Over the years of being a BBI member I've read on threada that the quality of the NFL as a league has gone way down hill and the curent play is crap. Comments like "the NFL is an arena league now with high scoring affairs and ridiculous QB numbers , flags left and right but I wanna know when do you think was around the time the NFL started to be almost unwatchable, if so? Any Era timeframe or year is fine and what made you notice?
I don't know if I'm getting older or what, but I used to be hyped for the Super Bowl every year but now it's just meh.
It's all been downhill ever since.
Concussions. Mass quantities of injuries ruining the game. And the players continue to get bigger, stronger, faster - needing to maintain a superhuman physique to compete that their frames simply cannot support.
Throw in the finances - fans were priced out over the last decades. PSL's. HUNDRED dollar+ face value. Priced out lower-middle class and lower class - inadvertently made it into a 'whites mostly' attended sport.
A shame, but that's OK. I got mine. The ride the New York Giants gave me from the beginning of my fan experience in the late 70's through present is all I could ask for. An amazing, dramatic roller-coaster. The greatest thrills behind us, but I'll stay on until the fat lady sings.
The only issue I see is screwy rules and officiating.
The committee has made a pointed effort to alter the game to enhance the television viewer's entertainment experience.
So the beginning of it was when the committee was first given that charge. Probably when big TV contracts became the owners primary goal. The game itself became secondary.
Every single rules change now favors offense, yards are cheapened (and overemphasized to cater to the casual fantasy football obsessed market), players no longer physically conditioned for contact with inadequate practice, ridiculous mid-week scheduling and overseas travel becoming more routine, overtime and point-after attempts tampered with...and there's likely more to come.
To some extent free agency has hurt the product. How is it a good thing when you have to allow good players to leave, when they can still play. It hurts depth, and with all the injuries, you have some pretty awful football on any particular Sunday.
PSL's - they chased long time avid fans to the upper deck or out of the stadium all together.
The last CBA which inhibits time on the field with the coaches
And how about Thursday Night Football. Such hypocrisy by the league that claims to care about the health of the players, but forces them to play before they are satisfactorily healed from the previous game.
And finally, rules that are so difficult to discern that we see week in a week out similar plays where in one game it is a catch and in another it is not. And often plays that can decide the outcome of a game. i.e. OBJ
It's all been downhill ever since.
Concussions. Mass quantities of injuries ruining the game. And the players continue to get bigger, stronger, faster - needing to maintain a superhuman physique to compete that their frames simply cannot support.
Throw in the finances - fans were priced out over the last decades. PSL's. HUNDRED dollar+ face value. Priced out lower-middle class and lower class - inadvertently made it into a 'whites mostly' attended sport.
A shame, but that's OK. I got mine. The ride the New York Giants gave me from the beginning of my fan experience in the late 70's through present is all I could ask for. An amazing, dramatic roller-coaster. The greatest thrills behind us, but I'll stay on until the fat lady sings.
Bingo
yes. this was the tipping point where what was left of the "purists" lost to the two-hand touch crowd.
There were a few things that have been said here that are 100% true.
-Bill Polian crying about the rules played a part. -Concussions are now certainly playing a part.
I would add.
-Fantasy Football.
-League-wide behavior/culture
It is fantasy football, in my opinion, that has kept the NFL bulletproof while the actual gameday product has suffered.
The replay and overall rules systems need an overhaul.
2. There was a time when the players loved the game so much that they would play for free (figure of speech). Now, it is money first. Business decisions being made on the field.
Every single rules change now favors offense, yards are cheapened (and overemphasized to cater to the casual fantasy football obsessed market), players no longer physically conditioned for contact with inadequate practice, ridiculous mid-week scheduling and overseas travel becoming more routine, overtime and point-after attempts tampered with...and there's likely more to come.
yes. i'd personally love to see more defensive battles. that was real football. every yard should count. the problem is pink hats don't appreciate defense.
Understand - some of these changes are fair and to be expected. Plan B FA was unfair to the players, but the change undoubtedly hurt the game. The subsequent objective of parity changed the complexity of the game (and definitely helped popularity and maximize income).
The safety rules are necessary, there was no debate that these guys were suffering serious long term injuries as a result of some of these hits, but it again changed the game for the worse.
The PI rules were just an attempt to up offense - and with the popularity of fantasy football and the revenues it brings in, the focus ever since has been to increase the scores of games, something I personally don't care for.
For me, the decline started when the players started to look like women with their long hair, earrings and teenage girly- girl pants. These pants have zero protection compared to the football pants just a few years ago.
The never-ending look at me, immature celebrations that probably would end if the media didn't feel they have to televise every damn one of them.
In one game, our opponent was running 5-7 yards at a clip right down the field. At around the 10 yard line, Strahan stops a runner at the line of scrimmage, jumps up, does that stupid muscle flex of his and everybody was probably saying the same thing, "Where the hell were you for the last 7 plays?"
The constant rule changes along with the numerous commercials add to the sport going down hill. Flag football is here.
Most of us older people have a tougher time dealing with the status of today's game because we remember when real men played the game. They handed the ball to the ref. They didn't run out of bounds in career-saving moves instead tried to get the extra yard. They played hurt. Larry Wilson played with 2 broken wrists. Can you imagine that today?
There are some throwback players in today's game but they are few and far between. Most teams now could use a police van for the team bus.
The league leaders have done as much damage to the game as anyone with their rules and weak drug policies. A one and done drug policy should be mandatory as starters.
The future looks bleak for the league and they have brought it on themselves.
Why would LT be fined every week? He was not a dirty player and never cheap shot anyone
It's not the same game.
For me, the decline started when the players started to look like women with their long hair, earrings and teenage girly- girl pants. These pants have zero protection compared to the football pants just a few years ago.
The never-ending look at me, immature celebrations that probably would end if the media didn't feel they have to televise every damn one of them.
In one game, our opponent was running 5-7 yards at a clip right down the field. At around the 10 yard line, Strahan stops a runner at the line of scrimmage, jumps up, does that stupid muscle flex of his and everybody was probably saying the same thing, "Where the hell were you for the last 7 plays?"
The constant rule changes along with the numerous commercials add to the sport going down hill. Flag football is here.
Most of us older people have a tougher time dealing with the status of today's game because we remember when real men played the game. They handed the ball to the ref. They didn't run out of bounds in career-saving moves instead tried to get the extra yard. They played hurt. Larry Wilson played with 2 broken wrists. Can you imagine that today?
There are some throwback players in today's game but they are few and far between. Most teams now could use a police van for the team bus.
The league leaders have done as much damage to the game as anyone with their rules and weak drug policies. A one and done drug policy should be mandatory as starters.
The future looks bleak for the league and they have brought it on themselves.
http://www.nytimes.com/1995/09/19/sports/pro-football-nfl-sues-jones-to-stop-ambush-deals.html
Please take note of the quotes from Wellington Mara toward the end of the article below...
http://articles.philly.com/1995-09-19/sports/25719794_1_nfl-sponsorship-or-licensing-nfl-properties-nike-and-pepsi
It's not the same game.
Exactly. I believe Marshal's hit on Montana would draw a flag for driving the QB to the ground.
The result, over time, has been the legacy of concussions and other injuries. Football is a tough game but it can be played without having to literally try to kill each other but that is what the game became. Players targeting other players' heads instead of focusing on simply tackling the player to get him on the ground.
It is now inevitable...simply because of the number of lawsuits and so forth...football will disappear over time...maybe it's 20 years, maybe 30, maybe longer but the clock is ticking on football as it is played today. Unless medical science can come up with cures to CTE or a helmet that will protect against CTE, it seems to me the game as we know it will disappear.
The Sperbowls have been very exciting (for the most part) over the last 10+ years.
It's not the same game.
Again, I don't recall LT ever hitting anyone late, or in the head, or leading with his helmet. If anything HE was the one being fouled the entire game with no flags thrown. He definitely hit hard, but he was well within the rules.
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are now illegal. After re-watching the 90 NFCC a few years ago, I felt the same way. Roughly half the hits in that game would draw flags today.
It's not the same game.
Exactly. I believe Marshal's hit on Montana would draw a flag for driving the QB to the ground.
I disagree. It was a clean hit OUTSIDE of the pocket with the ball IN the QBs hands and caused a fumble.
The result, over time, has been the legacy of concussions and other injuries. Football is a tough game but it can be played without having to literally try to kill each other but that is what the game became. Players targeting other players' heads instead of focusing on simply tackling the player to get him on the ground.
It is now inevitable...simply because of the number of lawsuits and so forth...football will disappear over time...maybe it's 20 years, maybe 30, maybe longer but the clock is ticking on football as it is played today. Unless medical science can come up with cures to CTE or a helmet that will protect against CTE, it seems to me the game as we know it will disappear.
good post. the trend from "Tackling" to "hitting" has been detrimental to the sport
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Exactly. I believe Marshal's hit on Montana would draw a flag for driving the QB to the ground.
I don't even think that was a huge hit. I've seen that play dozens of time and it does not look any worse than you see in every game today. Heck, Eli was hit harder against the 49ers in the NFCC game 2011.
Montana was a small guy comparatively and was not expecting that hit at all. Marshall didn't do anything extra, but 290 falling on 190 with momentum would definitely hurt.
But I agree with the changes after 2011 being a problem. The practice restrictions are not helpful. 14 or 15 total days of pads after camp is ridiculous.
Also, the inconsistent penalty/refereeing, i.e., illegal contact, defenseless player, what constitutes a legal catch.
When the fans and coaches don't know what a legal catch is there is a problem.
As far as instant replay - get rid of the system the NFL uses and adopt the NCAA reviews.
I think you're going by strict interpretation of the rules. Do you see what guys get flagged for these days? Conservatively, at least a quarter if not more of LTs hits would draw flags now.
The league took steps to prevent their QBs from getting hit, and that's the downside.
1. The salary cap system was implemented
2. FOX won the broadcast rights from CBS, lowering the standard of the televised product
2004, as stated above, was another major move down when the hideous Bill Polian represented the hideous Indianapolis Colts (IMO the most insidious franchise in the league) and screwed anyone interested in defensive football.
Defensive Holding has nothing to do with Player Protection.
1989: Jerry Jones
1991: Mike Brown
1994: Robert Kraft
1994: Jeffrey Lurie
During this period (1993) we saw the awarding of two expansion franchises in Jacksonville and Carolina. We also saw the impending vacating of Los Angeles, which would be used as a threat to intimidate cities to use public money to build stadiums over the next 20 years.
So many people bitch and moan about "nobody knows what a catch is". And that is absolutely not true. It is very clear in the book the criteria for a catch, especially when the receiver makes it while falling to the ground. The catch, run, and fumble the instant the reciever/ball carrier passed the goal line was botched with Devonta Freeman and they got it right with Golden Tate. So there was a bad interpretation by the official, not an uncertainty of what a catch is. Sorry Dallas fans, Dez made a great play, but the officials saw his catch as one continuous motion falling to the ground, not a catch and then football move. The ball bounced off his chest when he hit the ground rules say No Catch.
I dont think the NFL has declined so much as it has just changed. I dont like all the changes but I still think MFL athletes are amazing to watch. On thing that has greatly improved because of the super strict interpretation of what constitutes a catch, and that is WRs amazing ability to make a catch and absolutely pin that ball to their body as they fall to the ground, often diving, needing to drag toes in bounds. I am amazed at how good they are at doing this. The criteria for a catch became tighter, and receivers have adjusted their game and receivers are more talented than ever.
It just doesn't have the same feel, the same sanctity that it once did. I don't look at the players the way I used to, the game broadcasts aren't interesting or appealing, and I don't feel valued as a fan/customer of the NFL like I used to.
The game has changed because the players are bigger, stronger and faster, and all phases of the game are much more sophisticated and better coached. The rule changes are out of balance, and the constant replay interruptions make the game less enjoyable to watch. But again, that's not exactly "decline." They're not stupid -- they'll work out the replay stuff. And fans are voting with their feet and their wallets, and seem to love high-scoring games.
And as we've all learned from the Grammy awards and box office numbers, popularity and quality go hand in hand.
(See also 2008 when a low tackle on Brady changed the way teams were allowed to hit the quarterback - other quarterbacks had been seriously injured by similar hits, but the NFL didn't change the rule until one of their poster boys got lost for the season.)
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In comment 12793389 jcn56 said:
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Exactly. I believe Marshal's hit on Montana would draw a flag for driving the QB to the ground.
I don't even think that was a huge hit. I've seen that play dozens of time and it does not look any worse than you see in every game today. Heck, Eli was hit harder against the 49ers in the NFCC game 2011.
Montana was a small guy comparatively and was not expecting that hit at all. Marshall didn't do anything extra, but 290 falling on 190 with momentum would definitely hurt.
It always felt like an extra hard hit than what was necessary to get the job done.
If people here want to insinuate that SF was trying to KO Eli, then they'll have to acknowledge that Marshall was trying to do the same.
America's Game 1990, Carl Banks saying they were gonna return the favor for Burt going for Hostetler's knees.
Remember the NFC owned the AFC for around 15 years, while the AFC had the majority of the HoF QBs.
But maybe that's their goal so we won't know a bad call when we see them.
They are fine tuning the excitement right out of the game with all these rules changes.
i think this certainly changed a lot in terms of defensive football, but the product on the field itself didn't seem like it was suffering too much with all the overprotection of offensive players. a different game, but not a massive dropoff
*2010/2011 is the other. to me this is where it started to become illegal to seemingly breathe on anyone. nobody knows what a catch is anymore. the fantasy epidemic taking over broadcasts. half the time i feel like i'm watching an arena game or that any big play will be called back for a penalty.
in terms of other arguments on here about the game "evolving"...my main complaint is that these games now basically have no rhythm - they're not fluid. its way too choppy with all the damn flags and replays and crew to crew variation on rule interpretation. there's just no momentum to the games anymore
Great Book about the Legendary Pottsville Maroons - ( New Window )
Today we have some good teams and some ok teams. So when they meet up the play is way less than it was before. Everybody is pretty close talent wise. That's why you had more wild card teams winning SBs recently where that was unheard of before.
They did it b/c of $$$$$. The more teams w a shot of winning the more $$ they make. Period. But the play on the field suffers.
And this is the curse that the Arizona Cardinals have to deal with.
But what's hurt the game the most has been the steroids, because I believe that's been the single biggest contributor to all the injuries and it's the injuries which are the most frustrating aspect of today's game.
Seriously, I tire of this retread of a thread. Kick the tires on this huh?
I agree with you about the commercials and the leagues obsession with money but I also feel that good tacking has gone away too, players now go for the strip instead of the tackle and hope they get it.