NFL Pro Bowl to undergo major format changes

The NFL Pro Bowl will barely resemble its former self when it is next played on Jan. 26, 2014.

In fact, the game might bear little resemblance to actual football after the changes announced Wednesday by the league and players association are put in place.

Perhaps the biggest change is that the Pro Bowl will no longer be a battle between the AFC and NFC. The participating players will still be selected by fans, players and coaches, but without taking conference into consideration.

Then Hall of Famers Deion Sanders and Jerry Rice will serve as team captains for a fantasy football-style draft to determine the rosters for each squad. The draft take place live on the NFL Network four days before the actual game.

The NHL has used a similar format for its all-star game for the last few years. Still, won’t it kind of diminish the thrill of being chosen as a Pro Bowler if you’re the very last person selected for one of the squads?

The game on the field will be kind of strange as well. Kickoffs are a thing of the past. The ball will be placed on the 25-yard line at the start of each quarter and after a team scores.

Also, there will be a two-minute warning before the end of each quarter, with the ball changing hands once the clock runs down. This is supposed to increase the chances for two-minute drills, which fans apparently love enough for the league to impose silly new rules.

Some of the changes may seem pretty radical, but I say they haven’t gone far enough. They should eliminate the football entirely and have the teams play Hungry, Hungry Hippos instead. Blindfolded. With both hands tied behind their backs. While wearing hula skirts (it is in Hawaii after all).

Maybe then we’d finally have a Pro Bowl worth watching.

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