The Pro Bowl will be held Sunday in Hawaii, and one of the hot topics among the football media this week is the potential that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell could put an end to the game. NBC's Cris Collinsworth said of this year's game, "I think this is it for the Pro Bowl. They either come out and play like it's a football game, is basically what the commissioner told me, or it's going to be over with." CBS' Phil Simms said the ratings for the game are "still very big." CBSSports.com's Jason La Canfora: "The players want to be there and the NFLPA wants them there" ("Inside the NFL," Showtime, 1/23).
Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio said Goodell "has made it clear that if the level of play doesn't improve, the Pro Bowl is going away. I personally believe that's a bluff." On the ratings issue, Florio said, "I don't enjoy it, but I'll watch it. We'll all watch it. What else are we going to watch? That's why it will continue to survive, because it does better ratings than any other major-league all-star game." NBC Sports' Amani Toomer: "Players want to make the Pro Bowl but they don't want to play in the Pro Bowl" ("PFT," NBC Sports Network, 1/23).
