[okaydo]

Originally Posted by kiddynamite

Why would anyone watch a full NFL game with those pesky things like huddles, commercials, and time outs when you can just watch the greatest channel ever-NFL Redzone?

Redzone has every game, no commercial, and non-stop action. Its beautiful.

I have the DirecTV/original version of NFL RedZone (with Andrew Siciliano, not Scott Hansen) that comes with Sunday Ticket.

And while I will watch that channel on occassion, it's my last resort.

Redzone is just three to six hours of highlights.

I like to get immersed in the game(s) -- I watch 2 games at the same time.

Highlights can be watched anytime.

[kiddynamite]

I cannot speak to the DirectTV version but the Scott Hansen one is awesome. It does show some highlights, but the vast majority is live. When it does show the highlights there is a short delay between when the play actually happened and when they show the highlight. I leave Redzone on all day long.

The only way I would watch a full game is if my team were playing.

[FingeroftheBear]

Originally Posted by SacCityBear

The NFL's parity is goofy? I could see how the shifting rosters could get frustrating, but I'd say that is infinitely better than sports where only the teams with the richest owners who are willing to go tens of millions into the red each year can compete for a championship.

With the exception of the most mismanaged teams, every NFL team has a chance of making the playofffs each year and that is great for keeping fans interested. I can't even imagine how small market MLB fans can maintain interest in a sport in which their team is almost guaranteed to never have any success.

I'd rather watch 4-5 really good teams play exceptional football than 24 play good but watered down football and have other teams chase them. That's how it was in the 70s (Steelers), 80s (Niners) and 90s (Dallas).

Also part of sports is losing. Hate to say that's life as well. Every team having a shot at the playoffs doesn't make for better football (or any sport). It does mean better ticket sales and more interested fans but I wouldn't call it better.

For small market NFL teams, they have a chance to win because they get a socialist share of the TV cartel money pie. From there they have to win and sell tickets...for 8 lousy games and that's not impossible. Look at Green Bay and Pittsburgh. Of course they have great traditions but their markets are small.

I can see how baseball there's a disadvantage for small market teams because they have 82 home games but that's baseball and the discussion here is football.

[Phantomfan]

NFL and College on the wrong days is ridiculous.

I have no interest.

[SacCityBear]

Originally Posted by FingeroftheBear

I can see how baseball there's a disadvantage for small market teams because they have 82 home games but that's baseball and the discussion here is football.

Actually, this is a discussion on professional football's place in the professional sports landscape in the U.S. If the NFL is to drop from its currently unassailable perch as the most popular sport in the U.S., then NFL fans are going to either have to stop being sports fans, or more likely, shift to being fans of other sports, and given that the latter is more likely, the issues that plague other professional sports leagues are relevant to the discussion.

[FingeroftheBear]

Originally Posted by SacCityBear

Actually, this is a discussion on professional football's place in the professional sports landscape in the U.S. If the NFL is to drop from its currently unassailable perch as the most popular sport in the U.S., then NFL fans are going to either have to stop being sports fans, or more likely, shift to being fans of other sports, and given that the latter is more likely, the issues that plague other professional sports leagues are relevant to the discussion.

Okay fair enough...that said, the economics of the NFL are different from MLB, as I posted.

Any way, I'm a fan but I don't follow the NFL except to see a decent game. If it dies and goes away...so it goes. It will and can recover just like baseball has a few times but baseball has a deeper cultural context even if it's not as popular.

[MinotStateBeav]

NFL did one thing right..there's no "Oakland A's" in the NFL...thats a plus.

[GldnBear71]

Then they started putting the best matches on Pay Per View, and interest faded.

I think MMA will be the next major sport to emerge if it hasn't already. I know a lot of people who can discuss their favorites.

Over-saturation is not football's problem. Dilution to some extent is. The declining interest at many high schools. The increasing control of the collisions could be a factor.

I can't see soccer ever replacing football at the top of the American menu. Soccer has too many problems. Not enough scoring. Too many shootouts. Italian "floppers". Frustrating officiating. It all adds up to lack of interest.

Football will have to screw things up much more before it is ever threatened as America's favorite sport. Even little kids whose mothers don't let them play the game love to watch it on TV.

[atticus]

This question could only be asked by someone who doesnt play fantasy football

[foradolla]

Originally Posted by MinotStateBeav

NFL did one thing right..there's no "Oakland A's" in the NFL...thats a plus.

There is however the Oakland Raiders....

[Cal88]

Originally Posted by 6bear6

I'm no fan, but what about soccer? An ever enlarging Latino population in the US, coupled with many immigrants from Europe and Asia. It could be the wave of the future.

The popularity of soccer is increasing steadily. While it won't ever catch up with many (most) fans over 40, interest has been rising steadily. European soccer (especially English) has blown up as a global spectator sport, N. America included. the MLS is now #3 in attendance, having passed the NBA.

The NFL might have peaked, but it's probably going to stay at that high plateau. There are a number of exciting players like Rodgers and Brees, who are among the all-time best and the playoffs have been exciting.

Baseball on the other hand is in a very slow yet steady decline. The game was a bit more popular 10-20 years ago, and more popular in the decades before that. Its decline is not so steep as to be noticed year to year but it's slowly eroding because youth participation rates have been declining and it inherently is a slower sport.

[Unit2Sucks]

Originally Posted by Cal88

the MLS is now #3 in attendance, having passed the NBA.

Extremely misleading statistic. MLS is no. 3 in attendance per game but has much fewer teams and games than the other big leagues. MLS drew 5.5 million fans to NBA's 21.3, NFL's 17.3 and MLB's 73.5.

[Mr. Frumble]

Originally Posted by Unit2Sucks

Extremely misleading statistic. MLS is no. 3 in attendance per game but has much fewer teams and games than the other big leagues. MLS drew 5.5 million fans to NBA's 21.3, NFL's 17.3 and MLB's 73.5.

And the NHL's 20.9.

[ManhattanMadMan]

I think we should play college football during the spring ..say March - May.. so we can focus on NFL during the fall

[BoaltBear]

This thread is hilarious. People need to take a step back if they think the NFL has reached its peak.

Over the last five years the NFL has gotten more popular in every empirical way to look at it: viewers, attendance, revenue, etc.

This thread was started from a quote by an aging QB pining for "the good 'ol days." The NFL may be different than the NFL you remember loving 10 or 20 years ago. But it's not in decline.