Dodgeball headlines new NFL Pro Bowl skills challenge
For the past couple of decades, the Pro Bowl has notoriously been one of the NFL's more unpopular events. Granted, it's an exhibition game with little incentive for the players to try their hardest and risk injury, so you can't really blame anyone for the actual gameplay of the Pro Bowl being lackluster. But that's all about to change.
While the actual Pro Bowl game remains unchanged, the NFL announced Monday afternoon that this year's Pro Bowl weekend will include an event known as 'The Pro Bowl Skills Showdown', "pitting AFC and NFC All-Stars against each other in "unique competitions."
The highlight of which is: DODGEBALL!!!!!
The 2017 Pro Bowl Legends Captains, JEROME BETTIS and RAY LEWIS of the AFC and TONY GONZALEZ and CHARLES WOODSON of the NFC, will lead their respective squads.
Each team in the Skills Showdown will feature a mix of quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, tight ends, linemen, linebackers, and defensive backs.
Taking place at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports in Orlando, the Skills Showdown will be produced by A. Smith & Co. Productions, producers of such shows as American Ninja Warrior and Hell’s Kitchen.
Competitions include:
Epic Pro Bowl Dodgeball: Pro Bowlers will compete in a game of dodgeball.
Power Relay Challenge: Four team members will compete in a timed relay race.
Precision Passing: Two players on each team will battle it out, trying to hit moving targets of varying size and distance.
Best Hands: Quarterback and wide receiver duos from each team will show off their skills, connecting on as many pass attempts as possible before time runs out.
Say what you want about professional football but the NFL absolutely NAILED this one. Can see it now -- Aaron Rodgers uncorking a MISSLE at Antonio Brown who spears the ball out of the air with one hand, does an epic touchdown dance celebration, salutes a fan in the crowd, and then gets drilled in the throat by Odell Beckham Jr. as he screams "JOANIE LOVES CHACHI!"
Would you rather be known as a Super Bowl Champion or NFL Pro Bowl Dodgeball Champion? Only half-kidding when I ask this.
