(07-08-2024, 05:36 PM)rpr52121 Wrote:

(07-08-2024, 05:00 PM)Caldrac Wrote: https://www.instagram.com/p/C9K-cOpyKRM/...NmJwdmhucQ==

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Wouldn't fewer players participate if there was a chance they could be injured right before a playoff push?

Also would't this create even weirder pro-bowl selections because it is earlier in the season for players/coaches to cast their vote?

Also it's not like the MLB, NBA or NHL all star games are doing all that well either. They keep trying to shake up the NBA one because no one plays defense and no one case. The 3 pt contest is almost bigger. The MLB game is basically a sideshow to the home run derby which is also not that big a deal anymore. NHL's has done so poorly that they are going to 4 countries tourney with players from the 4 most common home countries.

I think the pro-bowl game is still over with in this scenario.  Pro-bowl festivities just means participating in the weekend festivities, celebration and availability to the fans that are present.  It would probably draw more eyes being placed during the regular season.  If a player wants to abstain from playing dodgeball or whatever it is they do for fear of injury, fine, but I think many would still do such things or a least participate in some of the skills comps like QBs throwing the ball at motorized moving targets like they used to back in the day.  Also, I agree that middle of the season is too early for final pro-bowl selections.  Might need it to be somewhere between weeks 14 and 17 so everyone has the same late season bye as their 2nd bye with most of the season behind them and comes out rested for the final 3-6 weeks of playoff push football.  

All that said, I don't think the league will give up an entire weekend of having no NFL football during the regular season, especially during December which is prime football watching time.   No way the Pro Bowl festivities will rake in anything near what a weekend of meaningful NFL games does even if it's placed in-season.  It would have to be a real game played for real financial incentives with added incentives for the game winner and individual award winners to warrant any significant interest from the players and fans and that's not happening.

No, they should be more interested in using the added bye to properly buffer teams playing Thursday night games and international games.

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