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Considering its evolution over the years, fans might be more interested in "The Bachelor" than the Pro Bowl. At least, former Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman seems to think so. In a recent interview with TMZ Sports, the NFL personality compared the Pro Bowl to the "Bachelor Bowl."
Apparently, the 38-year-old was in complete awe of the dating show. In the "Bachelor Bowl," teams come together for a proper football game, which ultimately earns them more time with Zach Shallcross.
After watching the game, Merriman was left shocked at the women playing real football on the show.
"I thought it was gonna be like a two-hand touch, flag football kinda thing," Shawne told TMZ Sports. "I had no idea it was like a real game. The Bachelor game was more physical than the Pro Bowl, which is crazy!!
"It's unfortunate. I hate to sound old school or sound like one of the older guys, but when we went to the Pro Bowl, it meant something. You wanted to showcase your talent. You were the best at that position."
He even commented on Shallcross having to choose between the women:
"He's gonna have a real issue."
Merriman was named the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2005 and played in three Pro-Bowls (2005 to 2007).
How has the Pro Bowl lost it's charm over the years?
Considering the NFL's popularity in the US and around the world, everything from the Super Bowl to its various events (draft and combine) are all extremely popular. But if you compare them to the Pro Bowl, one can accept that the latter has significantly lost its charm.
Of course, the league has tried to alter and modify their All-Star formula recently, but it hasn't brought in the expected results. Earlier, the the event was a celebration, bringing in excitement despite not having any real stakes attached.
One reason could be monetary compensation. With players earning millions through their contracts, any prize offered as an incentive is just not important enough. Then you have the continued risk of injury.
When the pandemic hit in 2020, most events were canceled and the All-Star games were not important enough to move around. Even though the league managed to salvage their season, events like All-Star games couldn't make the cut for the audience.
One can even compare it to the NBA's All-Star Game. In a similar weekend extravaganza, the NBA plays most of their stars on the court for the final All-Star game. Furthermore, fans have retained interest in the Slam Dunk Contest over the years.
We will see if the NFL attempts to reignite the public's interest in the event during the offseason.
