The idea of an all-star game has been around since 1939, when NFL players from the 1938 season competed in the Pro All-Star Game. WWII put the game on hold, and it was reincarnated in 1950 as the Pro Bowl. However, this long and storied tradition may soon come to an end.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell recently said on SiriusXM NFL Radio’s “Town Hall,” that unless players’ performances in the game improve, he will discontinue it. He went on to call the most recent Pro Bowl embarrassing, claiming the hard hitting action of a regular season game just wasn’t there. The AFC won the 2012 game 59-41, the second time in the game’s history that the combined points reached 100.
Goodell recognizes the game is an honor and said teams would still be selected by voting players, fans, and coaches. However, it would essentially just be an honorary title, as the players selected won’t actually play the game.
The players banded together to save the game, at least for now. They pledged to play better and increase their performances, and the 2013 Pro Bowl is scheduled for January 27 in Honolulu, Hawaii.
