Fans should get a better Pro Bowl

The 59-41 victory by the AFC in last year’s Pro Bowl was so embarrassingly timid that it caused boos at Aloha Stadium and talk of bringing premier football’s all-star performance to an end. Hawaii needs to stay on the offense to prevent this from happening, even as, unfortunately, the NFL has declined to rewrite the rules to allow players to exhibit the bold actions that qualified them for the game.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell nearly cancelled the Pro Bowl following the 2012 event, but the same rules that were adopted to prevent injuries remain in place for Sunday’s game.

Instead, players are being told to "step up and play the game at a level that is consistent with NFL quality and effort," according to Ray Anderson, the league’s executive vice president of football operations.

Fortunately, at least some key players are getting the message and will strive to give viewers a more solid NFL game. Chicago Bears cornerback Charles Tillman, for one, who said the players understand their performance has to improve for the game to continue.

"I think the message is clear," said the second-time Pro Bowler. "The quality of the play has to be better than it was last year."

Despite resembling a backyard game of tag football, last year’s Pro Bowl accounted for $28.15 million in visitor spending and generated more than $3 million in state taxes from visitors who came here to attend. It was seen on television by 12.5 million viewers.

Still, Anderson told reporters there is "a possibility that it could go elsewhere if we continue to play the game," although "the focus and determination has gotta be here."

The 2011 Pro Bowl was in Miami.

In addition to the invaluable images of island sun and surf being beamed nationwide, the Pro Bowl in Hawaii provide some $100,000 in grants annually to local nonprofits that focus on youth health and education programs.

The event also gives pro football fans in our community a rare chance to interact with NFL players via outreach programs, such as youth football clinics and visits to hospitals and military bases.

As for the game itself, unlike regular season rules:

» Pro Bowl defenses are limited to certain harmless formations.

» The quarterbacks are allowed to throw the ball away to avoid getting hit and not be penalized for intentionally grounding it.

» Defensive blitzes are not allowed, nor are punt or field goal rushes.

» The offense must have a tight end in all formations and not have three receivers on a side.

The Pro Bowl is aimed at celebrating the players’ accomplishments in the past season. In doing so, they should be allowed, as safely as possible, to perform at the level that brought them here.

That should be entertaining for fans, but the rules have brought disappointment.

The $50,000 prize for members of the winning team, as opposed to $25,000 for the losers, is hardly a significant incentive for these high-paid players.

Hopefully, Goodell’s urge that the players replicate their regular-season achievements will cause them to show the fans their best efforts.

If not, the NFL should recognize the reason and alter the special rules for next year’s Pro Bowl, hopefully at Aloha Stadium.