The NFL is losing its mojo

[Garrettop]

I've lost interest in the NFL product over the last 5 years outside of the Cowboys. The changes to the rules/interpretations of the rules are making the game into something I am much less interested in watching, and as already noted, the level of play seems to be erratic or simply bad. I don't know what the problem is at the team by team level in terms of skill, talent, and coaching, but the league office has set a trajectory that I do not like at all. I watch a fraction of the NFL football I did 10+ years ago, and if Carolina doesn't make it to the SB, probably won't even bother watching it. The college game became unwatchable long ago. I really wish there were some legitimate competition for the NFL instead of attempts at doing what the NFL is trying to go to but worse.

 

[erod]

What evidence is there that it is starting to shake? Your personal view of the league might be shaky, but the popularity of the game shows no evidence of waning.

The huge popularity is based on its history, not what it is now. Of course, people aren't turning away cold turkey. They're too emotionally connected. But people are looking around at each other like "this is the NFL?".

We know it's a fraud, an imposter. This isn't the game it used to be. The uniforms look the same, and the they still tackle, and yada, yada, but the quality of execution is far from what it used to be. It's a sloppy mess of mistakes wrapped around a few great athletic plays.

The hardcore fans are wise to it.

 

[erod]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/You're_Getting_Old

Or, perhaps you never saw it when it was great. Today, it's just really bad football.

Look at boxing. I saw Ali, Frazier, Foreman, Norton, Leonard, Hearns, Duran, etc. Boxing changed for a variety of reasons, and now it's barely on the radar. More people actually watch the Neanderthal-like UFC.

The movie "Idiocracy" is suddenly a documentary.

 

[links18]

I've been playing fantasy football since it's inception and I've never shared your views.

Great for you!

 

[erod]

Great for you!

Yep, fantasy football is the Jedi mind trick to keep people from noticing how bad the actual football is.

 

[Nova]

They really should get rid of some teams rather than try to transplant them to new cities. The talent is really diluted.

 

[RxMan]

Nope. It used to be about half the league had winning records. Usually between 14 and 18 teams.

Nowadays, it's mostly about who sucks the least.

In 1998 there were 12 teams with winning record.
In 1999 there were 11 teams with winning record.
Skipping ahead to 2006, there were 12 teams.
I only looked at those years.
Not sure when it used to be that way.

 

[tyke1doe]

I don't think the game is any less popular than it was in previous years. In fact, it's even more popular. The ratings seem to suggest so. NFL regular season games draws greater ratings than the World Series.

I think what you're seeing is the "whining effect" of our social media culture. These "whiney voices" were muted in the past because there was no avenue other than traditional forums represented by newspaper editorial pages and talk radio.

But now with the advent of social media, everyone has a place to vent his/her frustrations, and, thus, you're hearing more opinions and dissatisfaction, which makes it seem as if more people are put out with the NFL. But the numbers and ratings say otherwise.

 

[tyke1doe]

There are some large cracks in the foundation though.

I don't know about that. I think it's more voices talking about perceived cracks than cracks themselves. I think if you went back a generation and gave them social media platforms, you would likely hear the same thing.

A generation ago, it was allowing black players to play along side white players. And I'm pretty sure some people were bemoaning the "end" of sports as we know it.
Maybe even before that it would be the introduction of the facemask "sissifying" the game - as some might have argued then.

Every period of time and history has its own battle between the old guard vs. the new, tradition vs. change. And at every point, there was probably somebody bemoaning change as a signal of the league (or whatever cultural entity we're talking about) going to H311 in a handbasket.

 

[links18]

Yep, fantasy football is the Jedi mind trick to keep people from noticing how bad the actual football is.

Just pay attention when the ball is in someone's red zone. What could be more exciting than constant scoring? Hey, there is an entire channel for that.

 

[Nightman]

I don't know about that. I think it's more voices talking about perceived cracks than cracks themselves. I think if you went back a generation and gave them social media platforms, you would likely hear the same thing.

A generation ago, it was allowing black players to play along side white players. And I'm pretty sure some people were bemoaning the "end" of sports as we know it.
Maybe even before that it would be the introduction of the facemask "sissifying" the game - as some might have argued then.

Every period of time and history has its own battle between the old guard vs. the new, tradition vsI don. change. And at every point, there was probably somebody bemoaning change as a signal of the league (or whatever cultural entity we're talking about) going to H311 in a handbasket.

i don't know. The live game experience has probably peaked.

Stadiums are getting smaller and they are tarping off large areas in other, They relaxed the blackout rules because more games were threatened. Add in the cost, the PSLs and at home experience and owners are worried.

The concussions and the injuries are another crack. Football is under attack in some ways and the concussion settlement, movie and CTE problems aren't going away. Injuries to stars are also a big problem. They are moving away from the big hits that the fans love.

I don't think it is anything drastic but there are some problems with the Golden Goose.

 

[erod]

I don't think the game is any less popular than it was in previous years. In fact, it's even more popular. The ratings seem to suggest so. NFL regular season games draws greater ratings than the World Series.

I think what you're seeing is the "whining effect" of our social media culture. These "whiney voices" were muted in the past because there was no avenue other than traditional forums represented by newspaper editorial pages and talk radio.

But now with the advent of social media, everyone has a place to vent his/her frustrations, and, thus, you're hearing more opinions and dissatisfaction, which makes it seem as if more people are put out with the NFL. But the numbers and ratings say otherwise.

I know the ratings are still sky high, and I know other leagues pale in comparison (because of their own fundamental flaws).

But I think longtime fans are looking at each other right now like, "What is this crap? This doesn't look right."

It's like every game is the Browns versus Buccaneers. They all stumble their way to a last-play finishes. Sloppy, dramatic chaos every game.

There's no crispness anymore.

 

[Bleu Star]

When the Cowboys are good I am all in but the product we have put on the field with Garrett is just soooooooo boring to watch. Even when we're winning it is a very boring style.


I still think the playoffs are must watch TV but the regular season does get hard to watch this time of year.

This.

I don't see any mojo being lost. We're just butt hurt because our Cowboys stink up every piece of real estate they set foot on. There's plenty of really good football being played right now. The Jags busted 51 on the Colts. Cmon now. That's exciting if you're a Jags fan but ho hum status if you're a Cowboys fan down in the dumps on yet another typical Monday after...

That all said, never underestimate the influence of Jerry Jones on the mojo of the league. He set the bar at an all time high with the opening of Jerry's World and many teams around the league are clamoring to increase the entertainment value their home facilities bring to their respective fans.

I think Winston, Carr, Bortles, and Mariota are all budding superstars at the QB position that are ready to step in when the old heads bow out.

I still think JFB belongs in that category too...

 

[erod]

In 1998 there were 12 teams with winning record.
In 1999 there were 11 teams with winning record.
Skipping ahead to 2006, there were 12 teams.
I only looked at those years.
Not sure when it used to be that way.

1990: 13 (with only 28 teams)
1991: 13 (with only 28 teams)
1992: 14 (with only 28 teams)
1993: 13 (with only 28 teams)
1994: 14 (with only 28 teams)
1995: 13 (with only 30 teams)

 

[Wrangler87]

There have been many, many worse then Cassel at times. JMO

Like Quincy Carter. He was just awful. We wasted like four years on that dude.

 

[tyke1doe]

i don't know. The live game experience has probably peaked.

Stadiums are getting smaller and they are tarping off large areas in other, They relaxed the blackout rules because more games were threatened. Add in the cost, the PSLs and at home experience and owners are worried.

The concussions and the injuries are another crack. Football is under attack in some ways and the concussion settlement, movie and CTE problems aren't going away. Injuries to stars are also a big problem. They are moving away from the big hits that the fans love.

I don't think it is anything drastic but there are some problems with the Golden Goose.

Fair enough.

I do think the issue of concussions is one that may have a greater impact on the NFL. I foresee there will be greater restrictions placed on the game. However, I believe people will adjust just as they have with other changes made to the game throughout its history.

We have a NEED for civil contest/competition and managed brutality. These are just instinctive traits within humanity, and I think we'll do a disservice to society if we rid them completely. Instead of fighting for real and dueling to the death or making prisoners fight in gladiatorial games, we use sports to manage aggression and competition in a civilized way.

The purist and civil pacifists among us don't like boxing, wrestling, MMA and football, and that's their right. But, IMO, we can't get rid of these sports or alter these sports in a way that denies people the opportunity to channel their aggression in a constructive way that involves free will and freedom of choice.

Imagine how many of these young men would be on the streets and robbing people or beating people up if not for sports. Mike Tyson comes to mind and so many other athletes fit his story too.

 

[cowboyblue22]

I think maybe its the shine that Is dimming on the star after all these years of stupid decisions bad play from players and coaches who are completely lost. 20 years of being awful will do that for you. cowboy games for me are getting easier and easier to not watch and to not keep up with jerry and Jason and the merry band are making it that way .

 

[JoeBoBBY]

I think maybe its the shine that Is dimming on the star after all these years of stupid decisions bad play from players and coaches who are completely lost. 20 years of being awful will do that for you. cowboy games for me are getting easier and easier to not watch and to not keep up with jerry and Jason and the merry band are making it that way .

Same ole Song and Dance............ As long as the Money is right for the franchise, this is what were going to get.

There really isnt an incentive for the Jones Family to do better. Nothing. I mean, I really do beleive them when they say they want to win....... But, u know, the case for "not caring all that much as long as the money works for the Jones Family" is adding up....................... They have put themselves in this position.

And no one is calling them on it! And they know it. So, next year Cowboys fans...............next year. ohhh those Dallas Cowboys will eventually get it right and get back to being a strong franchise..................................................................................wont they??

 

[RS12]

A couple thing from college football have infected the NFL. Nobody can tackle anymore. Spread offenses dont work nearly as well when everybody on the field is a freak athlete. What is the NFL doing about all this? Hoping you dont notice and expanding into Europe and South America as fast as possible to make 2020 revenue targets

 

[Dallas_Cowboys50]

Like with music, I've been getting less and less into sports as I get older. I was obsessed with WWF wrestling my whole life up until high school when I suddenly stopped watching it. I can't remember if I gradually became less interested or if I just stopped watching it cold turkey. I was obsessed with music, especially hip hop, from high school until my early/mid 20s and I gradually became less interested. Now I go months without listening to music and when I do, it's the same few songs I've been listening to for years. And my entire life I was a huge sports fanatic. My favorites were football, hockey, basketball, baseball and boxing, but I followed many more. Now at 29, I haven't watched boxing in years, hockey in years, stopped watching baseball about a year or two ago, almost watch no basketball besides regularly checking on stats and standings, and watch virtually no football besides the Cowboys and the playoffs. The Cowboys have been the only thing I've stuck with my entire life. If not for the Cowboys, I probably wouldn't even follow football. Jerry sure makes it frustrating to be a fan... I don't know what my point is. Maybe that I wonder if I lose interest one day.

LOL, you made my day with this post. I thought I was the only person in the world who essentially doesnt listen to music anymore......I used to be one of those blare my music in the car types, now I mostly drive in absolute silence or listen to the Ticket.....Every great once in a while I have a night I listen to music while drinkin, but same as you its usually just the same bands I listened to in high school and my 20's years....

Oh and I to was big into WWF/WWE, but I just flat out stopped watchin at the end of 2001...tried to get back into again a couple different times over the years but I never make it more than a couple weeks before I lose interest again.....