Instead of a Pro Bowl, the NFL Should Have a Practice Squad Bowl

There was a time when the Pro Bowl meant something. Selected players, barring an injury, would willingly participate in it, both for the additional paycheck and the free trip to Hawaii. The fact it was held after the Super Bowl also increased the chances of players from the best two teams being involved.

Then things changed. Player salaries increased to the point the Pro Bowl check didn't mean as much while the risk of injury watered the product down further by the league taking every precaution to avoid a scandal if a star got hurt playing in a meaningless contest. Fan voting also arguably plays too much of a role, with players being selected because of name recognition rather than anything they did on the field.

This is why the NFL should replace it with the Practice Squad Bowl.

Here's how I would do it:

Each team selects four players that finished the regular season on the practice squad. Those players are divided into the traditional AFC/NFC categories, with each team getting 64 players. The players do not need to fill specific position requirements.

The game itself would be a traditional 60-minute tackle football game with the players filling what role the coach needs them to fill. For example, you might have a quarterback playing defensive back or a running back serving as the kicker depending on the team needs. All 64 players need to be played for a minimum number of snaps and would receive the same earnings the Pro Bowl players would have earned.

While this admittedly sounds farfetched, there are benefits to this scenario.

For the NFL, they are providing a product that is going to offer fans something unique and entertaining. The rosters would have fresh faces and the ability to play players at multiple different positions creates some unpredictability.

For the players, there is an opportunity to make a significantly better payday. Practice squad members can make as little as $13,000 per week. Last year's Pro Bowl winners made $90,000 each. 

The game would also give the players an opportunity to showcase their talents in a game setting and increase their chances of landing a roster spot. This benefits the NFL too because it will give the players incentive to play harder.

Is it a perfect solution? No. Is it better than the current game, which usually has most of the top stars choosing to stay home and playing not to get hurt? Possibly. 

In any case, it's worth a shot.