Roger Goodell on Revamped NFL Pro Bowl Games: 'I Don't See Us Going Back in Any Way'

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell told reporters at his annual pre-Super Bowl press conference that he doesn't foresee the league going back to the old Pro Bowl format after introducing the Pro Bowl Games this season.

The Pro Bowl Games featured AFC and NFC stars going head to head in various events, such as a balloon toss and dodgeball. The event culminated with a flag football game that the NFC won 35-33.

The Pro Bowl had become a de-facto flag football game in recent years, with players avoiding contact as much as possible in what amounts to an exhibition contest.

The NFL ultimately embraced the direction the all-star contest was heading and made flag football the main event of the week.

There's no reason for the NFL to go back in the opposite direction at this point. The days of players going all out and treating this game like a regular-season or playoff game are long gone. There's too much risk of injury for a contest that doesn't count.

At this point, the question is whether the NFL plans to add or subtract events from the games or change the format at all. Some of the events (e.g. dodgeball, precision passing) worked better than others (e.g. Best Catch, which had the energy of a bad NBA Slam Dunk contest). The scoring system was also a touch confusing and perhaps put too much emphasis on the mini games.

Flag football was arguably the most entertaining event, as it obviously showcased players doing what they do best.

Ultimately, the Pro Bowl Games was a breath of fresh air compared to the old Pro Bowl format. Some tweaks will be made, but it's a good stepping stone moving forward.