Report: NFL bringing back AFC vs. NFC format to Pro Bowl
The NFL Pro Bowl Draft is apparently no more.
With the NFL reportedly set to announce a multi-year deal to move the All-Star event to Orlando, the league will bring back the AFC versus NFC format to the 2017 Pro Bowl, FOX Sports' Peter Schrager reports.
This means the league will move away from the team captain format, where ex-NFL stars pick Pro Bowlers to their team in a draft-style event, that's been used in recent seasons.
A reason for the change might be the ever-dwindling interest in the Pro Bowl:
With "captains" format, Pro Bowl had lowest ever TV rating (5.6) in 2015. A year later, same format, Pro Bowl had a 5.0 TV rating.
— Peter Schrager (@PSchrags) May 31, 2016
However, the Pro Bowl's disappointing ratings are likely due to the apathy towards the event in general, rather than the alteration to the format.
While the captains format offered little extra intrigue, having the restrictions of conference voting lifted did arguably allow more worthy players to be selected for the game.