Goodell: Pro Bowl game 'doesn't work'
The NFL is examining new options to honor its top performers in place of a traditional Pro Bowl game, league commissioner Roger Goodell said Tuesday.
"The (Pro Bowl) game doesn’t work. We need to find another way to celebrate the players," Goodell told reporters, including NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.
The NFL discussed eliminating the traditional Pro Bowl game during its annual spring meeting in Atlanta and is reportedly exploring the potential of showcasing the players without having a game.
A decision should come this summer after the league discusses the matter with players and its television partners, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.
Fans and players have heavily scrutinized the All-Star contest, citing the lack of intensity compared to a regular-season contest, with some players opting out of the game entirely.
The Pro Bowl has remained uncompetitive despite handing out incentives of $80,000 to players of the winning team and $40,000 to those on the losing team.
The league previously attempted to spice up the game by electing team captains and holding a fantasy football-style draft to assign each team's roster. The exhibition contest even went virtual in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Last year's edition of the game drew 6.69-million viewers across all platforms, making it the smallest audience since 2006, according to The Spun'sAndrew McCarty.
The NFL has played the traditional Pro Bowl game since 1938.