You know, I didn't think this outrage at the NFL was real until this week. We do a weekly betting pool at work. This was the first week since I can remember where we couldn't sell all the squares unless it was because of holidays. And that includes the past year or 2 when times were tough and a lot of people were being laid off and getting hours cut.
I asked one of the guys who always plays why, and he said he's just losing interest lately. He is a Texans fan (has the logo tatooed on his arm), and he specifically mentioned the texans disrespecting the flag to protest their owner. Until now, I thought it was mainly coming from people who would never watch football anyway. I mean sure, I booed when the cowboys took a knee, and i'm glad they got up and keep getting up before the anthem is played. But I don't think they'd lose me if they didn't.
That's not even close to the entire reason but probably the straw that broke the back for many. The game has been poorly managed for a long time. It sounds extremely stupid and hypocritical to remove player celebrations, different shoe choices, etc while letting players disrespect the flag. So, a guy can't wear pink strings but he can kneel? Why? Why so hardcore on minor shit but no shits given about this? No Fun League?
Stupid Goodell attacks on players for hurting the NFL image. Sure, beating women, cheating, and violence is bad and shouldn't be tolerated...except when it is? When they don't allow it, they are so incompetent that any punishment looks like Elliot's. Weak and ineffective. No one knows the rules or punishments because the NFL doesn't even know. Great leadership NFL. Have some real standards.
Talking about not knowing the rules. What is a catch? What is holding, interference, rules for hitting, etc? Tuck Rule? The rules aren't constant or consistently enforced. Some rules are arcane bullshit. The refs are bad but they also have to enforce bad rules.
Lastly, and the really damaging shit was this last CBA. Owners didn't give a shit if players didn't practice enough. If a coach had enough time to teach his team every offseason. Players definitely didn't want to work harder. Less practice means more mistakes. More mistakes leaves some shitty product on the field. There is no NFL Europe where talent can be groomed. The college game produces guys who aren't suited for the NFL immediately. The NFL is giving worse product while still charging outrageous prices.
So worse players, bad refs, high costs, and watching a bunch of whiney fucking babies as entertainment? Give me NCAA which always has something entertaining on.
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