How the NFL Can Beat NBA All Star Weekend

Updated: February 20, 2011

As I am watching the NBA All Star weekend festivities, there is one thing and one thing clear. Although the NFL is putting out the best product on the field, NOTHING is touching the NBA’s All Star weekend in terms of star’s, celebrity, and buzz. The NFL is a clear #2 in that category. The Superbowl is the event but other than that does any one game bring out the electricity the way the NBA does? I have some suggestions for the NFL to make the Pro Bowl the same caliber event:

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!