Not long ago, the Pro Bowl was in a coma. And Commissioner Roger Goodell was ready to pull the plug.
Now, a day after the first unconferenced, fantasy-style, teammate-vs-teammate game, Goodell has declared the annual all-star game to be in a much better state of health.
“You have to admit it was very competitive,” Goodell told ESPN Radio’s Mike & Mike in the Morning. “Exciting. Fun. I think the players played much harder.”
Goodell liked the changes, as suggested by NFLPA president Domonique Foxworth.
“I believe it was a very, very positive step,” Goodell said. “I salute the players.”
The players generally want to keep the Pro Bowl, but they realize that it’s not wise to take unwarranted risks with their health in late January, especially those who are due to become free agents.
For at least one night, they set enough of those concerns aside to make the game look more like a real NFL game. Which means that the non-real postseason game known as the Pro Bowl is likely to continue, at least for the foreseeable future.
