The 2016 NFL Pro Bowl was the least-watched Pro Bowl in nine years. Even with the NFL’s popularity, the Pro Bowl ratings have made it clear that fans don’t care for watching half-assed football, and it only makes matters worse when a lot of the stars sit out the half-assed game. 43 (!) players opted out of the 2016 Pro Bowl.
Well, the game itself doesn’t figure to get any better (because players don’t want to risk injury in an exhibition game), and the NFL realizes this. But, they’re at least trying to spice up Pro Bowl week, and perhaps that buzz will reel in some more fans for the actual game.
The NFL announced on Monday that they’re adding a “skills showdown” for the Pro Bowl week festivities next month at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports in Orlando. And one of the four events that will be a part of these skills challenges is dodgeball. Whoa, wait a minute, that deserves caps: DODGEBALL.
Yes, there is actually going to be a dodgeball competition called “Epic Pro Bowl Dodgeball”, as well as a “Power Relay Challenge”, a “Precision Passing” competition, and a “Best Hands” competition, according to the NFL’s press release on the festivities:
Epic Pro Bowl Dodgeball: Pro Bowlers will compete in a game of dodgeball.
Power Relay Challenge: Four team members will compete in a timed relay race.
Precision Passing: Two players on each team will battle it out, trying to hit moving targets of varying size and distance.
Best Hands: Quarterback and wide receiver duos from each team will show off their skills, connecting on as many pass attempts as possible before time runs out.
The 2017 Pro Bowl Legends Captains, JEROME BETTIS and RAY LEWIS of the AFC and TONY GONZALEZ and CHARLES WOODSON of the NFC, will lead their respective squads.
Each team in the Skills Showdown will feature a mix of quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, tight ends, linemen, linebackers, and defensive backs.
This is a great call by the NFL and should make for some fun events, particularly with dodgeball of course (at least until a player blows out an ACL). You can watch the Pro Bowl Skills Showdown Thursday, January 26 at 7:00 PM ET on ESPN.
[NFL.Com]
