Pro Bowl 2014: Ratings drop despite overhaul

The ratings for the Pro Bowl dropped again in 2014, despite several changes to make the game more exciting.

By Adam Stites Jan 27, 2014, 2:25pm EST

The NFL tweaked the Pro Bowl in 2014, electing for a draft between Deion Sanders and Jerry Rice instead of the usual division between conferences; however, the ratings for the game continued to free fall.

Seth Kaplan of FOX 9 News in Minnesota reported that the game received 11.7 million viewers on Sunday, which was a half-million fewer than the 12.2 million viewers the game received in 2013. There were 12.5 million viewers in 2012, per Kaplan.

According to NFLPA president Domonique Foxworth, commissioner Roger Goodell considered a cancellation of the Pro Bowl in 2014 due to the lack of interest, coupled with the expensiveness of the game. With ratings continuing to drop, questions of the longevity of the Pro Bowl will likely continue to surface.

Team Rice earned the victory on Sunday, defeating Team Sanders, 22-21, with a 20-yard touchdown pass from Alex Smith to DeMarco Murray in the final minute that was followed by a successful two-point conversion.