Future of Pro Bowl undecided for now

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said he wants to keep the league's relationship with Hawaii strong, but that's no guarantee the Pro Bowl will continue its long run here.

Pro Bowl 2008 Who: AFC vs. NFC Where: Aloha Stadium When: Sunday, 11:30 a.m. TV: KHON, Ch. 3 Radio: KKEA, 1420-AM

The current contract with the state ends after next year's game, the 30th at Aloha Stadium. Anything could happen after that.

"We've had a lot of discussions," Goodell said yesterday during the AFC's practice at Kapolei High School. "We have great friends and partners here in the state and we want to continue to have a presence here in Hawaii.

"We want to try to do that in a reasonable way," he added. "We also want to do what we can to make sure this game turns into the kind of platform it should turn into. We want to make sure we do everything possible to make sure it's a great promotion for our players."

There has been talk of playing the game at the site of the Super Bowl prior to the big game, overseas, or not at all. Goodell said he anticipates some type of change. One idea involves rotating the game to different cities, and Goodell said Hawaii could figure into such a plan.

"I'm not comfortable about keeping anything as is, really. I always think we can do things better, differently, and we're looking at how we can do that," Goodell said. "We have 17 players (chosen for the Pro Bowl) that aren't here this week."

The NFL has historically put some of its money where its all-star game is; for example, ground was broken in Nanakuli today for a YET (Youth Education Town) Center with a $1 million donation from the NFL to get it started.