Is the NFL in decline?

Discussion in 'Tennessee Titans and NFL Talk' started by TitanJeff, Oct 25, 2016.

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  1. TitanJeff

    TitanJeff Kahuna Grande Staff

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    I find myself watching less and less football on Thursday and Monday night. Mainly, the match ups have been pretty weak and I'd rather kick back and watch some Netflix or something on the DVR after heavy doses of football on Saturday and Sunday.

    I count myself among the hardcore NFL watchers. It appears ratings are down for primetime NFL games and there's many reasons for it.

    I thought it might be interesting to discuss some of those reasons if others feel the same.

    The rule which forces every team to get a primetime game is stupid. I see why they do it but the average NFL fan isn't going to watch the Titans vs. Jags. I bet the ratings will be horrible.

    The time between plays has gotten unbearable. The pace of the game, even with the hurry up offenses, seems to crawl at times because of all the penalties called and commercials.

    I understand that the league has to protect the players but the rules have gotten such that big hits are a rarity.

    Due to less full-pad practices, I think a lot of the fundamentals of the game are suffering.

    It's been a passing league now for some time but I think the rules have swung things too much in favor of offenses. Defensive struggles like we saw Sunday with the Cards v. Seahawks is pretty rare.

    And we're oversaturated now with NFL games. With teams now playing in London, a fan can watch six NFL games a week. That's not counting Redzone and when we'll get some games on Saturday night later in the season.

    Thoughts?
     
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  2. JR1980

    JR1980 Pro Bowler

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    This is the first year I haven't played Fantasy....I am also not watching NEARLY as much football....Now some of that is because I have 3 kids that eat up my time, but I just don't have the interest I once did. I do a lot of observing via streaming, highlights etc, and come on here with you guys. I definitely think the election is effecting it, but I think it is deeper than that as well. It is definitely on the decline. Many more options these days I suppose.
     
  3. The Hammer

    The Hammer Ace Degenerate

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    You left something out

    [​IMG]
     
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  4. Big TT

    Big TT AKA QUADZILLA-STATE CHAMP-

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    I agree...football is the only American sport I spend any time watching at all. The NFL is changing, rule changes have re-shaped the game and how it's played...I have been saying for a few years that within 20 years the NFL may not the the dominate sport in America....
     
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  5. Riverman

    Riverman That may be.... Tip Jar Donor

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    I agree with each of your premises. I'd add that the FF craze football started about 10 years ago or so which inflated ratings tremendously. You had a surge of "casual" fans that got interested in the social aspects. I suspect FF participation is declining a bit, and if not, then at least the FF players who actually watch the game are on the decline. I know I don't play FF any more because it was consuming my free time that I should have spent more in more productive pursuits. (yes- I won my league and never finished outside of 3rd). I just quit it all.

    The game is less entertaining as you mentioned. Bring back the boom and get the rules/refs out of making game changing/determining judgment penalties. You'll lose some soccer moms and families, but this game was NEVER designed to be attractive to them.

    Also, I think they strive for parity but policies and league enforcement favors larger market teams. I'm not interested in watching the dominant and large market teams.

    And the concussion thing has simply driven younger athletes into other sports. Football is a violent game, at least as it was originally intended. The illumination of head injury and associated CTE has driven parents to guide their kids to other forms of sports and the fan attraction naturally follows.

    Just a few off the top of my head.
     
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  6. tnfan47

    tnfan47 Let's Get It

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    The quality of the game isn't there anymore.
     
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  7. TitanJeff

    TitanJeff Kahuna Grande Staff

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    I agree. I used to be in six leagues. I'm down to two.

    I thought DraftKings would have given the NFL a boost but that doesn't seem to be the case this year.

    How does it favor larger markets? I can see name free agents maybe going to bigger markets because of endorsement potential but I assumed everything else was equal.

    Very true. And I expect the trend to continue.
     
  8. Finnegan2win

    Finnegan2win hopesfall2win

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    if the titans were more competitive it might make watching other games more relevant.. but having no stake in any other matchup makes the rest of the games a chore to watch.. so i don't

    the amount of commercials has been beyond retarded for years
     
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  9. The Hammer

    The Hammer Ace Degenerate

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    That too
     
  10. Alex1939

    Alex1939 Space Invaders Champion

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    I think the NFL has peaked, but rumors of its demise are unfounded.

    With parents pushing kids towards other sports and more data becoming available showing the dangers of physical sports, particularly football, that may continue to drive things down.

    The game changes due to the above, has lessened interests from older fans as the game isn't the same with new rules to protect offense and increase points. They've also pushed rules and changes where so many more games are shootouts that are still close in the end... and overall that lessens the impact of a "great" game because so many are "great" (great as in close games that are won at the end).

    However, I think part of the decline is due to the political season and some lack of NFL star power. Not just Peyton, but also there are barely any legit star #1 Rbs anymore as most teams are implementing a committee. However, there is a new crop of talented RBs and QBs in college. So I think without a presidential election again for the next 3 seasons (and even the next one being an incumbent running again election) and a rise in young star power coming from college, I think the NFL rebounds from those issues.

    As far as game time, it's not bothering me as a viewer since I primarily watch redzone all day Sunday (non Titans home games). The London game is fine because I'm usually only half-watching as I eat breakfast and get cleaned up for the day (so I'm missing part of the game, I imagine most are).

    What bothers me the most in game time is college. Watching the NFL feels like fast paced football now compared to watching the never ending 4 hour 45 minute Vols games on Saturday.
     
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