Here's a fix for Roger Goodell's Pro Bowl problem

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell finally said what we already knew: The Pro Bowl isn't working.

He could have reached further at Friday's annual pre-Super Bowl media address. The word "embarrassment" comes to mind. Rather than developing a showcase for stars, the event has devolved into a glorified walkthrough. Now it sadly is a bookend of two things fans hate: preseason games and pre-Super Bowl shame.

But there is hope. Goodell said he is open to new ideas. Here are a few, which could be considered a Pro Bowl booster shot:

 

Ditch the game. We are growing exponentially smarter about long-term physical consequences of playing football, so it's irresponsible to ask players to risk themselves in full-contact situations in an exhibition game. The franchises don't want that, the players don't want it and fans surely aren't interested in having stars put into harms way for what amounts to an NFL infomercial.

That doesn't mean the ceremony of naming Pro Bowlers should stop. That is still an integral part of recognizing accomplishment on the field and popularity within the game. It gives fans a voice and stimulates conversation about some of the best aspects of the NFL. It may not be the same kind of accolade as an All-Pro nod, but it's the next tier of respect for players who have some mixture of high performance on the field and high visibility amongst fans. Taking that away would be a mistake. The point is to retain the honor, but remove the risk that comes along with fulfilling it.

Herein lies the opportunity.

Use the Pro Bowl platform to showcase the young talent that will make up the NFL's next wave of stars. Specifically, draw from the league's pool of rookies and second-year players and create a skills competition similar to a more entertaining NFL scouting combine. Then use those players who received Pro Bowl nods and divide them up into coaching staffs who will guide their "teams" through the competitions. And give the winning teams – and their coaches – a financial award for their victories. Inside all of this, put microphones on everyone and utilize the sound during instant replays of impressive moments.

Sell it to the veterans as a free week in Hawaii for their families, kicking back at the pool between breezy practices where they coach pointers with the youngest players in the game. Plenty of sun and no wear-and-tear on their bodies. And pitch it to rookies and second-year players as an opportunity to glean tips from the best in the profession, as well as a free trip to Hawaii and possible cash winnings for their event.

For the NFL, it would be a three-fold win. First, it gives fans a chance to see the league's elite players in a more relaxed, personality-driven light. Second, it gives the league a chance to identify and expose younger players who will be the next stars, while also connecting them to a wider football audience. And third, the NFL can use the specific competitions as branding opportunities, generating some advertising dollars along the way.

To give you a better grasp on the idea, here's one positional scenario from imagination land …

 

QB passing competition

The goal here is to score as many predetermined points in limited time by running through a series of passing events. Among them, dropping footballs into stationary nets or trash cans at 10, 20, 30 and 50 yards, throwing one football as far as possible, throwing another as fast as possible, throwing on the run, then completing an agility course as quickly as possible. To add a dimension that allows for shoring up an area of weakness, coaches get to choose one player from their roster to compete. Each team must have four passers, including at least one from each of the last two draft classes, and one bonus veteran from the coaching staff. The young players go first in a back and forth format. When their scores are completed, the Pro Bowler player staff then has a brief timeout to choose whoever among them gives the best opportunity to win the event.

Imagine this lineup:

AFC team coaches:

Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and Ben Roethlisberger.
AFC rookie/second-year squad: Blake Bortles, Derek Carr and Marcus Mariota.

Bonus coach who will compete: Tom Brady.
NFC team coaches: Cam Newton, Aaron Rodgers and Carson Palmer.
NFC rookie/second-year passers: Teddy Bridgewater, Jameis Winston and Garrett Grayson.
Bonus coach who will compete: Cam Newton.

The added wrinkle of the bonus coach also allows for some strategy and drama at the end of the event. Perhaps the accuracy of Brady would put the AFC over the top. Maybe the NFC gets a huge comeback win with Newton's elite total package of arm and athleticism.

Of course, the bottom line is important for the NFL as well. This gives some drama to a television audience, and also provides massive brand opportunities within the events' skill competitions among position players.

The Pro Bowl needs to be replaced with something that celebrates the best players in the NFL while showcasing the younger generation that will shape it for years to come. This is the second time in Goodell's tenure that he has expressed disappointment with an All-Star game that has become both irrelevant and antiquated despite recent years of relatively decent TV ratings.

Goodell summed it up best when he admitted, "If it's not real competition that we can be proud of, we have to do something different."

This is something different. Share the spotlight between the present and future. And illuminate something that's worth watching for the first time in decades.