As you've probably heard, this year's Pro Bowl festivities will include a game of dodgeball between the players. The mastermind behind this incredible addition is none other than the Browns‘ Joe Thomas.
Thomas was selected to his 10th consecutive Pro Bowl this week. It means more to Joe than most players, considering he's played on a losing team throughout his career. It feels good to be recognized for your expertise.
Now, the Pro Bowl vet is doing his best to save the event.
Over the years, fewer and fewer NFL fans have tuned into the league's All-Star game because of the lackadaisical nature of it. Nobody wants to get hurt, so it's basically a glorified practice.
Hoping to spice things up, Thomas made a number of suggestions during conference calls with the league, imploring them to add fun events to the weekend to spark fan interest.
Naturally, they settled on dodgeball (and a skills competition).
The usually modest Thomas boasted about the role he played in bringing dodgeball to Pro Bowl weekend. From Pat McManamon of ESPN:
“I think people are going to watch (dodgeball),” Thomas said. “They're gonna be interested to see what's going on.”
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“Not to take any credit, but I'm taking credit here,” Thomas said. “That was one of my suggestions to spice up the Pro Bowl a little bit, was to do skills challenges that aren't specific to your position. I thought it would be really funny to make fat O-linemen try to throw a football or catch a football. Or make quarterbacks have a long drive contest or make them lift weights.
“Do stuff that's maybe out of their comfort zone. I said people would tune in and watch it.”
Thomas also suggested having a three-point contest or a home run derby:
“Everybody in an NFL locker room, they love basketball,” Thomas said. “They all grew up playing basketball. They would die to have a 3-point competition, and a home run derby. I think that would be so fun. Long drive. Home run derby. Three-point contest.”
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