Largent80 wrote:NFL is sliding bigtime. To say that it's Americas game s NOT accurate because people are tuning out in record numbers. I don't even know how a person could say otherwise.
The stupid rules, the limited rosters, there's so many reasons.
Yet they think everything is the same. It's like a spouse that is abusive. She'll stay despite the beatings.
I honestly don't believe any of these factors are ratably moving the needle in a negative direction. I am less interested than before and none of the potential factors you listed bother me, at all. Here is my theory, which I am guessing is in the minority because no one ever brings it up:
To start, the NFL is a QB driven league. It always has been. Montana, Marino, Elway, etc. drove the league in the past and that continued with Brady, Manning Rodgers and others up until recently. Right now, the NFL has a very, very limited number of great NFL QBs. And the ones that "are" playing seemed to have been playing forever. Who would you really put up as must see TV right now? Brady? Maybe. But we've seen him for damn near 20 years now. Rodgers, Brees? Realistically the top 5 QBs are probably Rodgers, Brady, Brees, Wentz, maybe Wilson? No one is tuning in to watch Matt Ryan or Philip Rivers - or even Brees. The NFL has a lack of star talent in this crucial position now and the primary drivers of that ship are the same ones who have been doing it forever.
Second, the NFL is lacking great competition now. The ballooning salaries and FA have contributed to that more than anything. Teams can no longer afford to keep quality talent, as even mediocre QBs like Alex Smith are getting paid $90+ mil. Average corners are getting paid. This drives down the overall quality of teams. The Pats are the best of the bunch now, but can you really say they are "great"? They beat two teams with a combined record of 19-13 in the playoffs and struggled to do it at that. The Seahawks were good for the league, as they appeared to be a dynasty full of brash personalities. They were great for a couple of years and had the potential to be a truly all-time great franchise. Most outside of Seattle tuned in to watch them lose. Who is that team now? The NFL really doesn't have one. It has the Patriots, and the entire rest of the group may turnover next year. It's hard to get too excited when you can't get to truly know the teams year in and year out.
Last, a good number of people are cutting the chord. I went without cable TV for almost 4 years simply because I did not have time to watch it and did not want the hassle of haggling over billing issues. Hence the reason I use to post so much on the net. I think many people feel the same way. People want to simplify their lives in this day and age, whether that means a new career, less social media or just tuning out altogether.
I think these are the reasons. The other things are blown out of proportion. If the product was better, no one would truly care that much about rule changes or TNF.