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Oh, NFL, how you try so hard sometimes.
Issuing a press release today, the NFL has announced some changes to the Pro Bowl format that so many for so long, players included, have treated with the sort of ambivalence reserved for casual street performers.
AFC vs NFC? No more! This 42 year old system being replaced by...something extraordinarily convoluted and fan-serving.
Players will be assigned to teams through the pro bowl draft, after voting by fans, coaches and players. This will be two NFL.com fantasy football champions, along with two leading vote getters, and also with assistance by alumni team captains Jerry Rice and Deion Sanders.
The are some other notable items, as well:
Game within the game - 2 minute warnings in first and third quarters, and ball possession changes at quarters
No kickoffs - coin toss determines which team is awarded possession, starts on the 25 at quarter starts and after scoring plays.
Rosters - 43 players/squad, kick returners are replaced by a defensive back.
Cover Two and Press Coverage - defense can play some zone, where as in previous years they could only plan man most of the time.
Stopping the game clock - Inside each two minute drill, if the offense doesn't get at least a yard, the clock will stop as if the play were incomplete.
Game timing - clock will start on the signal of the refer, except inside the last two minutes of the first half, and the last five minutes of the second half.
Play clock - 35/25 clock instead of a 40/25 clock
Sacks - game clock will not stop on sacks outside of the final two minutes of the game.
What say you, Bears fans? Is this enough to bring back your interest in the Pro Bowl, or should they really let this dinosaur die out forever?