I fear that the NFL under Roger Goodell’s leadership that the NFL is eating “the goose that laid the golden eggs”.
Nobody could imagine the NFL declining, but, due to a series of events this is occurring.
In general, the NFL in their impertinence have dismissed the fans. They believed that their product was “bullet proof “and would thrive despite a watering down of the product.
The ratings drop is not due to (1) specific item and despite the NFLs insistence it is not related to the elections.
I believe that the reasons for the NFL losing popularity is;
1. The average game has 100 commercials and 11 minutes of actual game activity.
| “The NFL’s popularity is all the more remarkable when you inspect the fare it has to offer each week on television. An average professional football game lasts 3 hours and 12 minutes, but if you tally up the time when the ball is actually in play, the action amounts to a mere 11 minutes.” |
http://qz.com/150577/an-average-nfl-game-more-than-100-commercials-and-just-11-minutes-of-play/
2. High definition television has exposed how poor the officiating is. The detailed coverage has made a mockery of the NFL officiating. The inconsistent and bad officiating have made it less enjoyable to watch a game. After every play the fans have to survey the field to see if there is some phantom penalty.
| “Top league officials might ignore some of the issues because the NFL is a money-making monster gobbling up billions every year, but the on-the-field product has dropped in quality. A lot of games have lost appeal. Officiating has been horrendous and seems to get worse every week. Injuries continue to mount, especially to star players who are disappearing as fast as the fundamentals.” |
http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/
The poor officiating has gone so far as to create conspiracy feelings. Fans are believing that the official are fixing games. I remember reading how Detroit fans were convinced that their playoff loss to Dallas was fixed.
| “Poor officiating has come to define the NFL. Despite the fact that the league is at its peak from a popularity and revenue standpoint, and despite the fact that it has more eyes on it now than ever before, it just can't figure out a way to correct its officiating problem. And yes, a problem exists “. “So, is this instead a conspiracy involving the specific officials? In true Tim Donaghy fashion, did one or more of them rig the game because they had money on the Cowboys? “ |
Gambling almost destroyed baseball and a perception of game rigging would doom the NFL.
3. Roger Goodell’s “holier than thou attitude” has turned off many fans. Goodell does not believe that he needs to explain his actions and that he demonstrates through his actions that he is only responsible to the owners.
4. The in game experience is in decline and it is impacting the TV audience as well. The in game experience is becoming more elitist. The cost of going to a game is extremely expensive and the PSLs have limited the opportunity for participation. The stadiums are now like the old “Roman Coliseum”. The classes are segregated by tiers. The owners make their money on the boxes and expensive seating and at the expense of the ordinary fan. The demise of the in game experience is affecting the young fans.
5. Injuries are hurting participation. Parents are discouring their children from playing youth football. They are afraid that their children will get hurt. Lack of participation will reduce youth interest in football.
I love football. I am a fan and I will continue to support the NFL. However, I see a tipping point and if the NFL does not recognize that there is a problem I believe that the situation will worsen. It is about time that the NFL makes the game more fan friendly.
Viewership or not, the overall game has stunk for years.
blame yourself
I have a co-worker who was an avid fan who now will go pumkin picking with his family rather than watch a game.
I have three children and only one has remained a dedicated fan. The others are occasional observers.
I am an avid football fan for my entire life and I can say that I:
1. Have steadily lost interest in the sport as a whole over the past few years.
2. Have been truly appalled for years now at the consistent lack of accountability for poor officiating and overall product.
It started years ago with clean football hits getting flagged as unsportsmanlike, and with growing health concerns, horrid officiating and declining product, I have lost interest steadily as the years have gone on. In every single prime time NFL game there are 2 or 3 calls that are ABSURD. No accountability. Such a bad product. And so poorly handled in every way by the league, from discipline of players to declining refereeing. I have several friends that feel the same way about the loss of interest in the overall sport outside of their favorite team.
That's not to say I am going to stop watching, but less? For sure. If it wasn't for the Giants, or if this season went/does go far south, I would lose interest even more. I hate the NFL outside of the Giants.
Does any of this really matter for the stranglehold and billions upon billions of dollars the league and dictator Goodell have over the Sports/Entertainment industry? I'm not sure.
Me. Other than Giants games I don't really watch anymore. I'm certainly not the only one. The league sucks balls.
People aren't going to watch their teams because of an outspoken player on another team?
On the other hand, I don't doubt it with the way people are putting out shirts with him in the crosshairs of a rifle, and with this election showing just how rabid and dogmatic some people are.
You think Paul Tagliabue had to worry about concussions , PED's , not standing for the national anthem being a big deal ? The overall amount of absurdity in this nation is a direct cause by giving everyone an open social forum to express their opinion about anything/everything.
I say it again, we made it this way so now you wanna complain and blame someone.
I also think peoples viewing habits have changed. With DVR's and video on demand people watch what they want to watch...not just what is on. I cut the cord several years ago...and watch much less football than I did before.
They might watch their favorite team, but ignore the rest of the league.
The NFL does need to pay attention that hard tackles are ok and that the pansification of the game can go to far. Would Leonard Marschalls hit on JOe Montana be a foul today. I hope not. Tripletts crew would call a penalty
Like I said, you can make of it what you will - but numbers are numbers.
Me personally, I thought it was a clumsy protest at best - when does he stop? Does he kneel the rest of his career? When does he say 'okay things are better now'.
You think Paul Tagliabue had to worry about concussions , PED's , not standing for the national anthem being a big deal ? The overall amount of absurdity in this nation is a direct cause by giving everyone an open social forum to express their opinion about anything/everything.
I say it again, we made it this way so now you wanna complain and blame someone.
We didn't do anything. I get that the times change and the league needs to make money, but that doesn't mean I have to accept it and not challenge the status quo. The competition i see every Sunday is mostly garbage. The officiating is laughable, and league is taking every single thing that makes the game fun away from its product.
I have countless things to do to occupy my time. I don't need the NFL. If it went away tomorrow I honestly wouldn't give a shit. Its a watered down mess. I hope they go on strike when the CBA is up (won't happen) and demand massive changes to the league.
Ratings are down due to IMHO:
1) Overexposure - too many games with TNF, SNF & MNF
2) Reduced quality product (poor officiating, catering to high scores for fantasy football)
3) Too many commercials / long games
4) Presidential election year
5) National anthem protests (I know a lot of people it turned off)
I don't start watching a Giants game for 30 to 90 minutes so I can skip through the commercials and often inane commentary (Gruden MNF is the worst).
The NFL does need to pay attention that hard tackles are ok and that the pansification of the game can go to far. Would Leonard Marschalls hit on JOe Montana be a foul today. I hope not. Tripletts crew would call a penalty
The worst. Couldn't pay me to watch a full NBA game. I tried during the finals and failed miserably.
I'm pretty much College Basetball/Football, Soccer, the occasional baseball game if there's a good pitching matchup, and Giants games.
Quote:
this angered a substantial portion of the population. You can think they're right or wrong, but decades of 'God, Country, Football' have a lasting affect, and it's a reaction to antagonistic stance Kaep knew he was taking.
I've heard people say this before, but it's really hard to buy.
People aren't going to watch their teams because of an outspoken player on another team?
On the other hand, I don't doubt it with the way people are putting out shirts with him in the crosshairs of a rifle, and with this election showing just how rabid and dogmatic some people are.
"An outspoken player on another team" is very different classification from starting a nationwide racial/political discussion using the NFL's popularity to gain a platform.
Not arguing the point of whether Kaep has influenced ratings either way, and have no idea if he has, but I don't think the basis of what he has achieved in some people's eyes can be dismissed that easily.
And don't underrate the Kaepernick thing. Not every football fan is a diehard, entertainment options have mushroomed with Netflix and On Demand. The idea that something like that could be the straw that broke the camel's back for a few percentage points of the viewing audience is not outlandish. Just because you agree with or sympathize with the protests doesn't mean everyone agrees with you.
you're missing my point, I do think the Kapernick stuff is a big deal however 10 years ago you wouldn't have even known if he was standing sitting or even there because it wasn't broadcasted like things are now. Once something goes "viral" on the web then it becomes a topic to discuss.
2) I would also argue the emphasis on passing has led to more injuries - QBs are more at risk as are WRs. The injury problem is two fold: negative press in general and loss of stars turning off casual fans.
3) I agree with whoever brought up Goodell, although that only applies to the hardcore fan.
4) There is no doubt that the protests have turned off some % of the casual fan.
And don't underrate the Kaepernick thing. Not every football fan is a diehard, entertainment options have mushroomed with Netflix and On Demand. The idea that something like that could be the straw that broke the camel's back for a few percentage points of the viewing audience is not outlandish. Just because you agree with or sympathize with the protests doesn't mean everyone agrees with you.
its shittier but thats because we made it that way, thats my point. When you start adding new rules and protocol then it has a domino effect on itself.
You want less flags and want less penalties but you get fucking fired up all to hell when your team doesn't get every call their way, You want the game to stay the way it is but then you want answers for mistakes made, you call your sports radio station, you post , you blog and come onto sites like BBI to vent demanding someone to be fired or fined.
I mean holy shit we as fans have become fucking insane.
playing in other regions of the world doesn't phase me in the least , if the NFL sees promise in becoming global like that then I'm all for it. Just dont expect the ratings/response to be the same as Week 15 in December
Although I don't watch monday night games any more as I don't have the cable package with ESPN..
Number 1 rated cable show last week
MOnday Night Football
Debates are considered special events. It is overreacting, but the league needs to see less flags and every deep ball cannot have PI called
Quote:
it to how it used to be but you fail to take in consideration the world we live in now is not the world it was 20 years ago....hell even 10 years ago.
You think Paul Tagliabue had to worry about concussions , PED's , not standing for the national anthem being a big deal ? The overall amount of absurdity in this nation is a direct cause by giving everyone an open social forum to express their opinion about anything/everything.
I say it again, we made it this way so now you wanna complain and blame someone.
We didn't do anything. I get that the times change and the league needs to make money, but that doesn't mean I have to accept it and not challenge the status quo. The competition i see every Sunday is mostly garbage. The officiating is laughable, and league is taking every single thing that makes the game fun away from its product.
I have countless things to do to occupy my time. I don't need the NFL. If it went away tomorrow I honestly wouldn't give a shit. Its a watered down mess. I hope they go on strike when the CBA is up (won't happen) and demand massive changes to the league.
Then stop watching
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that nearly one-third (32%) of American Adults say they are less likely to watch an NFL game because of the growing number of Black Lives Matter protests by players on the field. Only 13% say they are more likely to watch a game because of the protests. Just over half (52%) say the protests have no impact on their viewing decisions.
I know that if the Giants start taking a knee I will not watch and will let the Giants/NFL know about it.
The suspense between snaps is part of the game.
But this Sunday with all the flags, non-calls and injuries (and terrible play by the Giants) I had a moment where I wondered why I go to such trouble to watch the games. I was out of town and had sought out a place to watch the game in a place where I didn't know a soul and it seemed like such a waste of time. I arrange my travel around games, have watched all but a handful of games over the last 20 years. Is the product worthy of such loyalty? I have my doubts.
I love the Giants. I'll get up at 6am and go watch the game somewhere in San Diego. But I think it's only a matter of time when I say "Enough."
the league needs to see less flags and every deep ball cannot have PI called
It doesn't help that PI is so subjective and called so inconsistently, this past week being a prime example: In giant game a mystery PI nearly ends our season. In Atlanta game, the failure to call a blatant PI costs them the game.
But some of the flags have nothing to do with injuries and are repeatedly being called.. like the one on OBJ at the end of the game.. or vernon davis for shooting the ball through the uprights.. or AB dancing.. I think these are just annoying.. Every game has calls like these and they change the outcome of the game.. which is ridiculous.. I know earlier this year Pryor got a penalty called for taunting when he definetely wasn't taunting and that play was a huge play and put them in position to kick the game winning field goal.. but some butt hurt Refree called the penalty and hence the game was changed by a useless penalty..
But this Sunday with all the flags, non-calls and injuries (and terrible play by the Giants) I had a moment where I wondered why I go to such trouble to watch the games. I was out of town and had sought out a place to watch the game in a place where I didn't know a soul and it seemed like such a waste of time. I arrange my travel around games, have watched all but a handful of games over the last 20 years. Is the product worthy of such loyalty? I have my doubts.
I love the Giants. I'll get up at 6am and go watch the game somewhere in San Diego. But I think it's only a matter of time when I say "Enough."
i agree, an thats the way we should be when it comes to watching the games. Colin Cowherd used to always say....like your team , love your life.
stated . I for the 1st time and I have been watching
since 1963 that I turned off the TV two weeks in a row.
The Giants are in my blood so to speak , but your
very right about the TV and the replays HD and Slow-Mo
from every angle possible .
Yet how many time do you get a flag and you don't even
see a replay ?
I also think products like the red zone may not be counted and it looks like those fans have left.
Finally, I think the NFL has completely fucked up some of these markets like NY. We should have more football options on TV. We live in a time where not all fans in the NY area are Jets/Giants fans. I think they are missing an opportunity to have "football fans" tune into other games. I would treat the game that opposes the Jets and Giants in NY as a flex TV option. Put another division game on that would interest the fans of the home team. So, when the Giants are on TV, put an AFC east game on another channel at the same time. Then, when the Jets play at 4pm, put an NFC east game on TV then...or some other NFC game that would interest Giants fans.
Offer free red zone in NY on Cablevision to be available at times other than when the Giants and Jets are on TV. So this sunday for example the Giants play in the morning and they will be done by 1pm. I would plant my ass in front of the TV if I could watch all of the other games but I can't. So, they lost me for the rest of the day.
(My guesses) ...
(1) Demographics - More young people these days were not born in this country and therefore have not any American Football exposure
(2) Social Media Boom - Many people these days spend a lot of time talking to friends (probably at the sacrifice of the time they would otherwise spend sitting in front of the TV, watching the NFL)
(3) Cost - It's too expensive for the average man to go to the stadium, to see the games live
(4) Over-exposure - Too many games on TV (too much of a good thing breeds indifference
When was the last time a call went against the Steelers and the rapist NFL hero?
How obvious is it that they are trying to help the Cowboys and Redskins win, every call goes their way, how many refs are from the Washington or Dallas area that are NFL refs.
They cheat the teams that are never advertised very much on the NFL network, every little call goes against teams like the Giants and the Bengals, look at the reputation these two teams have on the NFL network, Eli went against the NFL draft protocol, they do not want players to dictate anything, they want full control. The Bengals are the NFL scapegoat.
I think the games are unfairly ref'ed, I feel there are teams that are league favorites, they target certain players they decide are going to be stars, and they get every call and break because they are advertised so hard by the league. Cam Newton is an example and now its Prescott, the cowboy rookies are the greatest pair of rookies in the history of the league you know, the league will give them every call they can give them now, and every ref now knows what to do, sure they are not called and told, but they hear what we hear also, and go with that flow, they keep their jobs that way.
The game has never been so bad, teams can not even tackle anymore, sickening football.
Bring back the Fun Bunch! - ( New Window )
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that nearly one-third (32%) of American Adults say they are less likely to watch an NFL game because of the growing number of Black Lives Matter protests by players on the field. Only 13% say they are more likely to watch a game because of the protests. Just over half (52%) say the protests have no impact on their viewing decisions.
I know that if the Giants start taking a knee I will not watch and will let the Giants/NFL know about it.
Rasmussen is a known conservative garbage poll. Ignore it.
F-THEM!!!!!!
Besides the Giants Super Bowls, Black Sunday was the best!!!!
Arrognace Humbled - ( New Window )
They won't, the NFL isn't as good as you think it is.
Some people don't want politics entering their escape, some don't believe in the case, what's so wrong with that? It doesn't bother you and that's awesome, but it clearly bothers other people and your opinion is no better than theirs.
Injuries and specifically the threat of concussions are slowly killing football at all levels.
Too many commercials. Contrast that to soccer, where the clock never stops.
Too much football. Except for MNF and Thanksgiving, all NFL games should be on Sunday. Thursday night football is ridiculous, as is traveling to foreign countries, even for preseason games.
The season is too long. The regular season should be shortened by two games, with every team getting an extra bye week. The preseason should be shortened to two games.
I'm not sure the league can do anything about the officiating. We now have review. PI and holding are always going to be subjective. I'd change the rule to allow defensive backs to hit WRs within ten yards of the LOS.