The NFL is not very entertaining anymore

[RustyBourneHorse]

@RustyBourneHorse Good point, the fact the championships were still relatively recent could also have played a role. Even for younger fans like us who didn't see them win, it didn't cross our mind that things would only keep getting worse. Everything was possible, we still had hope.

Nostalgia can also be a big factor and not only when it comes to the NFL/Cowboys. Only speaking for myself here but the NHL was also more entertaining back then, music was better, video games were better and so on. Part of growing up I guess, things are just not as fun as they used to be.

Well, exactly, and it's ridiculous how predictable the NFL is getting to the point where it feels manufactured.

 

[RustyBourneHorse]

then quit watching.

I *LOVE* football. I'll be watching the Super Bowl and I hope it's a good game.

it's FAR better than the off-season with no football

I said that I'll be watching because there's not really a pro football competitor. That said, it feels manufactured. It's not what it was until around 2016.

 

[RustyBourneHorse]

The QB sliding and then getting hit as the defensive player has already gone full speed ready to do what he’s paid to do and yep here comes the flags .

The player headed out bounds but still picking up yards and right as he gets out of bounds yep he gets smacked by the defender and here comes the flags

The NFL choreographed kickoffs landing zones and zero chance on side kicks work when you have to tell the opponents you’re kicking an on side kick.


Increasing a physical violent sport to 17 games now talk of 18 games holy smokes and adding Thurs night games to the menu meaning teams in those games don’t have full turn around time to recover and this past season adding a Wed slate of games for Xmas plus increasing games to out of country sub standard turfs venues the over exposure factor


In recap the competition committee and rules changes plus clowns like Jerry & Roger Goodfella out to squeeze the NFL toothpaste tube for every nickel doing a good job ruining a once great American entertainment.

Exactly, these are rules designed to intrigue new fans while selling out long time fans.

 

[RustyBourneHorse]

Lots of valid points, and it seemed that the AFCCG was almost predetermined. There was that call late in the game that rewarded the Chiefs. Some business decisions by some defenders. Not quite Saturday Night wrestlemania, but not what it used to be.

The fact that there were literal memes about how rigged the game was going to be and, sure as ****, there were tons of ridiculous calls that benefited the Chiefs highlights further that the game felt predetermined. Same with last year. The Chiefs have been carried by the refs.

 

[Whirlwin]

I know the NFL likes to think of itself as an entertainment business. However, I must say that I find that the NFL is not very entertaining anymore. I mainly watch because 1. I'm a Cowboys fan and 2. There's not exactly a viable competitor for professional American Football. However, as stated yesterday, I have other sports I prefer to the NFL.

Firstly, I think the NFL is overly manufactured. Just the production of the games lately looks off. I know the game is more made for TV, but it just looks... obviously manufactured. The officiating looks like it is there more to navigate a game in a certain path. Then you have the way the media is set up to keep the talk of the game going. Maybe I'm not as enthused because I'm a Cowboys fan and it gets boring hearing them rip on us, but, outside the Pat McAfee Show, the talk shows about the NFL are either boring or are toxic. It feels like there is a narrative being pushed every season, and it gets painfully obvious as the season drags on what the narrative is. I'm not trying to say the game is rigged, perse, but I do think it's manufactured in a way that fits what they want. Think about Taylor Swift being shoved in our face all last season and this season. Then this year you hear about nobody winning 3 in a row. Then the Chiefs get incredibly lucky calls or no calls. I'm not saying it's rigged, but I do think the games are manufactured and manipulated to reach an outcome or a spot where the League gets the narrative it wants.


When FIFA got slammed with a massive scandal a decade ago (https://www.britannica.com/event/2015-FIFA-corruption-scandal), it was for "More than two dozen FIFA officials and their associates were implicated in a 24-year self-enrichment scheme that reached the highest levels of FIFA management. Central to the scandal were accusations of bribery connected to the awarding of hosting rights for the 2018 World Cup to Russia and the 2022 World Cup to Qatar". What the NFL is doing makes FIFA's scandal look like a mild inconvenience. As for hockey, it's incredibly hard to manufacture an outcome in hockey, compared to an NFL game. If the puck is over the line, it's a goal. If not, it's not a goal.

Secondly, I will admit some of this has to do with the Cowboys. It just feels like we are Sideshow Bob. What I mean by that is that it feels like we were sold out a long time ago by Jerry. It feels like he actually enjoys seeing us Cowboys fans be miserable and upset. Have you ever noticed how sometimes we have very good teams, but there's always one or two glaring holes that never quite get addressed or get outright ignored. Then, at a certain time in the playoffs, we end up being eliminated. It almost feels like Jerry enjoys it because he gets paid and media attention either way, and the NFL likes it because they like to bag on us. It has gotten rather old and repetitive. Then, like this year, when we are absolutely useless, the media still finds ways to take the piss out of us. All in all, much like point one, it just feels like a hamster wheel that's gotten repetitive and boring.

Thirdly, the game itself isn't as good as it used to be. With the rule changes that have been implemented and the game being not as physical as it used to be, the product itself just seems like a cheap knockoff for what it used to be. It's like watching a concert with a band that broke up years ago, but they try to make it seem like they're still the same band with the same songs, but the music just isn't as good. I understand that the players are bigger and faster than they used to be, but the game just doesn't seem as good. Even without the officiating and manufacturing points from point one, the product just looks worse.

All in all, it feels like the NFL has sold out it's core fanbase and it's core customers for the quick buck that is the new fans and the Swifties. It feels like a watered down manufactured product that appeals to the masses as opposed to the key fanbase that actually love what the game used to be. Maybe I'm just rambling, but it just feels like the NFL is not what it should be. Personally, whenever there is a new commissioner, I hope the next commissioner is a former player like a Tom Brady or a Ray Lewis so we can have American Football be American Football. Not this manufactured "American Football" garbage.

I find it very entertaining, my issue is it’s not my team. That’s entertaining me. Lol.

 

[KaikacraigP]

I know the NFL likes to think of itself as an entertainment business. However, I must say that I find that the NFL is not very entertaining anymore. I mainly watch because 1. I'm a Cowboys fan and 2. There's not exactly a viable competitor for professional American Football. However, as stated yesterday, I have other sports I prefer to the NFL.

Firstly, I think the NFL is overly manufactured. Just the production of the games lately looks off. I know the game is more made for TV, but it just looks... obviously manufactured. The officiating looks like it is there more to navigate a game in a certain path. Then you have the way the media is set up to keep the talk of the game going. Maybe I'm not as enthused because I'm a Cowboys fan and it gets boring hearing them rip on us, but, outside the Pat McAfee Show, the talk shows about the NFL are either boring or are toxic. It feels like there is a narrative being pushed every season, and it gets painfully obvious as the season drags on what the narrative is. I'm not trying to say the game is rigged, perse, but I do think it's manufactured in a way that fits what they want. Think about Taylor Swift being shoved in our face all last season and this season. Then this year you hear about nobody winning 3 in a row. Then the Chiefs get incredibly lucky calls or no calls. I'm not saying it's rigged, but I do think the games are manufactured and manipulated to reach an outcome or a spot where the League gets the narrative it wants.


When FIFA got slammed with a massive scandal a decade ago (https://www.britannica.com/event/2015-FIFA-corruption-scandal), it was for "More than two dozen FIFA officials and their associates were implicated in a 24-year self-enrichment scheme that reached the highest levels of FIFA management. Central to the scandal were accusations of bribery connected to the awarding of hosting rights for the 2018 World Cup to Russia and the 2022 World Cup to Qatar". What the NFL is doing makes FIFA's scandal look like a mild inconvenience. As for hockey, it's incredibly hard to manufacture an outcome in hockey, compared to an NFL game. If the puck is over the line, it's a goal. If not, it's not a goal.

Secondly, I will admit some of this has to do with the Cowboys. It just feels like we are Sideshow Bob. What I mean by that is that it feels like we were sold out a long time ago by Jerry. It feels like he actually enjoys seeing us Cowboys fans be miserable and upset. Have you ever noticed how sometimes we have very good teams, but there's always one or two glaring holes that never quite get addressed or get outright ignored. Then, at a certain time in the playoffs, we end up being eliminated. It almost feels like Jerry enjoys it because he gets paid and media attention either way, and the NFL likes it because they like to bag on us. It has gotten rather old and repetitive. Then, like this year, when we are absolutely useless, the media still finds ways to take the piss out of us. All in all, much like point one, it just feels like a hamster wheel that's gotten repetitive and boring.

Thirdly, the game itself isn't as good as it used to be. With the rule changes that have been implemented and the game being not as physical as it used to be, the product itself just seems like a cheap knockoff for what it used to be. It's like watching a concert with a band that broke up years ago, but they try to make it seem like they're still the same band with the same songs, but the music just isn't as good. I understand that the players are bigger and faster than they used to be, but the game just doesn't seem as good. Even without the officiating and manufacturing points from point one, the product just looks worse.

All in all, it feels like the NFL has sold out it's core fanbase and it's core customers for the quick buck that is the new fans and the Swifties. It feels like a watered down manufactured product that appeals to the masses as opposed to the key fanbase that actually love what the game used to be. Maybe I'm just rambling, but it just feels like the NFL is not what it should be. Personally, whenever there is a new commissioner, I hope the next commissioner is a former player like a Tom Brady or a Ray Lewis so we can have American Football be American Football. Not this manufactured "American Football" garbage.

I sorta agree, but I believe if The Cowboys were more relevant things may be a little different. At least I would like to think so.

 

[KaikacraigP]

The fact that there were literal memes about how rigged the game was going to be and, sure as ****, there were tons of ridiculous calls that benefited the Chiefs highlights further that the game felt predetermined. Same with last year. The Chiefs have been carried by the refs.

I could not disagree more about the favoritism for the chiefs. If you remember,Buffalo ran Cooke just 13 times. The so called tush push over the LEFT side didn't work numerous times.
I saw many holding calls on both sides that weren't called.
KC is a well coached team with the best QB that has ever suited up.
I love my boys ,and if Mahomes were on The Cowboys every Cowboys fan would love it.
Just my 2 cents.

 

[SultanOfSix]

The NFL is not scripted but it is “rigged”— for entertainment, gambling, storylines, etc., which all affect the bottom line, and that is to make the most money for the most important people involved. The non-independent corporate officials are the pretend judges to create the illusion of a fair process. Yes, the NFL allowed free agency for the players, but they also supposedly did it to kill the dynasty and introduce parity so any team could win it even more so on “any given Sunday”. Yet, thirty years later, the NFL have created two dynasties even more victorious than those pre-free agency, one after the other that have been more than “lucky” enough to beat parity. Sorry, but this is not how things work in the real world when there is real competition. All things being generally equal, nobody is that lucky. It’s like someone calling a coin flip ten times in a row. Technically, it can happen but it does not. Otherwise, you will think something is fishy with the coin. Remember “The House” never loses.

 

[Redline360]

I'll still continue to watch however my enthusiasm toward the sport is nowhere it used to be. Granted being a Cowboys fan with Jerry in charge doesn't help...

I'm all for player safety but the slowly evolving rules to protect everyone is getting beyond ridiculous. What I mean by this would be the ones such as getting flagged when you hit(helll push) the QB a second after he throws the ball when going full speed. You make contact with the QBs helmet with your hand / palm cause you tried to swat the ball and accidently hit him. He's got a helmet on ffs. The QB sliding when a defense player is going full speed and already committed. Once the QB leaves the pocket and becomes a runner he does so at his own expense should be the rule. So fn dumb otherwise.

Always thought those conspiracy people were crazy back in the day but at this point I don't see how any one can deny some games aren't "fixed". I mean when the league still continues to get blatant calls wrong even with replays from 20 different angles or weak sauce PI penalties. Just look at the game last night between KC and the bills. The ball clearly hit the ground and the turn over on downs with Allen. Both had angles/replays that show the opposite ruling on the field clear as day. Even the announcers are starting to come out on air and say the officiating is a joke.

 

[goshann]

Yup this topic comes up every 2 months
It’s more popular than ever

 

[Mk2_Cowboys]

It feels like a complete waste of time. I voluntarily missed the second half the season. After the packers playoff game debacle the previous season it felt like i had literally wasted so many hours it just wasn’t fun anymore and i couldn’t lock in this year.
That coupled with the referees actually getting worse to the point some games even appeared somewhat fixed has killed it for me. Whomever wants to debate me on it being fixed just understand that even admitting it’s not fixed it’s undeniable that in almost every game a critical call swings the outcome .The league has a very serious issue that seems to be getting worse and this is coming from a fan who has watched every season since 1977.

 

[morat1959]

then quit watching.

I *LOVE* football. I'll be watching the Super Bowl and I hope it's a good game.

it's FAR better than the off-season with no football

I have quit watching all but the boys and only watched 4-5 games this season. This has nothing to do with your advice and everything to do with what the nfl has become. It’s definitely geared towards what the country has been hammered with for quite a few years now. I’ve got a couple children who coach and many grands who play various sports. I still get my fix watching sports but not at the expense of morals and values.

 

[reddyuta]

it's not because every cowboys fan knows the Jones family is not trying to win the Super bowl at all.

 

[big dog cowboy]

nobody outside KC cares about the Chiefs

You need to get out more often. They are among the most popular teams in the league around the country because of bandwagon fans.

 

[Kwyn]

Almost everything you don’t like is based on things that aren’t about the actual games.

There have been some tremendously entertaining games, just this post season.

You can tune that out.

 

[RustyBourneHorse]

I sorta agree, but I believe if The Cowboys were more relevant things may be a little different. At least I would like to think so.

Maybe, but it just feels..... manufactured, even if we were relevant.

 

[Vtwin]

I'd be willing to bet that if we didn't get hooked in our childhoods the majority of us wouldn't give a crap about the NFL or pro sports period as adults. Pro sports is nothing but a commodity. No different than the sitcoms, crime dramas and "reality" tv stuff the networks feed us.

Habits are damn hard to break and lifelong habits are the hardest.

 

[Cowfan75Lives]

You need to get out more often. They are among the most popular teams in the league around the country because of bandwagon fans.

Guess I don't hang out in bars enough. Here in the DFW area, I've seen approximately two people wearing Chiefs gear out and about during the entire playoffs.

 

[KingCorcoran]

Wrong. I'll be working. And millions more would be watching if the Cowboys were playing in it. The sad Cowbys/Giants games were better draws than top tier matchups.

More people will tune in to watch this Super Bowl than any football game ever played. You know it. Fox knows it. The NFL knows it.

 

[kskboys]

I know the NFL likes to think of itself as an entertainment business. However, I must say that I find that the NFL is not very entertaining anymore. I mainly watch because 1. I'm a Cowboys fan and 2. There's not exactly a viable competitor for professional American Football. However, as stated yesterday, I have other sports I prefer to the NFL.

Firstly, I think the NFL is overly manufactured. Just the production of the games lately looks off. I know the game is more made for TV, but it just looks... obviously manufactured. The officiating looks like it is there more to navigate a game in a certain path. Then you have the way the media is set up to keep the talk of the game going. Maybe I'm not as enthused because I'm a Cowboys fan and it gets boring hearing them rip on us, but, outside the Pat McAfee Show, the talk shows about the NFL are either boring or are toxic. It feels like there is a narrative being pushed every season, and it gets painfully obvious as the season drags on what the narrative is. I'm not trying to say the game is rigged, perse, but I do think it's manufactured in a way that fits what they want. Think about Taylor Swift being shoved in our face all last season and this season. Then this year you hear about nobody winning 3 in a row. Then the Chiefs get incredibly lucky calls or no calls. I'm not saying it's rigged, but I do think the games are manufactured and manipulated to reach an outcome or a spot where the League gets the narrative it wants.


When FIFA got slammed with a massive scandal a decade ago (https://www.britannica.com/event/2015-FIFA-corruption-scandal), it was for "More than two dozen FIFA officials and their associates were implicated in a 24-year self-enrichment scheme that reached the highest levels of FIFA management. Central to the scandal were accusations of bribery connected to the awarding of hosting rights for the 2018 World Cup to Russia and the 2022 World Cup to Qatar". What the NFL is doing makes FIFA's scandal look like a mild inconvenience. As for hockey, it's incredibly hard to manufacture an outcome in hockey, compared to an NFL game. If the puck is over the line, it's a goal. If not, it's not a goal.

Secondly, I will admit some of this has to do with the Cowboys. It just feels like we are Sideshow Bob. What I mean by that is that it feels like we were sold out a long time ago by Jerry. It feels like he actually enjoys seeing us Cowboys fans be miserable and upset. Have you ever noticed how sometimes we have very good teams, but there's always one or two glaring holes that never quite get addressed or get outright ignored. Then, at a certain time in the playoffs, we end up being eliminated. It almost feels like Jerry enjoys it because he gets paid and media attention either way, and the NFL likes it because they like to bag on us. It has gotten rather old and repetitive. Then, like this year, when we are absolutely useless, the media still finds ways to take the piss out of us. All in all, much like point one, it just feels like a hamster wheel that's gotten repetitive and boring.

Thirdly, the game itself isn't as good as it used to be. With the rule changes that have been implemented and the game being not as physical as it used to be, the product itself just seems like a cheap knockoff for what it used to be. It's like watching a concert with a band that broke up years ago, but they try to make it seem like they're still the same band with the same songs, but the music just isn't as good. I understand that the players are bigger and faster than they used to be, but the game just doesn't seem as good. Even without the officiating and manufacturing points from point one, the product just looks worse.

All in all, it feels like the NFL has sold out it's core fanbase and it's core customers for the quick buck that is the new fans and the Swifties. It feels like a watered down manufactured product that appeals to the masses as opposed to the key fanbase that actually love what the game used to be. Maybe I'm just rambling, but it just feels like the NFL is not what it should be. Personally, whenever there is a new commissioner, I hope the next commissioner is a former player like a Tom Brady or a Ray Lewis so we can have American Football be American Football. Not this manufactured "American Football" garbage.

Well done.

I was already sick of them manufacturing super bowls for Brady, and now they're doing it again. For the first time in a long time, I may not watch the super bowl. Boring matchup.

Bolded: Hey, did you get that from me? That's what I've been saying. They are definitely manipulating games, just comes down to why. And my conjecture is that they want exciting endings, so they keep the games close w/ their calls. And they want Mahomes in the super bowl, so they don't change a call on a clear 1st down run. It was just sick.