Big changes could indeed be coming to the most meaningless NFL game of the year.
In a poll posted by the league at NFLFanHuddle.com, a device used by one of the league’s marketing groups to get feedback from fans, a question is raised containing detailed information regarding potential changes to the Pro Bowl.
“The NFL is proposing changes to its 2014 Pro Bowl,” begins the question that was forwarded to PFT by a reader who requested anonymity.
Under the proposal, fans would vote during the season for the top NFL players at each position regardless of conference. For example, instead of voting for three NFC and three AFC quarterbacks, the fans would vote for six quarterbacks from the entire league. (It’s unclear whether players and coaches would still vote on the players, too. Currently, fans, players, and coaches each count for one third of the total vote.)
In December, 86 players selected to the Pro Bowl would be announced, with no specific team affiliation.
Then, on the Wednesday before the game, a draft of the teams would be conducted. The “front office” would include: (1) a prominent NFL alumnus for each team; (2) the highest vote-getter on offense and the highest vote-getter on defense, with each serving as the on-field captain of a team; and (3) the two fans who scored the most points this season playing NFL.com Fantasy Football.
The poll then asks the fans who respond to gauge their level of interest, from “very interested” to “somewhat interested” to “a little bit interested” to “not at all interested.” (We’ll conduct the same poll below.)
This meshes with reports that a draft format “may happen” this season, and the involvement of two fans would give the Pro Bowl the reported “game show” feel.
Finally, a separate poll asks the fans to rank in order of preference the potential name of the new Pro Bowl: (1) Pro Bowl: The Players’ Game; (2) Pro Bowl: All-Star Pick-Up Game; (3) Pro Bowl: Player Selection Draft; (4) Pro Bowl: All-Star Fantasy; and (5) Pro Bowl: All-Star Fantasy game.
Vote below on the changes, and add any other comments you want.
[polldaddy poll=7279545]