The NFL Pro Bowl Has Gone Soft

The 2023 Pro Bowl Game was altered from an original format to a seven-on-seven Flag Football Game this season. When the news of the change came out, the entire NFL community was mixed about what they would be watching a week before the Super Bowl. As a fan of the NFL, I think it wasn’t a good idea to change the format of the Pro Bowl because we get to see the very best out of every place, and instead, we are watching NFL Players act like middle schoolers, playing football in their backyards. However, after watching the Pro Bowl, I can back up my reasoning that the NFL shouldn’t have changed the format. There were multiple cases during the game when legit NFL-type hits were occurring because these athletes were trained to do that. However, I understand that the NFL is trying to reduce the number of injuries during a game of the best players in the league. Still, at the same time, fans of the game look forward to seeing high-scoring games and deep throws to wide receivers running crazy routes. If the NFL wants to change the format of the Pro Bowl, that is fine with me. However, I wouldn’t have Flag Football be the new alternative to a simple tackle football game. I hope that after the 2023 Pro Bowl Game, the NFL asks players what they truly thought of the game and see if there is a way to change the format while still keeping it interesting and exciting not only for the fans but the players as well.