Pro Bowl 2011: What If The NFL Used The NHL All-Star Draft Format?

Yesterday was both the NHL All-Star Game and the NFL Pro Bowl. The NHL unveiled a new format for the All-Star Game. Rather than the conferences competing against each other, the league voted in two captains who assembled their team. They alternated picks, just like in grade school.

It turned out to be an exciting events for hockey fans. It was fun to see the two conferences mix together. Should the same format be used in the NFL Pro Bowl as well?

I don't see why not.

The new NHL All-Star format seemed to be successful for the NHL. It makes sense then that it could be even bigger if applied to the NFL as well.

Let's take a look at what that might look like.

Change Date Of Pro Bowl

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HONOLULU - JANUARY 30: Matt Cassel #7 of the Kansas City Chiefs passes against the National Football Conference team during the 2011 NFL Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium on January 30, 2011 in Honolulu, Hawaii. (Photo by Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)

For the longest time, the Pro Bowl was held the weekend after the Super Bowl. Then the NFL decided to move it instead to the weekend before the Super Bowl.

For the changed format, they would need to switch it in order for players in the Super Bowl to participate as well.

Captains

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MIAMI GARDENS, FL - JANUARY 31: Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints and Peyton Manning of the Indianapolis Colts attend the 2010 AFC-NFC Pro Bowl game at Sun Life Stadium on January 31, 2010 in Miami Gardens, Florida. The AFC defeated the NFC 41-34. (Ph

The captains should be chosen in the same format that the NHL used: voted in by the All-Star roster.

The captains would most likely be quarterbacks. They should also be one from the NFC and one from the AFC, to make things even.

From that scenario, I believe Peyton Manning and Drew Brees would be selected captains.

Rules

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MOBILE, AL - JANUARY 29: Running back Da'Rel Scott #33 of the North Team rushes for a first down against the South during third quarter of the Under Armour Senior Bowl on January 29, 2011 at Ladd-Pebbles Stadium in Mobile, Alabama. (Photo by Sean Gardner

The NHL All-Star Game new format included some rules.

The goaltenders had to all be picked by each team's tenth pick and defensemen had to be gone by each team's fifteenth pick. They did this so that each team would get the positions that they needed.

Football has so many positions that it would be impossible to break it down that well.

So here's a proposal: each team gets five rounds to draft whomever they want. After that fifth round, they break it down into rounds for the remaining positions left. Quarterback round, running back round, receiver round, etc. The position rounds would last until all the players from those positions have been drafted.

Quarterbacks

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HONOLULU - JANUARY 30: Michael Vick, #7 of the NFC Philadelphia Eagles passes against the American Football Conference team (AFC) during the 2011 NFL Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium on January 30, 2011 in Honolulu, Hawaii. (Photo by Kent Nishimura/Getty Image

The remaining four quarterbacks would most likely get snatched up in these first free rounds.

They could include:

• Tom Brady
• Ben Roethlisberger
• Michael Vick
• Aaron Rodgers

Remaining Free Rounds

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HONOLULU - JANUARY 30: Adrian Peterson, #28 of the Minnesota Vikings, carries the ball during the 2011 NFL Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium on January 30, 2011 in Honolulu, Hawaii. NFC won 55-41 over the AFC. (Photo by Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)

The remaining three picks of the free round could be from this pool:

• Adrian Peterson (RB)
• Reggie Bush (RB)
• Reggie Wayne (WR)
• Larry Fitzgerald (WR)
• Ray Lewis (LB)
• Justin Tuck (DE)

Position Rounds

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HONOLULU - JANUARY 30: Drew Brees, #9 of the New Orleans Saints, looks for an open receiver while Jason Babin, #93 of the Tennessee Titans, defends during the 2011 NFL Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium on January 30, 2011 in Honolulu, Hawaii. NFC won 55-41 over

After the Free Round, we would go to the position rounds. The quarterbacks are the only position finished at this point. We'll finish the offense, then go to defense.

• Running back Round
• Receiver/ Tight End Round
• Offensive Line Round
• Linemen/Linebacker Round
• Safety Round
• Special Teams Round

Discrepancies

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MIAMI GARDENS, FL - JANUARY 31: Johnny Knox #13 of the NFC's Chicago Bears waits to return a kick during the 2010 AFC-NFC Pro Bowl game at Sun Life Stadium on January 31, 2010 in Miami Gardens, Florida. The AFC defeated the NFC 41-34. (Photo by Scott Ha

Since we started with a free round, each team is free to choose whichever position they may desire. This may throw off the evenness of the rounds. For example: they could choose a kicker if they wanted.

If they fill up a position, then during the position round, the other team just gets the remaining position player.

Effects of The Format Change

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HONOLULU - JANUARY 30: Reggie Wayne #87 of the Indianapolis Colts during the 2011 NFL Pro Bowl against the National Football Conference (NFC) at Aloha Stadium on January 30, 2011 in Honolulu, Hawaii. (Photo by Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)

The effects of the format change would probably be worth it. Even though last night's Pro Bowl received the highest ratings in an All-Star Game for any sport, not too many people watch it as compared to other NFL events.

This is why the NFL should change it up. They tried by changing the date, but that didn't have quite the same effect.

It gets people more involved in the Pro Bowl. Fans make mock Drafts and buzz about the fresh format. The players would have more fun, I think, because they could play with players from the other conference, instead of just playing against them all the time.

Plus, the NFL would get viewers for a Draft and a game. That's more coverage for the NFL, which is definitely a positive.

Final Thoughts

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INDIANAPOLIS - SEPTEMBER 19: Eli Manning #10 of the New York Giants and Peyton Manning #18 of the Indianapolis Colts embrace following the Colts 38-14 win at Lucas Oil Stadium on September 19, 2010 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Im

If Eli Manning has a good season and is voted into the Pro Bowl with brother Peyton, that could open up even more entertainment.

Eli would lobby Peyton to pick him, like Marc Staal did to Eric. Peyton would probably be more generous: picking him first, instead of making him sit and stew.

The changed format could mean a lot of fun for all. They should at least test it out, in my opinion.