The Raiders set a new NFL record for 23 accepted penalties yesterday. Not saying you're wrong but man I bet that game was brutal to watch. One thing that is deterring me personally is the amount of stoppage and commercial breaks. For example, after the Riddick TD, there was a commercial break during the review, a commercial break after the PAT, and another commercial break after the KO. That's 8-10 minutes of commercials for less than 8 seconds of actual playing time. Games are just too long now.
Not sure about "boring", but when the Cowboys dominate the league next 5 years, it will be s*****. Don't be surprised to see DAL win #6 in HOU this season.
Here's an interesting theory as to why the league is losing viewers (not necessarily becoming more boring) from Spencer Hall of "every day should be Saturday" fame. ***Fair warning: the bottom of the article references some possible spoilers from the set of the upcoming Game of Thrones season*** Essentially, he argues that we are more free than ever to consume the game without actually having to be fully invested in it. He reasons that this is due to the power/influence of social media and the ubiquity of gifs. I have to say that i agree that this plays a part in how aware i am about what is currently happening in the sports world. However, i am fairly certain that i have never actually chosen not to watch a game because "twitter will tell me if anything noteworthy happened." Strangely enough, i have watched more EPL this year than ever before solely due to twitter and social media.
"The most celebrated part of football used to be the violence," he said. "That's why people watched. People didn't watch to see people play pitty-pat." So what is the reason for the decline in ratings? "The league isn't fun anymore," Sherman said. "Every other league you see the players have a good time. It's a game. This isn't politics. This isn't justice. This is entertainment, and they're no longer allowing the players to entertain. They're not allowing the players to show any kind of personality, any kind of uniqueness, any individuality, because they want to control the product. They want to control the messaging." In addition to empowering defenses by cutting down on the rules, the NFL would do well to pull back on penalizing players for excessive celebration or unsportsmanlike conduct, Sherman said. http://www.seattlepi.com/sports/football/article/Seahawks-CB-Richard-Sherman-10591604.php
watching the falcons/bucs game the nfl is RIGGED like a mofo, jameis never had a chance when you have to covert 3rd and 14 all night, and matt ryan has to convert 3rd and 6. the refs have WAY too much power in the nfl
One thing I appreciate about the NFL, but that increases the boredom, is they actually make the tackle. I hate when the NCAA guys try to bump, dive and miss, or just plain and simple cannot drag a guy down. In the NFL almost everyone takes the guy down on contact, but after a full Saturday of watching electric plays Sunday is a lot less exciting.
Shockingly, I don't watch as many NFL games as much as I used to, but I've always gravitated towards other sports on TV -- NBA, MLB, or tennis or etc. I really have to say this, but I know alot of people will disagree. But, the league simply is and hasn't been as great as people make it out to be, even over the last 10-15 years. For the most part, parity is good, but I think the type of parity the NFL has is overrated. Having a bunch of mediocre teams and slightly above average teams play every year is not that fun to watch. Especially, looking at the AFC, which is pretty much a JV league (for a decade), outside of New England, Denver, and Pittsburgh. Throw in San Diego, Baltimore, Cincy, and Indianapolis (Peyton Manning and Andrew Luck). There haven't been any different heavyweight teams, outside those golden four to five teams. We often criticize NBA for not fielding enough competitive teams, yet both NBA conferences have sent about the same number of teams to the Super Bowl, as the AFC has. Don't get me wrong those five or six organization from the NFL-AFC are pretty good. and shown that they have had staying power, especially the Pats, Broncos, and Steelers who have all had pretty decent records and been able to stay relevant/competitive, since the early 90s. I should also put the Ravens in there who have only had a handful of losing seasons, since their inception. I really think it's, because those teams primarily focus on defense and offensive line, while being lucky enough to land good to legendary QBs. But, it's the salary cap that limits. But as you've seen with the NBA, it can be subverted. *Collusion* *Player Endorsements* I hate it when people bash the NBA, because to me even though the superstars might collude and the fixes could be in. The average NBA team, production wise, I think are alot better than the average NFL team, from year to year or decade to decade. For one, I think there's not as much player movement, contrary to popular belief. Players having guaranteed contracts, has a little to do with it, as well as players, coaches, and teams actually building team-chemistry and concept. Critics often say players get lazy with guaranteed contracts. I agree, that some players do, but the really important players, or higher-level players tend to maintain their excellence or elite play for whatever reason. We can go back 25-30 years, and see that the top 15-30 players in the league change alot less than comparison to MLB/NFL. It's mainly because the star players in the NBA get older or run into freakish injuries. I feel like their bodies take alot less damage than NFL players. I feel like the average player in the NBA can make a decent career, while being a competitive contributor to an important team or be "fighter of player" on a bad team. People never bring up this argument in the MLB, for whatever reasons, and teams/players are competitive as well. In another instance, it's not really fair comparison. Because, I feel like on an NBA team, you can change two starters in the offseason and go from a cellar dweller to a playoff team/championship contender. Yet, in both sports, you can have talented teams and lose alot of games. The bad organizations, such as Cleveland Browns, Jacksonville Jaguars, Brooklyn Nets, and New York Knicks. I think have shown that they cannot get out of their own way. One big criticism against the NBA has been that it "favors big market teams only." I disagree with that, historically speaking, the Jazz, the Spurs, Nuggets, and Trailblazers have been just as good record wise, if not better than the New York teams (Knicks/Nets). I feel like NBA and MLB teams tend to be more complete and consistent, now.I'm glad they haven't adopted the NFL structure, which is silly for those sports. I feel like the average teams, alot more entertaining to watch than the average NFL team. I feel like NBA teams have alot more chemistry and the players are the "star-attraction." NFL players are for a lack of a better word -- equipment, unless you are QB. Though, for the most part, the players talent wise are fairly close together. When people say in the NBA, that the guys cannot shoot, pass, or play defense. I'm like have you watched any of the games take place, this season. I feel like NBA offenses are near historic levels, not the best (I think offense from the 1980s were the best), while the defense from the 1990s-early 2000s was at its best (and I think that was more due to rule changes). Considering all of the rule changes, I think NBA defenses are fantastic, now. I've seen people criticize the NBA for having quote on quote, "a More Euro-style of play." Yet, isn't that how basketball is supposed to be played with...lots of spacing, ball movement, and efficient shooting. The games, right now move very crisply. Yet, I've seen people criticize for having too much one-on-one ball in the past, I'm like will people ever make up their minds. Both styles of play work for the given time or opponent. With that being said, the NBA and MLB are both officiated poorly, yet have their golden moments.
It's not really all down to the league. Football is just a mediocre sport in itself imo. It doesn't compare to basketball or soccer. There is no real talent in the game apart from the quarterback position it's just all a game of athletics and who's faster and stronger not more skilled. The demographics in the country are also changing and minorities tend to watch other sports.
On the contrary, the main "talent" in football comes from the coaching staffs/gameplans. Teams can literally devise schemes simply to take out the skill position players, or to neutralize a defense loaded with studs. In no other sport is the coaching, and the week leading up to coaching the game, more evident than in the NFL. The league is littered with guys who were possibly bigger/stronger/faster... but didn't make it because they ended up on a team/coaching staff that ether couldn't maximize their talents, or that they needed more of the mental game to actually make a difference.
Have been for a while, wake up at 7 make some coffee and watch some PL. NFL might also have the worst talent amongst all of the leagues. The most exciting football player this year has been Lamar Jackson.
It's been a flip in many ways. Cowboys and Raiders are up, Panthers, Bengals, Packers, Giants, Washington Racial Slurs all went down some. Oh and Tom Brady is still good if you're into that sort of thing. Yeah, gotta agree with you. Mostly boring, minus the Raiders. Texans were fun until Brock decided he wasn't all that. At least there's no Romo! (I'm a cowboys fan who stopped believing in him years ago) Football overall is losing me. They can't even resemble consistent refereeing so I have to wait like 8 minutes for a ruling. Snooze!!! Go back to no replay! You **** it up regardless, NFL.
The Raiders are pretty good, both their lines are solid. I'd like to see them play the Pats or the Cowboys, those are the 3 best teams I've seen so far this year (and it makes me nauseous to say that).
Bump for relevancy. Injuries, protests, internal strife, concussions, diminished product.... I’ve watched maybe 3 games total this season and only because of Deshaun. Writing on the wall.
