Goodell says Pro Bowl was 'real football'

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is showing the Pro Bowl more love after previously threatening to cancel it if play didn't improve.

Goodell said in an ESPN Radio interview Monday that participants played harder and made the game very competitive.

"It was real football," he said. "It was something that I give a lot of credit to the players."

Goodell said Domonique Foxworth, president of the player's union, worked with players to come up with the idea of changing the game from its usual AFC-vs.-NFC format. The new unconferenced format based partly on pickup games and fantasy sports gave players something to get excited about, he said.

"I believe it was a very, very positive step and I salute the players and I'm glad they had so much fun," Goodell said. "And I think fans had a fun time watching — I know I did."

Denver Broncos cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, at 27 years old, said Monday he is giving serious consideration to hanging it up after the Super Bowl. He's not burned out, not worried about his health.

He just figures he's had a good run.

He has completed six NFL seasons, in fact, and could be in line to command plenty of money after making three interceptions in 2013. But Rodgers-Cromartie insisted that depending on how he feels after Sunday's game, he might call it quits.

"I had my fun in this league," he said.

Fellow Denver cornerback Champ Bailey is in his 15th year in the league.

• Pete Carroll is in support of the NFL looking further into whether medicinal marijuana could be beneficial for players. The Seattle Seahawks coach said he supports Goodell's message last week that the league could consider medicinal marijuana as a treatment if science proved it could be beneficial for players who have suffered concussions.

• Former Houston Texans coach Gary Kubiak was hired to be Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator, replacing Jim Caldwell, who was hired on Jan. 14 to coach the Detroit Lions.