It may be aloha for Pro Bowl

All-star game reportedly could be suspended next season.

Have NFL fans seen the last of the Pro Bowl?

The game could be suspended next year, two people familiar with the discussions said Thursday.

Commissioner Roger Goodell, among others, expressed concerns about the quality of play after January’s game, and the league has been holding talks with the players’ union about the future of the all-star game.

Responding to an ESPN report that Goodell is “strongly considering” suspending the game in 2013, league spokesman Greg Aiello said, “No determination has been made yet.”

Goodell said before the Super Bowl in February he was unhappy with what he saw in the AFC’S 59-41 win over the NFC in the Pro Bowl at Honolulu. Many players chosen for the game bow out, and if the Pro Bowl is held before the Super Bowl, as it was during the past three years, players from the conference champions don’t participate.

The game still draws solid TV ratings, but isn’t considered a money maker.

Although viewership dropped 8.1 percent in January, the Pro Bowl still was the highest-rated sports program of the weekend.

The big factor is cost, particularly when played in Hawaii. And with so many defections— there were 20 replacements for non-participating players in 2012, including Pro Bowlers from the Giants and Patriots who were occupied with the Super Bowl — it raises the question of whether the game is still special.

Newly elected NFL players’ union President Domonique Foxworth, in comments on Twitter, said “The Pro Bowl is an important tradition we are in talks with the league to improve and preserve the game for our players and fans.”

Hawaii began hosting the game in 1980 and it was held there annually until 2010, when it moved to Miami and was played the week before the Super Bowl. The Pro Bowl returned to Hawaii in 2011 dow of time to get the $1 billion stadium proposal to a supportive Gov. Mark Dayton, with legislative leaders aiming to finish up their 2012 session by Monday at midnight. Dayton and other stadium supporters contend failure to act this year could cost Minnesota its NFL franchise.

Pittsburgh agreed to terms with veteran backup quarterback Byron Leftwich.

Leftwich missed the entire 2011 season after breaking his left arm in the preseason. The 32-year-old Leftwich has thrown just seven passes since the Steelers signed him in 2010.

Leftwich spent the first four seasons of his career with the Jaguars after being drafted seventh overall in 2003. He moved to the Falcons in 2007, signed with the Steelers for the 2008 season and played for the Buccaneers in 2009 before returning to Pittsburgh.

The Steelers expect Leftwich to compete with Charlie Batch for the backup spot behind Ben Roethlisberger.

The New York Giants added depth to their defensive line by signing tackle Shaun Rogers.

A three-time Pro Bowler in his 12 seasons, Rogers spent last season with the New Orleans Saints, starting four games and making 22 tackles. He also has played with Detroit and Cleveland.

Rogers has played in 156 regular-season games with 128 starts. He was an NFC Pro Bowl starter in 2004 and 2005 and an AFC reserve in 2008.

A judge dismissed an assault charge against Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Rey Maualuga on Thursday after learning the dispute was settled in mediation. He still faces possible punishment from the NFL under its personal conduct policy.

Maualuga was charged with misdemeanor assault after an employee at a downtown bar told police that Maualuga punched him in the face on Feb. 5.

He could be punished by the NFL for getting in trouble a second time. The league fined him two game checks and made him forfeit a two-week share of his signing bonus in 2010 after he pleaded guilty to drunken driving in northern Kentucky.