NFL Pro Bowl Revamp

Let's face it. We know how hard the Pro Bowl can be to watch. For you and I, the more invested fan, it may not be so difficult. However, to the casual fan, this is flat out unwatchable. The Pro Bowl can have its moments to be fair. Players still make great throws and catches. That doesn't take away the lack of tackling and competitiveness seen throughout the game that gives off a sense of disingenuous football. We know its an exhibition game. We know players don't want to risk injury. This is all fine.

Yet, how can we make this more entertaining for the fans? Let's start with what the Pro Bowl gets right. This is a game for the fans so the fans earn the right to pick who they want to see. The backyard captain style of drafting players is a plus. The game staying in Hawaii is also a huge plus. That's pretty much where the good part ends.

Here are some changes and innovations we at The FreeLancers think should come to the Pro Bowl in 2017.

An All-Star Weekend

Much like the NBA, the NFL should adopt an All-Star Weekend. Call it the Pro Bowl Weekend. Have events leading up to the game itself. There's no doubt people will come fill the seats for two more days in Hawaii. Adding two more days of football would surely increase profit, which the NFL would comply with. Here are some ideas as to what the other two days of events could consist.

A Rising Stars Bowl

I know, more NBA comparisons. Having a game between NFC and AFC rookie or sophomore players could be very interesting. Although, this may mean these players wouldn't partake in the actual Pro Bowl on Sunday.

Top Collegiate players play top NFL players

We are all sick of the "Could Alabama beat the Titans?" talk. This game would put an end to it. However, this idea would be unlikely as many of the top collegiate players would have serious risk of hurting their draft stock. Playing against the top NFL players could expose a player or severely injury them.

A Flag Football Game

This would give fans the opportunity to get to know the best players in the NFL by their faces, not just through a visor or name on the back of a jersey. Also, seeing these athletes fly without pads holding them back will be interesting to see. They're in Hawaii as it is, why not play in shorts and a t-shirt?

WR/CB 1-on-1s 

For those who have played football as a kid or in high school, we know that one of the funnest parts of practice were WR/CB 1-on-1s.

Punt Pass Kick Competition 

Punt/Pass/Kick competitions are a great way to get kids to compete amongst each other while still having fun. Seeing NFL players like Richard Sherman, Julio Jones or Odell Beckham participating in this kind of competition would be intriguing.

Field Goal Competitions

Seeing non-kickers try to hit a field goal may alleviate some of the pressure of Blair Walsh. That being said, watching top NFL players try to kick a field goal would be great.

One Hand Catch Competitions

We all see the amount attention Odell Beckham gets before a Giants game. His pre-game show of one-hand catches is a spectacle and to see other great receivers do the same would be fun.

Position Swaps/Swap Field

Some were intrigued to see Richard Sherman play offense and Odell Beckham and Devonta Freeman play defense. How about a game where defensive players solely play offense and vice versa?

There are more serious changes that could take place to change the Pro Bowl off the field:

• Moving Pro-Bowl to after the Super Bowl again
• Repercussions for not attending
• More Fan interactions
• Better incentives that may involve the next football season

There are those who will see some of these event ideas and think the Pro Bowl will be a joke. That's not what we want to see, the game become a joke. However, watching that "game" this past Sunday wasn't far from a joke. Some of the ideas mentioned here are less realistic than others. Nonetheless, some of these are fun. Leave a comment on what you think below.