The National Football League's Pro Bowl has been nothing short of the toilet bowl in recent years and the decision to turn it into a backyard flag football game will do nothing to increase its popularity and attract fans. By the time the game is played at the conclusion of the regular season, only those [...]

LombardiAve  wrote:

The NFL announced a complete overhaul of its Pro Bowl system with the 2014 edition featuring a new format for the NFL All-Star Game based on major changes proposed by NFLPA President Domonique Foxworth.

The league has down away with the traditional AFC vs. NFC match-up that’s been in place since 1971 with players now being selected regardless of conference affiliation by fans, coaches and players. For example, the top six quarterbacks following voting will earn distinction as All-Stars, regardless of how many are from AFC or NFC teams.

Players will be assigned to teams through the Pro Bowl Draft, in which two leading vote getters will join two NFL.com fantasy football champions – who will attend the Pro Bowl – to draft players. One of these champions will earn their spot as part of Lenovo’s Fantasy Coach of the Year program, which provides NFL.com fans a chance to be rewarded for their fantasy football skills. The other champion can compete for a Pro Bowl role by playing at NFL.com/fantasy.

The National Football League, in an attempt to resuscitate the practically unwatchable Pro Bowl, has decided to change the format for picking teams.

The league finalized what a number of media outlets had reported earlier would be a "fantasy football" format in which there will be no AFC vs. NFC, but rather two all-star teams voted on in the traditional manner and then divvied up through a fantasy-style draft.

Selection to the Pro Bowl will still come through a process in which fans, coaches and players will vote and account for one-third each of the final tally. However, the top players at each position, regardless of conference, will be selected to the Pro Bowl pool.