Pro Bowl More Fun to Watch This Year?

[salamander]

Don't know about you folks but I am enjoying seeing Coach Harbs interact with with the different players in the league, especially our rivals. I may actually really enjoy watching it this year. Not a bad PR move either for players around the league to get to know and hopefully like our coaches? Do you think it may get the Ravens any more free agents possibly on the radar as a result? Can't hurt? Do you feel that our Ravens staff coaching at least is adding a more interesting local twist this year as opposed to just our players?

[rmcjacket23]

FA is about money. If two teams are offering the same amount of money, then yes, relationships can matter.

 

Other than that, I see no real benefit.

[salamander]

It's interesting to see rival reactions like Antonio Brown's change of opinion of Harbs from thinking he was a [jerk] to being complimentary....at least til the next Steelers game.

[salamander]

ooops. Sorry mod. I didn't spell out Brown's exact words but I guess it was close enough. Well, at least Brown did seem to change his opinion after meeting Harbs. I think it's generally an refreshing  opportunity for players to get to know each other as teammates instead of opponents for 1 game a year.  Glad to see Justin Forsett's dream year being fulfilled a little more with the Pro Bowl. Harbs certainly looks like he is having a blast as well

[airconteka1]

Hopefully Harbs realizes how good it is to have a quality WR and demands one in the draft

[salamander]

I agree that Harbaugh will witness the collection of the NFLs most elite receivers and perhaps push the WR need a little higher up the draft need list (after the secondary of course). Some of these young WRs making it to the Pro Bowl are from pretty recent drafts and they are reaching the highest levels in their early years.  Would be nice

[Challenge Accepted]

Would've been even better if Joe attended the pro bowl. WE can finally see how he would do with elite receiving talent.

[ravensdfan]

Hopefully Harbs realizes how good it is to have a quality WR and demands one in the draft

I was thinking this very thing when I saw the piece of him interacting with Brown.

[salamander]

How could Harbaugh not be be marveling at the talent of these WRs?  "Challenge Accepted", I was also thinking about Joe and imagining how interesting it would be to see what he could do with the leagues top receivers. At least Joe had good reason to turn the Pro Bowl down due to the birth of the baby. I was also wondering , if Joe did go this year how far or up or down he would have gone in the Pro Bowl draft. I would have been mad if Joe sat in that green room or whatever its called and be  the last QB picked or assigned. If Joe were picked behind Andy Dalton that would have been nothing short of humiliating. Hope the public respect has grown a bit for Joe but he still isn't respected on the level he deserves.  

[AsianRice]

Would've been even better if Joe attended the pro bowl. WE can finally see how he would do with elite receiving talent.

If he turns on Mr January Joe, the other might cry for Joe running up scores on them.....

[salamander]

I really hope Joe gets voted in to Pro Bowl next year even if he can't go (Super Bowl) or doesn't want to go. I do think Joe has gotten better press/respect this year but it wouldn't shock me if he got snubbed  next year again even if he does great. Who do you think got the biggest snubs this year who were most deserving strictly talent wise?

[ratedr]

I really hope Joe gets voted in to Pro Bowl next year even if he can't go (Super Bowl) or doesn't want to go. I do think Joe has gotten better press/respect this year but it wouldn't shock me if he got snubbed  next year again even if he does great. Who do you think got the biggest snubs this year who were most deserving strictly talent wise?

Not sure how Eli was snubbed in favor of Ryan, Dalton and Stafford. Eli and Flacco are treated pretty similarly by fans and the media.

[The Raven]

The Pro Bowl is fun to watch, if and only if you just accept it for what it is. This is the one game a year where you get to see NFL players play a light pickup game of football, just like we do. If you're expecting a gladiator fight like Ravens-Steelers, you won't be happy. But that's not what the Pro Bowl is about anymore. It's just a fun pickup game of football. To me, the Pro Bowl is all about getting football back to its roots: Having fun. The stress of season is ridiculous, and fans, players and coaches lose sight that football is, first and foremost, a game. The Pro Bowl reminds us what football really is. It's fun. For that, I enjoy watching it and all the festivities surrounding it.

[Alexir]

I can't watch it, it hasn't been fun since 2006 or 2007 when they had skills competition. Just watch the NHL All Star Skills today and it was more fun and interesting than the pro bowl game ever has been.

[DMH_in_WA]

Now that there's not even the AFC vs NFC competition, I don't even pay attention; and I wasn't watching even before they did that. Romo and Luck I have no problem with being at the ProBowl. The other 4 QBs should be sitting at home thinking about how they messed up their teams this year instead of hanging out in Arizona padding their professional resumes with something they didn't earn. (Said with the least amount of venom you can muster and with a sad shake of the head 'cause I don't really care when it comes down to it.)

[salamander]

I agree, "The Raven" that it's nothing more than a very light pick up game. I actually found it entertaining enough to watch the whole game last year because there was  some visibility of a desire to at least "semi play to win" and put forth some effort. I enjoy seeing players in a different light and interacting in a way they never would during the season. I am finding the local twist with Harbaugh and the coaching staff a fun reason that I am actually looking forward to watching the game, although once is year is enough. It looks like Harbaugh is totally enjoying his role at the Pro Bowl as much as any of the players

[salamander]

Not sure how Eli was snubbed in favor of Ryan, Dalton and Stafford. Eli and Flacco are treated pretty similarly by fans and the media.

That's for sure. Eli gets his share of snubs, especially compared to guys like Ryan and Dalton. Do you see any change in how Flacco is being treated by the media? Post season commentary was supportive because nobody in the media could deny what Joe accomplished. The regular season media didn't appear to bash Joe as much this year, or am I hallucinating? The media has been pretty critical or downright mocking of Joe in years past which influences the national popular vote but I do see some change. Joe is not 1 of the flashy golden boys the media hypes 

[rafahash]

It will be more interesting than usual, but it won't be interesting

[salamander]

Prior to last year, I couldn't watch the whole game due to such a lack of effort. The NFL threats of doing away with the Pro Bowl did kind of get the players attention to play harder and I did actually enjoy it last year. Changing the format with a draft I think helped amp up the desire to win a bit beyond the financial gain to the winner

[berad]

Not sure why they took it away from Hawaii, other than to have cities bid on the opportunity.

 

Guys are out in Arizona shivering, wear long-sleeved clothing. They should be relaxing somewhere warm and exotic, i.e. Hawaii. They moved in to Miami a few years ago and Ray Lewis (iirc) said it wasn't much of a vacation because he, and other Pro Bowlers, live there lol. Not many NFL players live in Hawaii, that'd be a good reward for them.

 

That's just my opinion, though.

[stopyellingatthetv]

I like the new format and Harbaugh being a competitor, I think he'll push his team to play hard...I have also enjoyed watching the interactions and it's nice to see Forsett having so much fun! 

[Bltravens]

Not sure how Eli was snubbed in favor of Ryan, Dalton and Stafford. Eli and Flacco are treated pretty similarly by fans and the media.

My opinion Eli isn't treated harshly enough and I don't really care much for when NFL talking bobble heads compare the two.  Eli is far more careless with the football and for his entire career has had better WR options to throw to.

 

Not sure why they took it away from Hawaii, other than to have cities bid on the opportunity.

 

Guys are out in Arizona shivering, wear long-sleeved clothing. They should be relaxing somewhere warm and exotic, i.e. Hawaii. They moved in to Miami a few years ago and Ray Lewis (iirc) said it wasn't much of a vacation because he, and other Pro Bowlers, live there lol. Not many NFL players live in Hawaii, that'd be a good reward for them.

 

That's just my opinion, though.

I agree as well. Players enjoyed it because it was a relax time.  Pro Bowl has never had much football value.

[ratedr]

That's for sure. Eli gets his share of snubs, especially compared to guys like Ryan and Dalton. Do you see any change in how Flacco is being treated by the media? Post season commentary was supportive because nobody in the media could deny what Joe accomplished. The regular season media didn't appear to bash Joe as much this year, or am I hallucinating? The media has been pretty critical or downright mocking of Joe in years past which influences the national popular vote but I do see some change. Joe is not 1 of the flashy golden boys the media hypes 

Flacco has been getting a lot more respect after the recent playoff run, even in defeat. At the very least, only the most stubborn of jackals (like Pats homer Heath Evans who calls it all luck) won't give Flacco credit for his playoff acumen. Most rankings I see these days have Flacco at least in the top 12. The media was pretty quiet on him in the regular season, probably because his numbers were actually good this year. Barnwell (noted Flacco hater, though strangely enough Eli homer) only mentioned Flacco once all year in his columns, and unsurprisingly enough it was after the Houston game.

 

I do agree with Bltravens who said that Flacco to this point has been better than Eli matching their careers year by year, Eli is far more turnover prone and has definitely had better offensive talent to work with.

[salamander]

I like the new format and Harbaugh being a competitor, I think he'll push his team to play hard...I have also enjoyed watching the interactions and it's nice to see Forsett having so much fun!

It looks like Harbs is trying to crank up his team and I am hoping there are a few trick or crazy plays to make it more fun. It looks like every player there seems to be enjoying the opportunity to hang out and remember how much fun football is....to forget the high demands of being a pro and play more like kids having a hoot.

I'm with Berad and think the players would definitely prefer to take off for Hawaii.

[salamander]

Does anyone know why the Pro Bowl did away with the skills challenges? Were they considered too boring or what else could be the reason? Other sports have a high level of fan interest in skills challenges. You'd think that they could just come up with some new challenges rather than bag the whole idea?

[FlocksGottaFeed]

Does anyone know why the Pro Bowl did away with the skills challenges? Were they considered too boring or what else could be the reason? Other sports have a high level of fan interest in skills challenges. You'd think that they could just come up with some new challenges rather than bag the whole idea?

Not 100% certain, but it seems they were eliminated because of injury concerns. There were a few players who had injuries during the game and skill challenges and it put the NFL in clean-up mode. Drew Brees' injury scared the crap out of owners. Now, we have a 'kinder/softer' Pro Bowl that's completely irrelevant as far as the sport goes.

 

It's cool that we'll get to see Harb and some of our favorite players, but I think they should have added a new skills challenge: Madden and just let them play an elimination tournament instead of an actual 'non-contact' game with nothing at stake.

 

That would be more fun.

[salamander]

I can understand injury concerns for the game itself but I don't recall any injury concerns for a skill competition. To a lot of people the skills competition was the best part, regardless of some of the elite players not attending. It's the entertainment value of the events especially in MLB and the NBA that are so popular and seems like the NFL could be a bit more creative in the types of skill events. If the game itself is watered down with contact/injury concerns, seems like the NFl could shift the emphasis to better non contact skill events, even pair or group events. Laughed at the "play Madden instead" comment. The NFL does want to increase the Pro Bowl interest. Just seems odd to me that they can't come up with viable alternatives for the entertainment(=revenue) value alone.

[harfordravenfan]

Not sure why they took it away from Hawaii, other than to have cities bid on the opportunity.

Guys are out in Arizona shivering, wear long-sleeved clothing. They should be relaxing somewhere warm and exotic, i.e. Hawaii. They moved in to Miami a few years ago and Ray Lewis (iirc) said it wasn't much of a vacation because he, and other Pro Bowlers, live there lol. Not many NFL players live in Hawaii, that'd be a good reward for them.

That's just my opinion, though.

Totally agree with you there and could be a reason some players decline...Arizona? Come on goodell

[harfordravenfan]

It looks like Harbs is trying to crank up his team and I am hoping there are a few trick or crazy plays to make it more fun. It looks like every player there seems to be enjoying the opportunity to hang out and remember how much fun football is....to forget the high demands of being a pro and play more like kids having a hoot.

I'm with Berad and think the players would definitely prefer to take off for Hawaii.

Harbs should run that pats play with the substitutions and check the psi of the balls when he knows he's on camera lol

[salamander]

Harbs should run that pats play with the substitutions and check the psi of the balls when he knows he's on camera lol

That's the absolute best/funniest suggestion of all time for the pro Bowl...The fans would be glued to their TVs....the NFL would have gas. Talk about a social commentary on what's been going on! Now that's would be making the loudest statement ever without having to say a word. You are either a member of MENSA or a cast member of Saturday Night Live. Somebody please call Harbs and give him your additions to the game plan