omaha Productions company will help shape programming and promote the event's content throughout the week. Manning, a 14-time Pro Bowl pick during his Hall of Fame career, will provide his perspective and will also be a part of the coaching staff for flag game.
"The Pro Bowl is something that we've been looking at for a while, really continuing to evolve," NFL executive Peter O'Reilly told The Associated Press. "Coming out of last year's game, we really made the decision based on a lot of internal conversations, getting feedback from GMs and coaches, getting a lot of feedback from players. We think there's a real opportunity to do something wholly different here and move away from the traditional tackle football game. We decided the goal is to celebrate 88 of the biggest stars in the NFL in a really positive, fun, yet competitive way.
"The feedback very directly from guys who had been in the Pro Bowl recently was to keep the construct of the week, make sure you're having that multiday element. It was overwhelmingly positive both from players as well as from clubs."
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/34669351/nfl-replaces-pro-bowl-pro-bowl-games-featuring-weeklong-skills-competitions-flag-football-game
snowybirdie
(5,664 posts)They're trying to keep fans interested even after its all over. Didn't work for Pro Bowl. Real stars won't participate.
TheRealNorth
(9,629 posts)So I am glad they are finally getting rid of it.