NFL, Cowboys, and Football all feel "off" to me this season

[jwitten82]

I think it's just you.

Read the thread, youre wrong mister 50 yard line. Lmao

 

[Yakuza Rich]

Papa John said it best...poor leadership from the NFL.

The replay system takes the fun out of it as well. You make a great play to score a TD and then it gets held up by them watching the replay. Even if the play stands, it takes the excitement away.

Kickoff returns are pretty much non-existent.

The concussion protocol needs to be improved. Now anybody they *think* may have a concussion will sit out. Like Kuechly who didn't even have a concussion, just a hurt shoulder. He had to sit out just because they guessed, and guessed wrong, that he had a concussion. And quite frankly with how crooked the NFL is, I can't wait to see some team (coughcoughPatriotscoughcough) somehow use the concussion protocol to their advantage.

They've over-protected the QB's and they don't know how to call it so players avoid hitting the QB's in dangerous locations. Now if the QB ducks his head down and the defender accidentally glances the helmet...a flag gets thrown. There should be replay for QB hits instead of replay for all of this other garbage.

They completely botched the entire rules towards what is and what is not a catch.

This is a copycat league and the league has really taken to Andy Reid's offenses which are a lot of pick plays and flooding one area so you can bring 4-5 defenders to cover 3 receivers and leave another receiver all by themself to make a play in the open field. It's smart football, but it's not exciting football. Nobody has ever been overly excited about Reid's style of offense. And I think it's because it's not about 1 athlete beating another athlete for the ball or to advance the football. Instead it's about a player getting open in space due to scheme and that's just not as enticing to watch after a while. It's also very conservative in nature because it is geared towards not taking risks.

And the overall corruption of the NFL and the entire controversies that come with it. And Goodell's inability to come to a good resolution for those controversies and well...to stop being corrupt himself.

I grew up a baseball fan before I was a football fan. And in the past 10 years I haven't watched much baseball, but this year I watched more baseball than I have since 2000 and I really enjoyed the postseason even if my Yankees didn't make it to the World Series. As well as the other playoff games that the Yankees were not in. It's safe for me to say that my interest in the NFL is waning.





YR

 

[Direwolf63]

I'm going on like 4 years at least of declining interest in the NFL in general. In 2015 I pretty much checked out when it became evident none of the backups were worth a crap. Other posts have pretty much captured all the issues with the league right now, and until there is a change in leadership I doubt things will turn around.

For me, the Dez catch/non-catch against Green Bay was a real tipping point. It was the start of my descent.

 

[Zordon]

I'll add....

- No more games in London, Mexico, or anywhere but where they're supposed to be played.
- Put San Diego back in San Diego and drop this Las Vegas nonsense.
- Go back to what a catch used to be.
- Figure out what holding and pass interference is.
- Get off the color rush, pink, military, and obscure throwback jersey kick
- Outlaw political commentary during your pre- and post-game shows.
- Get all the fantasy stats off the bottom of the screen.
- Move the kickoff back to the 30 yard line.
- Move the league office out of New York to Omaha, and stop playing police and Judge Judy.

I like your first idea. This league needs to reconnect with their American blue collar fans. I saw someone posted this video in the game thread last night, they need to reconnect with this guy instead of trying to reach out to an audience that will always put soccer first.

 

[Direwolf63]

The biggest reason for my declining interest is that in my eyes at least, it's becoming more and more likely that the NFL is indeed rigged, at least to an extent. I used to jokingly refer to conspiracy theories about how the refs are out to get us, etc. I think games are likely being at least influenced by factors outside of the play on the field and it's sickening.

Now, after the Dez catch/non-catch and now the NFL going after Zeke like a rabid dog, it's getting hard to believe the powerful guys in the NFL are ever going to let us compete fairly for another Superbowl anytime soon. I think the Dez no catch was the biggest thing to push me further away from being an NFL fanatic as I look back today upon it. Being ruled a TD on the field of play and without the hard evidence you need to overturn such a ruling, the NEW YORK office overturned it anyway. Can't see how that was anything but corruption.

When the odds seem stacked unfairly against your team, it's hard to feel that same hope and excitement you did before. At least for me.

My big hope nowadays is that Jerry can win in his Game of Thrones type powerplay with Goodell and his supporters so at least if the NFL is going to be rigged and corrupt, it can at least be rigged and corrupt in the Boys favor, LOL.

I wrote my post before I read yours but we are on the same wavelength regarding the Dez catch.

 

[Direwolf63]

I like your first idea. This league needs to reconnect with their American blue collar fans. I saw someone posted this video in the game thread last night, they need to reconnect with this guy instead of trying to reach out to an audience that will always put soccer first.

That was adorable

 

[LittleLexodus]

Papa John said it best...poor leadership from the NFL.

The replay system takes the fun out of it as well. You make a great play to score a TD and then it gets held up by them watching the replay. Even if the play stands, it takes the excitement away.

Kickoff returns are pretty much non-existent.

The concussion protocol needs to be improved. Now anybody they *think* may have a concussion will sit out. Like Kuechly who didn't even have a concussion, just a hurt shoulder. He had to sit out just because they guessed, and guessed wrong, that he had a concussion. And quite frankly with how crooked the NFL is, I can't wait to see some team (coughcoughPatriotscoughcough) somehow use the concussion protocol to their advantage.

They've over-protected the QB's and they don't know how to call it so players avoid hitting the QB's in dangerous locations. Now if the QB ducks his head down and the defender accidentally glances the helmet...a flag gets thrown. There should be replay for QB hits instead of replay for all of this other garbage.

They completely botched the entire rules towards what is and what is not a catch.

This is a copycat league and the league has really taken to Andy Reid's offenses which are a lot of pick plays and flooding one area so you can bring 4-5 defenders to cover 3 receivers and leave another receiver all by themself to make a play in the open field. It's smart football, but it's not exciting football. Nobody has ever been overly excited about Reid's style of offense. And I think it's because it's not about 1 athlete beating another athlete for the ball or to advance the football. Instead it's about a player getting open in space due to scheme and that's just not as enticing to watch after a while. It's also very conservative in nature because it is geared towards not taking risks.

And the overall corruption of the NFL and the entire controversies that come with it. And Goodell's inability to come to a good resolution for those controversies and well...to stop being corrupt himself.

I grew up a baseball fan before I was a football fan. And in the past 10 years I haven't watched much baseball, but this year I watched more baseball than I have since 2000 and I really enjoyed the postseason even if my Yankees didn't make it to the World Series. As well as the other playoff games that the Yankees were not in. It's safe for me to say that my interest in the NFL is waning.





YR

Well said.

I used to love watching football up until a few years ago and honestly the league tampering with the rules and replays took the fun out of it for me.

Better team doesn't always win - officiating can often determine the outcome of close games. I feel bad for the players who stay focused and determined a whole year just to have the refs take the games into their own hands.

For me, the Dez catch/non-catch against Green Bay was a real tipping point. It was the start of my descent.

This.

 

[PA Cowboy Fan]

For me, the Dez catch/non-catch against Green Bay was a real tipping point. It was the start of my descent.

We were robbed.

 

[ThreeandOut]

The biggest reason for my declining interest is that in my eyes at least, it's becoming more and more likely that the NFL is indeed rigged, at least to an extent. I used to jokingly refer to conspiracy theories about how the refs are out to get us, etc. I think games are likely being at least influenced by factors outside of the play on the field and it's sickening.

Now, after the Dez catch/non-catch and now the NFL going after Zeke like a rabid dog, it's getting hard to believe the powerful guys in the NFL are ever going to let us compete fairly for another Superbowl anytime soon. I think the Dez no catch was the biggest thing to push me further away from being an NFL fanatic as I look back today upon it. Being ruled a TD on the field of play and without the hard evidence you need to overturn such a ruling, the NEW YORK office overturned it anyway. Can't see how that was anything but corruption.

When the odds seem stacked unfairly against your team, it's hard to feel that same hope and excitement you did before. At least for me.

My big hope nowadays is that Jerry can win in his Game of Thrones type powerplay with Goodell and his supporters so at least if the NFL is going to be rigged and corrupt, it can at least be rigged and corrupt in the Boys favor, LOL.

As unethical as the NFL has been in handling Zeke's situation, it makes me think they are more than likely unethical in other areas like officiating as well. Even if we do make the playoffs, I'm expecting an unusual, controversial call to go against us that will make the difference in the game. It's hard to get excited when you feel that way,

 

[PA Cowboy Fan]

As unethical as the NFL has been in handling Zeke's situation, it makes me think they are more than likely unethical in other areas like officiating as well. Even if we do make the playoffs, I'm expecting an unusual, controversial call to go against us that will make the difference in the game. It's hard to get excited when you feel that way,

After watching that thing they called a football game last week I'm sure you're right.

 

[75boyz]

NFL / Cowboys / Football all feel "off" to me this season and I wonder if we'll look back at the 2017 season someday as being the year where things started going south in a big way. Random thoughts on this topic:

• The incredible unfairness of the NFL's prosecution (so to speak) of the Zeke Elliot suspension. I don't think Elliot is a choir boy, however, in this country we strongly believe that someone is "innocent until proven guilty" and I don't think anyone has any faith the NFL has any more insights on Zeke's innocence / guilt than the legal system did

• Unexciting football. The Salary Cap, Parity, whatever you want to call it -- there are really no great/dominant teams with the exception of <maybe> the Patriots. It's hard to hate other teams with a passion like yesteryear.

• Extreme emphasis on offensive football and passing in general. I think they've gone too far with it.

• Watering down of football -- NFL games on Thursday Night, Sunday, Sunday Night, and Monday Night might be one day to many for me. I could do without Thursday night football

• The anthem thing. I will refrain stating my opinion on this other than to say the whole thing, top to bottom, is a huge black-eye for the players, owners, and the NFL. Putting the actual act aside for a moment, the players and NFL front office, and NFL league office have handled it horribly

• NFL head injuries (concussions) changing the way football is viewed by kids and parents of kids. I see a trend where I live where parents (especially dads) no longer urge their boys to play football. Most of them, and as a father of a 12 year old I fall into this category, am <OK> if they just stick to soccer / basketball / etc. Striving to play in the NFL someday is no longer a wonderful thing when we are finding the 50-75% of NFL players retire with CTE

• Beyond kids not opting to play football, my limited view of my son and his friend group (all 12-13 years old) is NONE of them care about the NFL. They are all passionate about the NBA and generally speaking I think the NBA is doing a great job of tailoring their sport to today's youth. Basketball, like soccer, is an infinitely more approachable sport than football. Anybody can play basketball or soccer to a certain extent. My main point here is the general sadness that my son doesn't seem to care, despite my best efforts, about the NFL and I don't get to enjoy the experience with him. I end up watching NBA games with him, the NBA will never be anything but slightly interesting to me

• Removing violence (bit hits, tackling a QB low, etc) from the game IMHO is taking a slow toll on the game. Don't get me wrong, each of these things taken by itself, seems like a good decision. Having said that, the game almost seems to be trending to towards flag football.

Sorry for the rant. It's probably just me, however, the game seems to be losing some of it's luster for me. I am less excited about Sundays. I care MUCH LESS about watching football outside of the Cowboys playing than ever before. Just feels weird.

Anybody else feeling this way?

I feel ya totally bro, excellent post.

As for me this kinda sums it up:

Liked college Memphis basketball(with Cal) as I grew up there, now I cant even watch, they suck so bad

Liked college Vols football (with Fulmer) see the above reasons for why I don't even watch anymore

Not a pro hoops guy
Nor hockey
Nor NASCAR
Tennis or Golf...

Pro football and the Boys was my outlet.

I agree wholeheartedly on all your reasons for the decline in the NFL but I will continue to watch

Patience is wearing thin though.

 

[cowboyblue22]

for me as with most everybody else I don't watch much any more except cowboys games the officiating to many bad games with to many bad teams its hard any more to not suspect that the league is changing the results of games to suit them also the cowboys are so inconsistent any more they sometimes do pretty good in the regular season then the playoffs are duds

 

[DenCWBY]

I'll add....

- No more games in London, Mexico, or anywhere but where they're supposed to be played.
- Put San Diego back in San Diego and drop this Las Vegas nonsense.
- Go back to what a catch used to be.
- Figure out what holding and pass interference is.
- Get off the color rush, pink, military, and obscure throwback jersey kick
- Outlaw political commentary during your pre- and post-game shows.
- Get all the fantasy stats off the bottom of the screen.
- Move the kickoff back to the 30 yard line.
- Move the league office out of New York to Omaha, and stop playing police and Judge Judy.

Add - full time refs, paid and judged with on game reviewed performances.

 

[wrongway]

It's 100% not just you. I'm shocked at how quickly I find myself becoming ambivalent about a game I've been avid about my whole life. When the Cowboys are eliminated, I've no longer got any interest whatsoever in how the season turns out. That's crazy for me.

I'm out till they take politics out of the game. It's not really that hard to do. Surprising since I've been a fan for 40 years. Still hang around here it's amusing.

 

[Echo9]

NFL / Cowboys / Football all feel "off" to me this season and I wonder if we'll look back at the 2017 season someday as being the year where things started going south in a big way. Random thoughts on this topic:

• The incredible unfairness of the NFL's prosecution (so to speak) of the Zeke Elliot suspension. I don't think Elliot is a choir boy, however, in this country we strongly believe that someone is "innocent until proven guilty" and I don't think anyone has any faith the NFL has any more insights on Zeke's innocence / guilt than the legal system did

• Unexciting football. The Salary Cap, Parity, whatever you want to call it -- there are really no great/dominant teams with the exception of <maybe> the Patriots. It's hard to hate other teams with a passion like yesteryear.

• Extreme emphasis on offensive football and passing in general. I think they've gone too far with it.

• Watering down of football -- NFL games on Thursday Night, Sunday, Sunday Night, and Monday Night might be one day to many for me. I could do without Thursday night football

• The anthem thing. I will refrain stating my opinion on this other than to say the whole thing, top to bottom, is a huge black-eye for the players, owners, and the NFL. Putting the actual act aside for a moment, the players and NFL front office, and NFL league office have handled it horribly

• NFL head injuries (concussions) changing the way football is viewed by kids and parents of kids. I see a trend where I live where parents (especially dads) no longer urge their boys to play football. Most of them, and as a father of a 12 year old I fall into this category, am <OK> if they just stick to soccer / basketball / etc. Striving to play in the NFL someday is no longer a wonderful thing when we are finding the 50-75% of NFL players retire with CTE

• Beyond kids not opting to play football, my limited view of my son and his friend group (all 12-13 years old) is NONE of them care about the NFL. They are all passionate about the NBA and generally speaking I think the NBA is doing a great job of tailoring their sport to today's youth. Basketball, like soccer, is an infinitely more approachable sport than football. Anybody can play basketball or soccer to a certain extent. My main point here is the general sadness that my son doesn't seem to care, despite my best efforts, about the NFL and I don't get to enjoy the experience with him. I end up watching NBA games with him, the NBA will never be anything but slightly interesting to me

• Removing violence (bit hits, tackling a QB low, etc) from the game IMHO is taking a slow toll on the game. Don't get me wrong, each of these things taken by itself, seems like a good decision. Having said that, the game almost seems to be trending to towards flag football.

Sorry for the rant. It's probably just me, however, the game seems to be losing some of it's luster for me. I am less excited about Sundays. I care MUCH LESS about watching football outside of the Cowboys playing than ever before. Just feels weird.

Anybody else feeling this way?

I agree completely. It's an odd feeling and kinda sad as well. I haven't watched a single non-Cowboys game this year, which is crazy.

A loss used to put in in a bad mood for days and win would cheer me up. Now it's almost forgotten right after the game.
I listened to every Cowboys podcast every day, now I'll usually catch one, I don't listen to others.

I still visit this site constantly, and it's a bummer to think what I'd do with my time if I just stopped paying attention to football entirely. I think I'd miss this place more than a game. (Yeah, that's strange, I know).

For me, the first serious crack in my fandom was the Dez Catch/No Catch. It made me question why I bother investing in such a broken game. Now it's the Zeke injustice, the constant over-the-top ref issues, the overall the dark cloud of the anthem thing as well as the boring "watering down" of Thursday games that just messes with even competition via scheduling.

Being a huge Cowboy fan is a year round hobby for me and I've started wondering if I just need a new hobby.

 

[BotchedLobotomy]

I like your first idea. This league needs to reconnect with their American blue collar fans. I saw someone posted this video in the game thread last night, they need to reconnect with this guy instead of trying to reach out to an audience that will always put soccer first.

Those international games are designed for one purpose, bleed those fans dry like they did stateside.

 

[SlammedZero]

I said something similar in another thread a few weeks ago that this season just has a very unusual and odd feeling to it.

 

[Vanilla2]

I think what’s going on is the league is in a transition stage.

Who are the next great qb’s?

Where are the players you love to hate?

When some of these young guys get a bit more established the Warm fuzzies will come back.

Also I don’t get how you can praise soccer and basketball for their approachability but then say football is ruining good itself by removing some of the violence which should make the game more approachable.

 

[Sarge]

I started losing interest when I couldn't figure out what a catch was anymore.

 

[Zman5]

I think there is some truth to this. I usually go check out other teams' forums the week we play them. I noticed there are less activity overall on other teams forums than previous years.