by "fhrblig" (fhrblig)
Published 12/10/2017 at 11:08
by "fhrblig" (fhrblig)
Published 12/10/2017 at 11:08
No Tags
STARS: 1
This season has been terrible. No one knows what a catch is anymore, mediocrity abounds, officiating has been a dumpster fire, and I’m struggling to care. In past years when my team has sucked or failed to make the playoffs I’ve still been eager to watch games and follow the season to its end, but this year feels different. You’ll never convince me for one second any true fan of the NFL is turning off games because of the protests; I think it’s easier for them to pretend that that’s the reason because this year the product is so damn terrible. I think the NFL made a huge mistake in choosing Roger Goodell, and are making the same mistake in extending his contract. In my opinion they need to make a couple short term fixes: they need to kill off Thursday night games effective next season, and they need a developmental league STAT. No one likes Thursday night games (we barely like MNF anymore). QB and OL play is at an all-time low, and it’s been in decline since Goodell killed off NFL Europe. It doesn’t matter if the sub-league loses some money, it has to be viewed as an investment in the future.
I think the Broncos are in big trouble as a franchise. With Pat Bowlen gone but not really gone, there’s a huge leadership void. Elway’s drafts have been bad, and I think he picked the wrong coach. Normally I’d say give a new coach a couple/few years to turn it around, but Vance Joseph’s decision-making is alarming. Why the hell is Isaiah McKenzie still on this roster, let alone still being allowed to return kicks? HE CAN’T DO IT. If this were the Patriots, do you think he’d still be there? Of course not. He’d be working at a Dunkin’ Donuts by now. The timing of his onside-kick tries has been head-scratching, too. This season has felt just like McDaniels’ last season. Well, at least the Jets will feel at home today with the crowd booing the home team, anyway...
Oh, and we only get two games here today. An early FOX game (Dallas at NYG), and the Jets at the Broncos on CBS. Never mind that some here would have interest in, oh, the KC-Oakland division matchup, or a halfway decent game in the Vikings at the Panthers. And why would we want to see a PM FOX game like Eagles-Rams or Seahawks-Jags? But we’ll get to see the Ravens-Steelers later which will probably be another flag festival, and Pats-Fins on Monday Night. Whatever, NFL. They’ll probably look at the ratings drop and think they should add a Tuesday Night game and to play more games in London.
Are any other Opponauts as cranky as I am about this season?
"Ash78, voting early and often" (ash78)
12/10/2017 at 11:44, STARS: 1
Wait, I thought people were sick of the NFL because of concussions, knees, and knee-induced concussions...
I got sick of it when the salaries got too high*. I was much happier watching Cam Newton kill it in the NCAA than to be “pretty good” in the NFL.
—reformed NFL superfan. I also miss guys like Jim Kelly, Jerome Bettis, Jerry Rice, and many others.
*free market, etc. But the bitching about salaries when they’ve jumped astronomically is some UAW-grade entitlement.
"arl" (arl1968)
12/10/2017 at 11:53, STARS: 2
I was always a casual fan, so I’d only tune in when the local team was playing a good game. But I haven’t watched this season at all.
Is it me or are pro sports on the decline in general? Most kids my sons age (13) don’t care much about it. And the diversification of media means less and less people follow pro sports. It used to be after a big game on Sunday, everyone at work on Monday would be talking about it. Now, hardly anyone does. And withy the head injury issues, it’s getting less popular in school programs. I just don’t see football being nearly as big a rove in the 20-25 years. It’s in decline.
"victor" (victor)
12/10/2017 at 12:01, STARS: 1
People are also probably tired of all these owners moving around teams to demand new stadiums and taxpayer funded kickbacks. You combine that lwith market blackout restrictions, sky high ticket prices for games and nickel and diming for any additional experiences, and you basically scare away a larger and larger chunk of casual fans, which I gather is the majority of viewership.
I think it would be more compelling to us if they had a good product, but nothing is standing out lately.
"NYankee1927" (nyankee1927)
12/10/2017 at 12:06, STARS: 1
Games have become almost unwatchable because of the officiating. I can’t take every catch review and dissecting it to the last inch. It is rediculous make the call on the field and move on. Also the amount of pass interference has ruined the game. Either allow contact or don’t, but recovers have just turned into giant actors to get the free catch.
"jimz" (jimz)
12/10/2017 at 12:15, STARS: 1
‘nuff said.
"Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell." (oppisitelock)
12/10/2017 at 12:21, STARS: 2
I probably wont even be watching today. It’s been years since I didnt watch any NFL on a Sunday during the season. Ive gone from obsessed to almost forcing myself to watch. Ryan Shazier nearly dying is the straw that broke the camels back for me. Not sure if ill watch until the playoffs. We’ll see.
"jimz" (jimz)
12/10/2017 at 12:44, STARS: 0
"fhrblig" (fhrblig)
12/10/2017 at 14:10, STARS: 0
I can somewhat put up with a lot of the side distractions, but when the game itself is crap and unwatchable, why bother?
"fhrblig" (fhrblig)
12/10/2017 at 14:10, STARS: 1
No, I think you’re right. Seems like less people are interested to me.
"fhrblig" (fhrblig)
12/10/2017 at 14:11, STARS: 1
The catch rules are untenable. That has been what’s infuriated me this year. It seems like the Jets are getting screwed over more than other teams, so maybe the Broncos DO have a chance today.
"fhrblig" (fhrblig)
12/10/2017 at 14:19, STARS: 0
I didn’t see any of that game, but I do remember when the Broncos played the Bills several years ago and a Bills player was nearly killed during a tackle on a kickoff. Kevin Everett was trying to make a tackle on Domenik Hixon and suffered a cervical spine injury. That was damn scary. He’s been lucky enough to walk again and have a family, but it was really frightening. Domenik Hixon was the one who got hit by Everett rather than the other way around, but he still felt guilty about it and had nightmares about it. I can’t even imagine what Everett went through. If I’m honest though, I don’t remember it deterring me from watching the rest of the season mostly because it was a freak play.
"fhrblig" (fhrblig)
12/10/2017 at 14:20, STARS: 0
Yeah. Caldwell strikes me as the kind of guy who can ALMOST coach but not quite.
"PatBateman" (PatBateman)
12/10/2017 at 15:02, STARS: 0
JESUS CHRIST.
!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!
"fhrblig" (fhrblig)
12/10/2017 at 15:14, STARS: 1
But the NFL is super serious about concussions, you guys.
That is awful. I hope he’s ok and doesn’t suffer any long term problems from that.
"NYankee1927" (nyankee1927)
12/10/2017 at 15:18, STARS: 1
Ha! No they don’t. Let’s not get too optimistic here.
"Poor_Sh" (ar4x)
12/10/2017 at 15:27, STARS: 0
I agree with most of the points... Counterpoint, the lake effect snow has made the Buffalo v. Indianapolis game a ton of fun to watch.
"fhrblig" (fhrblig)
12/10/2017 at 15:36, STARS: 1
I’m inclined to agree. But, it is the Jets...
"Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras" (jegoingout)
12/10/2017 at 15:40, STARS: 0
Yeah I’ve seen enough. Was watching the Giants game with my dad when I saw that, I’m gonna check out now.
"Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell." (oppisitelock)
12/10/2017 at 17:09, STARS: 0
It’s really strange because over the years I’ve seen plenty of nasty injuries and close calls, but this one stuck with me. I think usually I enjoy the games enough that I forget about it, but I dont have that distraction this season.
I still enjoy following the Pats at the moment but I have very little interest in following the whole league like I used to.
"Tohru" (tohrurokuno)
12/13/2017 at 01:45, STARS: 1
Honestly, the most enjoyable part of this season was Deadspin’s “Why Your Team Sucks” series.
I’m not a die-hard fan, but I’ll usually try to catch a Packers game or two a season. But with all the political crap and Rodgers getting benched for the season, I just haven’t been feeling it.
"fhrblig" (fhrblig)
12/13/2017 at 07:11, STARS: 0
Sounds like he’s coming back now, which is good. There’ve been too many injuries to marquee players this year and that’s dragged everything down too.