The NFL needs a new strategy

[Diehardblues]

The NFL needs to be much tougher .

I'd start firing the players with criminal behavior and who bring negative media exposure . The NFL will survive just fine without this very small percentage of talent and it would serve as a tremendous deterrent moving forward sending a message if you want to be on national tv ever week representing a community , a brand, a league and business we aren't going to tolerate criminal behavior or negative media exposure of any kind. And after your 4th failed drug test your fired too . Tread carefully.

This is not just about playing football this is sports entertainment and public relations is vital to our enormous fan support and revenue which directly effects your salary. You'll need to be on your best behavior for on the average only 5-10 years but you'll be handsomely rewarded setting you up financially for the rest of your life .
Now , who wants in?

 

[PA Cowboy Fan]

The NFL needs to be much tougher .

I'd start firing the players with criminal behavior and who bring negative media exposure . The NFL will survive just fine without this very small percentage of talent and it would serve as a tremendous deterrent moving forward sending a message if you want to be on national tv ever week representing a community , a brand, a league and business we aren't going to tolerate criminal behavior or negative media exposure of any kind. And after your 4th failed drug test your fired too . Tread carefully.

This is not just about playing football this is sports entertainment and public relations is vital to our enormous fan support and revenue which directly effects your salary. You'll need to be on your best behavior for on the average only 5-10 years but you'll be handsomely rewarded setting you up financially for the rest of your life .
Now , who wants in?

Anyone that is tried and convicted of DV should be tossed out of the NFL. If you are tried and acquitted or just questioned then the NFL should stay out of it. As for all these failed drug tests, unless it helps somebody on the field get an advantage I really don't care anymore. Tired of all these court cases. There has always been a bad element in the NFL but it was never covered but because of social media and 24 hour tabloid sports news that's all they talk about. Just play the game.

 

[Diehardblues]

Anyone that is tried and convicted of DV should be tossed out of the NFL. If you are tried and acquitted or just questioned then the NFL should stay out of it. As for all these failed drug tests, unless it helps somebody on the field get an advantage I really don't care anymore. Tired of all these court cases. There has always been a bad element in the NFL but it was never covered but because of social media and 24 hour tabloid sports news that's all they talk about. Just play the game.

But knowing is everything and why the NFL must be much tougher .

Or they stand to lose the fans and public support which could lead to activist groups lobbying against them which could threaten the NFL Anti Trust exemption.

Tougher action and discipline is the answer or expect more fallout. For what? A few talented players we could do without. We're having to plan a season without them anyway. Fire em!

 

[PA Cowboy Fan]

But knowing is everything and why the NFL must be much tougher .

Or they stand to lose the fans and public support which could lead to activist groups lobbying against them which could threaten the NFL Anti Trust exemption.

Tougher action and discipline is the answer or expect more fallout. For what? A few talented players we could do without.

You are never going to stop activist groups. They are not really fans. The NFL has been tough and it hasn't worked. It's only gotten worse. Every year players are getting suspended. That's turning people off too. Look I don't want hardened criminals on my team either. If Zeke or anybody else are guilty they can rot but the NFL is a sports league. Let the DA and the police handle the criminal matters. If there is indisputable evidence then you can take action but otherwise a lot of these suspensions are just minor stuff that I don't care about. These drug tests I just don't care about anymore.

 

[Diehardblues]

Jerry has created a league and franchise now that winning or continued success isn't necessary for financial gains.

The NFL is the only professional league where every team makes money regardless of their teams success.

They don't need this risky behavior talent . They can win or lose without them .lol

The NFL hasn't been about just football for a couple decades now. This is sports entertainment . The league will adjust without this 1% talent pool and will save their image .

 

[BotchedLobotomy]

The NFL is trying to win favor with the media (which will NEVER happen) at the expense of the fans and itself. The NFL needs to wake up and realize they don't need the media .. they need the fans. If the media stops broadcasting games, the NFL can sell those games directly and make even more money. They need to be more worried about fan support than they are media outrage.

The NFL makes money. It makes money for its owners. It makes money for its players. It makes money for the cities where the games are played. That money comes from the fans, either directly or indirectly. The NFL needs to refocus their strategy on winning fans over.

They need to wake up and stop trying to make copious amounts of money from the fans. The real strategy is trying to come up with a way for the average NFL fan to go to a game. In my opinion, their current strategy of raising the price on just about everything connected with the NFL is not sustainable at the rate it's going right now. There is a tipping point out there where the fans are going to stop paying out, don't know when that happens, but it's going to happen.

 

[Everson24]

The NFL is trying to win favor with the media (which will NEVER happen) at the expense of the fans and itself. The NFL needs to wake up and realize they don't need the media .. they need the fans. If the media stops broadcasting games, the NFL can sell those games directly and make even more money. They need to be more worried about fan support than they are media outrage.

The NFL makes money. It makes money for its owners. It makes money for its players. It makes money for the cities where the games are played. That money comes from the fans, either directly or indirectly. The NFL needs to refocus their strategy on winning fans over.

Since Dallas and New England are the NFL's most hated teams. The NFL knows that they can win the support of the fans of the other 30 teams. No doubt in my mind that this was their strategy all along, That is why they took so long in the investigation. They had a high profile player on the NFL's most hated team. No better way to gain public support than to penalize the hated Dallas Cowboys.

I have always stated that the Dez catch was corruption from the start. The NFL and Dean Blandino tried to make up for the so called bad call against the Lions the week before and knew they would get away with it because it was our hated Cowboys against the beloved Packers. I have always wondered what the outcry would have been if a potential game winning TD catch by TY Hilton against the Pats that same year had been overturned in the manner of the Dez play. There would have been such an outcry by the fans that Blandino likely would have been fired. The NFL is as corrupt as our government at its core.

 

[Diehardblues]

You are never going to stop activist groups. They are not really fans. The NFL has been tough and it hasn't worked. It's only gotten worse. Every year players are getting suspended. That's turning people off too. Look I don't want hardened criminals on my team either. If Zeke or anybody else are guilty they can rot but the NFL is a sports league. Let the DA and the police handle the criminal matters. If there is indisputable evidence then you can take action but otherwise a lot of these suspensions are just minor stuff that I don't care about. These drug tests I just don't care about anymore.

Because they haven't gotten tough enough. Take action like your employer would if you failed 3 drug test or tarnished the company image with negative media attention.

 

[Diehardblues]

If the NFL and fans are determined to retain this small percentage of problem players then there will be a price to pay.

Thus far the league is taking on this Damage Control but there will be a breaking point. Follow the money trail.

 

[PA Cowboy Fan]

Because they haven't gotten tough enough. Take action like your employer would if you failed 3 drug test or tarnished the company image with negative media attention.

They've been plenty tough. Not working.

 

[Longboysfan]

To be fair, the NFL has never been the best at adjusting with the times - whether it was TV deals in the past before Jerry came along, them adjusting to the digital age of streaming, etc.

They seem to always be behind in this regard. I still think they could be a streaming juggernaut, but last I checked, their latest TV deal is ridiculous.

Time to get Charlotte involved in this.

 

[Longboysfan]

The owners make all their money or most of it off the TV contracts.
The TV networks make all their money off the sponsors the companies that placed the ads.
The Ray Rice video got sponsors and I guess their wives all upset and they threatened to pull ads if the NFL didn't do something.
So the NFL is trying to do something and they are not doing a very good job but it all goes back to the sponsors because that's where all the money comes from.
The one problem I see is releasing info to the media.
They shouldn't release any information
including failed drug test.
Also I think player's should lose game pay but still have to play the games.
That way it doesn't hurt fans or team.
And keep the reason private.

Ahhhh.... No.

Owners - well most - make their money from side contract sponsors.
Before the Cowboys step on the field Jerry makes 600 million each season.
That's not TV contract money.

There are lots of revenue flows for NFL Owners.
Ticket Sales
TV money from networks
Side sponsorships both inside stadium and outside.
Team Gear sales.
And if you're living in the metroplex - many - many team product sponsors.

And if the Cowboys asked for an equal split the way the TV ratings go then all bets are off.

 

[mattjames2010]

Because they haven't gotten tough enough. Take action like your employer would if you failed 3 drug test or tarnished the company image with negative media attention.

There is a difference here.

Letting go of your burger flipper, you can find a billion people to replace that person. You're not going to easily replace star players - it simply isn't good business to remove players that are selling jerseys, getting fans to talk and tune in. Young fans today connect more with star players than they ever have.

You're thinking completely the opposite as to what the NFL needs to be doing - what the NFL needs to do is be LESS harsh on failed drug tests - at least in terms of marijuana. If it is enhancement drugs, that's different. But what most players are getting busted for should be eliminated from the league. It's a waste of time, resources, and it's been nothing but a huge negative on the NFL.

Remove that policy along with the judge and jury policies and things will start to look up

 

[Diehardblues]

They've been plenty tough. Not working.

Not tough enough with suspensions . Firing and banning them would serve as much greater deterrent.

 

[Diehardblues]

There is a difference here.

Letting go of your burger flipper, you can find a billion people to replace that person. You're not going to easily replace star players - it simply isn't good business to remove players that are selling jerseys, getting fans to talk and tune in. Young fans today connect more with star players than they ever have.

You're thinking completely the opposite as to what the NFL needs to be doing - what the NFL needs to do is be LESS harsh on failed drug tests - at least in terms of marijuana. If it is enhancement drugs, that's different. But what most players are getting busted for should be eliminated from the league. It's a waste of time, resources, and it's been nothing but a huge negative on the NFL.

Remove that policy along with the judge and jury policies and things will start to look up

Your suggesting a higher tolerance which isn't going to clean the league up.

The league doesn't need this 1% of problem talent. You don't miss what you never had .

 

[MeTed]

The players conduct is creating the negative drama not the NFL discipline of them.

The Personal Conduct Policy is just a means to provide a path for the players to continue playing while providing a perception they are being disciplined for their behavior because the owners want this talent .

The NFL can survive without this talent . This problem talent makes up less than 1% of the talent pool. Instead of the drama of these drawn out investigations over DV teams could just release them and the NFL unofficially ban them like they have with Rice.

But with owners like Jerry who are willing to take these risk on players like Hardy because it provides a shortcut for talent desperately needed despite the negative publicity because he knows his brand is strong enough to survive ,the NFL has to place these mechanisms in place to protect the leagues image.

I'd place even stricter guidelines in place with more severe punishment on teams continuing to pursue these high risk characters with loss of draft picks and suspension of the owner, GM or coach who pursues them.

The public is fed up with the criminal and thuggish element in sports and professional sports in particular. We see enough of it in mainstream society . We're tired of being exposed to it for our favorite pastime and the media drawing attention to it. Just clean it out and be done with it. The league will survive just fine without this very small percentage of risky characters.

Fans think every player or team needs this 1% but teams would adjust without it and eventually it would serve as the greatest deterrent if these highly talented athletes want to perform at the highest level earning millions of dollars .

As for the drug abusers. Allowing 3 drug failures before the 4th test suspends you is also another all too tolerable situation . What companies out there are allowing you to retain your job after 3 failed drug test . Again, these guys need to be released and banned from the league as long as they are a banned substance.

Do we really want to clean up the league as the NFL personal conduct policies were established to do or are we simply providing a perception they're trying to bandaid the issue with these paths to continue providing them to play which for some reason fans or owners believe we can't play football without them.

Football has always had an element of risky behavior but now with today's technology we know everything immediately with the medias exposure. Knowing is everything . We didn't know everything about players back in the day but once we did like Lance Rentzel, Duane Thomas and Hollywood Henderson they were released and gone .

We want justness, fairness and truth. If the player is guilty then disciplinary action is required. The NFL has demonstrated their incompetence on both ends of the spectrum when a middle ground is required; one that is fair for both the accused and the accuser. If you want to advocate for zero tolerance banishment then fine but the NFL better have some irrefutable evidence before enforcing that policy.

 

[haleyrules]

The owners make all their money or most of it off the TV contracts.
The TV networks make all their money off the sponsors the companies that placed the ads.
The Ray Rice video got sponsors and I guess their wives all upset and they threatened to pull ads if the NFL didn't do something.
So the NFL is trying to do something and they are not doing a very good job but it all goes back to the sponsors because that's where all the money comes from.
The one problem I see is releasing info to the media.
They shouldn't release any information
including failed drug test.
Also I think player's should lose game pay but still have to play the games.
That way it doesn't hurt fans or team.
And keep the reason private.

I agree with most of your post. However, the TV sponsers and commercial money are soley based on viewership. So, directly or indirectly the money comes from the fans. No fans watching..no commercials aimed at those fans.

 

[haleyrules]

No doubt but what it should be very different -- what happens in the future remains to be seen. I'm certainly hoping for it to change. The players will have to stand up for their rights, for a change. Their fate will rest in their determination to make it happen. I'll wish them luck in a tough fight.

The NFLPA with take the money...as usual. The PA probably don't care a hoot about a few problem players. Its an ongoing business for the PA too.

 

[haleyrules]

The NFL needs to be much tougher .

I'd start firing the players with criminal behavior and who bring negative media exposure . The NFL will survive just fine without this very small percentage of talent and it would serve as a tremendous deterrent moving forward sending a message if you want to be on national tv ever week representing a community , a brand, a league and business we aren't going to tolerate criminal behavior or negative media exposure of any kind. And after your 4th failed drug test your fired too . Tread carefully.

This is not just about playing football this is sports entertainment and public relations is vital to our enormous fan support and revenue which directly effects your salary. You'll need to be on your best behavior for on the average only 5-10 years but you'll be handsomely rewarded setting you up financially for the rest of your life .
Now , who wants in?

The NFL needs to be much tougher .

I'd start firing the players with criminal behavior and who bring negative media exposure . The NFL will survive just fine without this very small percentage of talent and it would serve as a tremendous deterrent moving forward sending a message if you want to be on national tv ever week representing a community , a brand, a league and business we aren't going to tolerate criminal behavior or negative media exposure of any kind. And after your 4th failed drug test your fired too . Tread carefully.

This is not just about playing football this is sports entertainment and public relations is vital to our enormous fan support and revenue which directly effects your salary. You'll need to be on your best behavior for on the average only 5-10 years but you'll be handsomely rewarded setting you up financially for the rest of your life .
Now , who wants in?

Both present exellent views.

 

[Bullflop]

The NFLPA with take the money...as usual. The PA probably don't care a hoot about a few problem players. Its an ongoing business for the PA too.

No question but what that's what happened during the last contract. The owner's heavy-handed ways with suspensions are getting out of hand more than ever, though. I'm just hoping the players take up for some of those who are getting bludgeoned with harsh penalties. Especially so, considering the way they're taking up for some of these tramps who look to con young players out of their hard-earned wages.