Pro Bowl ratings drop from last year

Despite a 97-point performance on the field, overnight ratings for the Pro Bowl dipped slightly from last year, NBC said.

An NBC spokesman said the overnight Nielsen ratings were a 7.7, down from 7.9 in 2012, when about 12.5 million viewers watched the annual NFL all-star game. Complete ratings are expected later in the week.

It was the second consecutive year of a decline in ratings but ranked fourth highest for the game since 2000.

The NFC won the game 62-35 before an announced crowd of 47,134 at Aloha Stadium.

NBC said, "The Pro Bowl continues to be one of the most-watched events on the sports calendar, and we are pleased that it helped NBC win the night in primetime."

Meanwhile, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, who was in New Orleans, took note of the improved play in the game and on Monday commended "the players’ commitment."

Goodell made the comments in an online chat on reddit.com, according to the NFL.

Asked how open he was to making changes in the Pro Bowl, Goodell replied, "I watched the game and noticed the improved quality of the game. I appreciate the players’ commitment in this regard. We need to continually work to make our game better for the fans. I look forward to getting detailed player comment and input over the next few weeks."

Goodell had briefly "suspended" the game last year in the wake of lackluster 2012 contest and agreed to reinstate it for 2013 on a trial basis.

An NFL spokesman has said he expects a decision on the game’s future in April when the team schedules are announced.