The NFL is all about making money, big money, as-much-as-they-can type of money. Sadly the area that will generate the most revenue in the coming years is through gambling, mostly the fantasy football leagues. All you have to do is to watch any sports programming and you will see ad after ad for Draft Kings and Fan Duel and that is all about money. Gambling means money, big money (just look at Las Vegas). And fantasy football draws in viewers (money) and it keeps interest not only in the prime games but the late season games against 2 really bad teams draws high interest because of fantasy football. More viewers equals more money. The more companies wanting on-air commercial time means the NFL can charge more for ads and make more money. Just look at the increasing number of fantasy football threads on BBI. It's becoming all about gambling.
The more money that flows into football due to gambling, the more the NFL will change the game itself to draw in more of these viewers and draw from this large stash of cash waiting them. We have already seen this by the new rules that favor the offense and more scoring over defense at almost every single rule change.
How soon will college fantasy football be a major force like it is in the NFL?
The point I am trying to make is this: How soon will be football no longer be a “sport” but rather just a vehicle for gambling? How much can they cater to gambling before it goes too far? Watch sports and you’ll see that gambling is becoming a bigger and bigger stake holder in the NFL world. Soon they’ll be the #1 force in shaping the NFL. At that point, it is no longer a sport, it is a device solely for gambling and gamblers.
Sad but true.
**** In fairness, gambling has always been a part of football but it never changed the game. Soon the tail will wag the dog. ***
And there's a reason you have so much talk about point spread, over/under, side-bets, etc. People are betting online like mad, going to the numerous legal sports books, still using bookies, etc.
I am all but gone at this point.
I am all but gone at this point.
Many are not at passionate for the league as a whole. Years ago i felt the league was starting to resemble a video game where practically every team played the same yet the uniforms were different. The games and league are a bit if a blur
College football better than the NFL? They don't even play defense in college any more. Ridiculous amounts of scoring and a ridiculous OT format. College is led by an even greedier organization in the NCAA. The NCAA is rift behind the IOC and FIFA.