Former offensive guard for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Alan Faneca was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 2021. He played in the NFL for 13 seasons. 10 of those years were in the Steel City. His career resume includes winning a Super Bowl, 6 First Team All-Pro honors, 9 Pro Bowls, and being named to the 2000's All-Decade Team. As many things as he accomplished during his career, one of the things he enjoyed the most was participating in the Pro Bowl.
Faneca recently took to YouTube in a video presented by the Pro Football Hall of Fame. During the interview he tackled several topics including his thoughts on the new Pro Bowl format.
"I thoroughly enjoyed it. I enjoyed the game, you enjoy meeting guys that you have been going against. It's just a really good time. I was always honored to go out there and play and be a participant. I had shoulder surgery one year and I put it off a couple weeks so I could go play in the game."
In recent years, the Pro Bowl exhibition has become somewhat of a "two-hand touch football game." In an effort to bring some excitement back to the event, the NFL introduced the Pro Bowl Games. The Pro Bowl Games is the replacement to the Pro Bowl exhibition where the best players in each conference face off against one another. The Pro Bowl Games include a number of different skill competitions and finishes with three flag football games between the players. Fans and players have been wanting a change in hopes to bringing some competition back to the event.
Faneca on the criticism of the Pro Bowl:
"It's an exhibition game, and I think when a lot of the criticism came down on it was people were thirsty for more football. They wanted one more Super Bowl. That's what they wanted, they wanted more action. I don't know where it went down the line. I don't have any idea when they got to the two-hand touch a couple years ago, but that just threw it out the door for me."
Listen to the full Alan Faneca interview here via YouTube.
In this year's NFL Pro Bowl Games, the NFC won 35-33 and the games were very competitive. The changes seem to be a success. The games bring more competitiveness out of the players, while also reducing the risk of injury. The reviews from the players, however, have been mixed. The event drew 6.28 million viewers via SportsMediaWatch.com. Steelers defensive lineman, Cameron Heyward was asked about the format:
"I think the format's been cool. We've been doing some different things and I think it's just more interactive. More guys are in the spotlight. You see guys like Joel Bitonio catching punts and being able to throw a couple of footballs. You see guys like Tray (Trayvon) Henderson from the Cincinnati Bengals doing pretty well out here."
Las Vegas Raiders running back, Josh Jacobs had this to say about the Pro Bowl Games:
"This s--- stupid, Man send us on vacation and call it a day."
The NFL will continue with the format in the future and look to only grow the perception of their all-star event. Hearing what former and current players have to say about their Pro Bowl experience is evidence that the NFL needs to continue to improve the event if they want the Pro Bowl to become what it used to be.
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