Throwback: How the NFL Can Beat NBA All Star Weekend

However the NFL doesn’t listen to critics like me so they will continue to have the game as long as it makes money. This year 47 players DECLINED their invitation so we got some really weird alternates but regardless the guys who showed up had a good time.

One of the guys who showed up was Derek Carr of the Raiders who threw this perfect dime to TY Hilton of the Colts:

The NFL has got to do something about the Pro Bowl. It is terrible. Fans really deserve more than a glorified flag football game. As I’ve said, they should just turn it to a skills competition and let celebrities and legends play in the game.

How the NFL Should Improve the Pro Bowl

Anyways, yesterday I got the news that the ICON and Entertainer Cam Newton is headed to the Pro Bowl. Is it deserved? Probably not. But who really cares. The Pro Bowl doesn’t mean anything anymore. For goodness sakes isn’t Vince Young a 2x Pro Bowler?

Here are the details of Killa Cam’s Pro Bowl bid:

Cam Newton is headed to Hawaii. With Eli Manning and the New York Giants punching their Super Bowl ticket Sunday with a win at San Francisco in the NFC championship game, Newton is expected to take Manning’s spot on the NFC team in the Pro Bowl on Jan. 29 in Honolulu. Newton, who broke Peyton Manning’s rookie passing record, was the NFC’s first alternate at quarterback behind Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers, New Orleans’ Drew Brees and Manning, who were voted in. Newton, the former Auburn QB who was the No. 1 overall pick in last year’s draft, will join two Panthers teammates in Hawaii — receiver Steve Smith and center Ryan Kalil.

Source: Charlotte Observer

Tim Tebow is a second team Pro Bowl alternate.

At least the world will not end in 2012.  Tim Tebow has not been named as a starter in the 2011 Pro Bowl.  However Bronco rookie sack artist Von Miller has.  Well deserved for Miller, and Tebow will probably make it as well because at least two of the starting quarterbacks probably won’t end up suiting up in the game.

DENVER – Three Denver Broncos are headed to the Pro Bowl in Hawaii on Jan 29. Elvis Dumervil, Champ Bailey and Von Miller will play at Aloha Stadium at the end of the month. Willis McGahee, Ryan Clady, and Brian Dawkins were named first-team alternates. Tim Tebow, Britton Colquitt and Matt Prater are second-team alternates.

Source: 9News

Tebow fans let me make this easy on you.  This is not an opprotunity to say “told you so.” It will only make you all look more foolish than you already do.  Remember: Vince Young made TWO Pro Bowls. It means nothing in the long run.

#Tebowtime

1. Move the game to the continental United States.

Hawaii is nice and all, but it does not add much to the weekend.  Instead, have it in the same city the Super Bowl is in.  It’s been done before and should be done every year.

2. Move the game to the Saturday before the Superbowl.

Move the game to the day before the Superbowl.  Make it NFL Weekend.  Yes it will be logistic hell.  But that’s what your event coordinators get paid for.  Making the whole weekend an EVENT will go a long way in raising the profile of the Pro Bowl game.

3. Take the helmets off.

No one tackles in the Pro Bowl anyways.  Let the guys play without their helmets so we can see who they are.  Instead of tackling just play “wrap up the ball carrier” the same way you would during mini camp.  No one will get hurt, and it will be more fun for everyone involved.

4. Legend’s Quarter.

Let a different legend suit up each quarter.  Can you imagine the AFC getting John Elway to sling it against Charles Woodson and Pat Willis for a quarter?  Maybe the NFC gets Prime to play a little safety.  Or The Playmaker splits out wide against Revis.  No one will get hurt, as I said just make them “wrap up” the guys without taking them down to the ground.

5. Bring back the Rock and Jock celebrity game.

You don’t have to call it Rock and Jock but we want to see celebs play some flag football and talk crap! It’s always a good time.  Throw in some celebs, NBA players, and others.  And yes, I am demanding that Michael Rapaport play in the game.

6. Skills competitions.

This is why the NBA is killing the NFL mostly.  The NFL skills competitions are usually shown on some random ESPN show with no promo and no one you want to see.  Let’s change that.  I propose the following competitions:

100 Yard Dash presented by NIKE: Players run a footrace for 100 yards.  Featuring: Chris Johnson, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, DeSean Jackson, and Mike Wallace

QB Accuracy Competition presented by Call of Duty: Imagine there are props set up at the 50 yard line for players to run behind as QBs stand behind different yard lines and try to hit them with the ball.  Each hit from a certain distance is a certain amount of points. Most points wins.  Featuring: Peyton Manning, Matt Ryan, Michael Vick, and Phillip Rivers

Bench Press Competition presented by Gatorade: Who is the strongest man in the NFL? We are about to find out.  Players bench 225 lbs. the most they can do. Strongest man wins. Featuring heavyweights Ndamukong Suh, Maurkice Pouncey, Jared Odrick, and Joe Thomas with middle weights Terrell Suggs, Peyton Hillis, Pat Willis, and Andre Johnson.

and finally we need a game with “teams” that can incorporate other athletes so…..

Obstacle Course presented by the US Marines: a good old fashioned obstacle course.  Fastest total team time wins. Featuring team Florida Tim Tebow and Lebron James, team Chicago Devin Hester and Derrick Rose, team Los Angeles Maurice Jones-Drew and Blake Griffin, and team Pittsburgh Ben Roethlisberger and Sidney Crosby.

I think if the NFL is to ever make the Pro Bowl a watchable event they definitely need to incorporate parts of some if not all of these ideas.  What do you think? Agree? Disagree? Hate my teams? Love my ideas? Let me know in the comments and tell the NFL we want a better All Star weekend!

It was that kind of game. But if you’re a football fan, this is it until the Super Bowl and the draft of course!

But one MAJOR takeaway we can make from the game is…

I will say this over and over again.   To be a great team you need a great QB. There are no if’s, and’s, or but’s about it!

Look at the rosters. You won’t see any Carolina Panthers, Denver Broncos, Buffalo Bills, or San Francisco 49ers at the QB position.  They have the league’s biggest QB problems and they are among the league’s worst teams.  Those things are not independent of each other.

I’m not bashing Tim Tebow, Jimmy Clausen, Ryan Fitzpatrick, or Alex Smith here.  They all could eventually become good or great QBs later in their careers, but as of right now they aren’t getting it done for their prospective teams.  The teams that have found good to great QBs are all among the teams we see year after year in the playoffs, showing growth year to year under the arm of their passers.

AFC Pro Bowl QBs

Philip Rivers– wonky footwork, weird passing motion, but he simply gets the job done. San Diego is always in the hunt although this year they took a hit with losing Shawne Merriman, LT, and Vincent Jackson (for most of the year) at the same time; they will be back.

Peyton Manning– need I explain? Greatest regular season QB ever.

Matt Cassel– I’ll admit, he was the +1 with Jamaal Charles’ ticket.

NFC Pro Bowl QBs

Mike Vick– the greatest pure athlete we’ve ever seen at the position, and a multiple time Pro Bowler with two different NFC teams.

Matt Ryan– had the best record in the league, currently has the best record at home of any QB.

Drew Brees– just won a title last year, looking to get his second next year.