The NFL is losing itself

[Direwolf63]

When there is enough complaining that it affects the NFL's bottom line, changes will be made. Until then, expect more of the same.

If nobody buys the color rush jerseys, they will be gone in a couple of years. But if the teams are making money, all the complaining in the world won't get rid of them. For the record, I don't like them either. But people will have to stop buying them to make them go away.

 

[theebs]

The nfl tv numbers are down not because of any of these things. Fans don't really care about the anthem or breast cancer awareness. that is all stuff to talk about, most fans do not care one bit. Big Ben raped a girl in the bathroom while his bodyguard watched the door, when his suspension was up the steelers home crowd was filled with Ben jerseys worn by woman. Same reaction in every town.

The numbers are down to me because the game needs heroes and villains. Rivalries. Right now the nfl has no Tom Brady, Peyton Manning or Tony Romo. People tune into watch these guys play, they drive the league. The numbers say so.

The other thing is rivalries. People want rivalries. If there was a coach who could match Bill Belichick mentally fans would be pulling for that coach and team. Right now there is no coach close. Just look at the nfc east, we used to have Parcells vs Gibbs, Landry vs Buddy etc....Its about characters.

I think right now the league is short on Characters, heroes and villains....(reminds me to go spin Smile today) I think the numbers will go up as Romo and Brady return.

For all the stuff everyone complains about people want interesting games between teams with interesting players/characters.

Look at last nights game, there is nothing interesting in any way about Miami or Cincy. If it was just about football and casual fans wanting football it would have huge ratings, but even for the casual fan the rivalries, characters and heroes/villains are what drive everything.

Right now there is only one villain and that's new england. Dallas when Romo is healthy is a villain to most fans and everyone wants to see him lose. As the season goes on all this will pick up.

So I don't think the nfl is losing itself or anything else. Just like in the early 00's the qb's are not as intriguing at the moment. that will change just like it aways does.

 

[haleyrules]

My biggest complaint is how they can just change decades old fundamental rules of the game at a drop of the hat. Returned kicks are up because of a knee jerk reaction to concussions to pretend they care, when anyone that put much thought into the new rule could foresee more kickoff returns.

When the owners stopped allowing certain player to be hit...QB's..WR's.. it was a signal that the old NFL style game was dead. Only sizzle and highlight reel crap was the order of business in the 'NFL' Sizzle sells.

 

[jazzcat22]

Great post. Another thing thats turns fans off. The outrageous costs of everything related to the NFL and the kind of Money being paid to the players. The money is disgusting and most ordinary people simply can not accept it and are turning away from it.

Hats...the price of ball hats has escalated. Used to buy a hat for $12, then $18, then $20 to $24 range. In a recent email offering I got fro Dallas Cowboys pro shop...$32.99....screw that.
I like my hats, but no way I pay that. Heck $20 is a bit high.

I wanted to get a Zeke replica jersey, even those went up to around $100....no way....

 

[65fastback2plus2]

Catering the past and not looking to the future is how you go out of business.

It sucks, but the NFL has it right.

 

[haleyrules]

Hats...the price of ball hats has escalated. Used to buy a hat for $12, then $18, then $20 to $24 range. In a recent email offering I got fro Dallas Cowboys pro shop...$32.99....screw that.
I like my hats, but no way I pay that. Heck $20 is a bit high.

I wanted to get a Zeke replica jersey, even those went up to around $100....no way....

Tell you what. I live in Central America..and get Cowboy hats..the nicest for a little as 2 dollars.

 

[Trouty]

The nfl tv numbers are down not because of any of these things. Fans don't really care about the anthem or breast cancer awareness. that is all stuff to talk about, most fans do not care one bit. Big Ben raped a girl in the bathroom while his bodyguard watched the door, when his suspension was up the steelers home crowd was filled with Ben jerseys worn by woman. Same reaction in every town.

The numbers are down to me because the game needs heroes and villains. Rivalries. Right now the nfl has no Tom Brady, Peyton Manning or Tony Romo. People tune into watch these guys play, they drive the league. The numbers say so.

The other thing is rivalries. People want rivalries. If there was a coach who could match Bill Belichick mentally fans would be pulling for that coach and team. Right now there is no coach close. Just look at the nfc east, we used to have Parcells vs Gibbs, Landry vs Buddy etc....Its about characters.

I think right now the league is short on Characters, heroes and villains....(reminds me to go spin Smile today) I think the numbers will go up as Romo and Brady return.

For all the stuff everyone complains about people want interesting games between teams with interesting players/characters.

Look at last nights game, there is nothing interesting in any way about Miami or Cincy. If it was just about football and casual fans wanting football it would have huge ratings, but even for the casual fan the rivalries, characters and heroes/villains are what drive everything.

Right now there is only one villain and that's new england. Dallas when Romo is healthy is a villain to most fans and everyone wants to see him lose. As the season goes on all this will pick up.

So I don't think the nfl is losing itself or anything else. Just like in the early 00's the qb's are not as intriguing at the moment. that will change just like it aways does.

Very well said, Theebs. It can't be overlooked that the current political fiasco has everyone's attention, and is, too, drawing a lot of viewers away from the game. After the elections, I suspect numbers will climb back up, at least somewhat. People are glued to this election and it's taking viewers from all sorts of television programming, sports and otherwise,

 

[jazzcat22]

When the owners stopped allowing certain player to be hit...QB's..WR's.. it was a signal that the old NFL style game was dead. Only sizzle and highlight reel crap was the order of business in the 'NFL' Sizzle sells.

Well, they allow Romo to be hit...so all QB's except one......

 

[haleyrules]

Well, they allow Romo to be hit...so all QB's except one......

Not like they used too. The Eagles used to try and kill Aikman. Very different game today.

 

[erod]

Cuban is right, but he needs to be more concerned with putting together a winning team for his team. People want to criticize Jerry for being a bad GM. Cuban is a bad owner to a degree.
What is wrong with an organization that trades away their 1st round picks for what seems like the last 20 years now. As a NBA 2nd round pick has a slim chance to make a team. and no top FA's want to come to Dallas to play for a badly ran team.

Cuban is a joke in general.

He's an accidental billionaire who hoodwinked Tom Hicks into buying a defunct company. He's been a wild failure with the Mavericks, coattailing off Dirk and missing on every major free agent he's chased. (Tyson Chandler only signed here because he failed a physical in OKC.) They haven't drafted a single player of significance during his time.

Now, he's got this eerie obsession with Trump. He's in a constant tweet loop he can't get out of.

But.....he was somewhat right about this. The NFL is fine, but it is damaging itself with a lot of poor decisions.

 

[haleyrules]

Very well said, Theebs. It can't be overlooked that the current political fiasco has everyone's attention, and is, too, drawing a lot of viewers away from the game. After the elections, I suspect numbers will climb back up, at least somewhat. People are glued to this election and it's taking viewers from all sorts of television programming, sports and otherwise,

Maybe. Most people would rather watch football than listen to BS politicians lie about everything.

 

[jazzcat22]

Tell you what. I live in Central America..and get Cowboy hats..the nicest for a little as 2 dollars.

I could make a trip there, and after all airfare, hotel cost and food and such. Buy 10 hats, and I would still save $$$$ over getting a few hats at Jerry World, and I live 7 miles from the stadium.......

 

[erod]

Great post. Another thing thats turns fans off. The outrageous costs of everything related to the NFL and the kind of Money being paid to the players. The money is disgusting and most ordinary people simply can not accept it and are turning away from it.

I'll disagree on player salary. NFL players make far less than other sports, except for a small handful of players. And that money is a pittance of what the owner's make.

I do find it infuriating that players get paid pro salaries, and yet they don't feel obligated to the same employee standards that you and I are.

 

[haleyrules]

I could make a trip there, and after all airfare, hotel cost and food and such. Buy 10 hats, and I would still save $$$$ over getting a few hats at Jerry World, and I live 7 miles from the stadium.......

Heck...7 miles from the Stadium..thats fantastic..so you must take in plenty of games. I am jealous.

 

[Trouty]

Maybe. Most people would rather watch football than listen to BS politicians lie about everything.

Sadly, the BS political fiasco IS drawing viewers away from our beloved game. I've seen it cited by various news outlets and personalities (specifically mentioning a slight decline in sports viewership as correlation).

I'm with you brother, let's watch some ball, and ignore that circus.

(Mods, not a political post, just a generalization ) @BrAinPaiNt -- punndits.com

 

[erod]

Heck...7 miles from the Stadium..thats fantastic..so you must take in plenty of games. I am jealous.

If you're kicking your feet in the water in Costa Rica, WE'RE jealous. LOL

 

[Trouty]

Cuban is a joke in general.

He's an accidental billionaire who hoodwinked Tom Hicks into buying a defunct company. He's been a wild failure with the Mavericks, coattailing off Dirk and missing on every major free agent he's chased. (Tyson Chandler only signed here because he failed a physical in OKC.) They haven't drafted a single player of significance during his time.

Now, he's got this eerie obsession with Trump. He's in a constant tweet loop he can't get out of.

But.....he was somewhat right about this. The NFL is fine, but it is damaging itself with a lot of poor decisions.

Like for calling Cuban a joke.

 

[Trouty]

I could make a trip there, and after all airfare, hotel cost and food and such. Buy 10 hats, and I would still save $$$$ over getting a few hats at Jerry World, and I live 7 miles from the stadium.......

Dude! If I lived that close I would go to at least a couple games a year! So lucky, Jazz!!!

 

[Trouty]

Heck...7 miles from the Stadium..thats fantastic..so you must take in plenty of games. I am jealous.

I'm equally jelly!!

 

[haleyrules]

If you're kicking your feet in the water in Costa Rica, WE'RE jealous. LOL

lol. I lived there for many years..it got like NFL football...too expensive I loaded up the Ranger and moved to Panama!!!