Around the NFL - 2016

[QB Eagles]

Meanwhile, Josh Gordon is effectively banned for life for what is, assuming the worst, a mental health issue. Taking drugs worse than assaulting human beings, apparently.

I think a lot of us would like it if the rule was "you touch a woman violently, you're done in this league." Where it gets tricky though is that it can be years before those things get legally resolved, and a lot of them -- like Brown -- never rise to pressing charges. You also don't want one false accusation that never gets legally tested ruining a career. And you can end up with weird cases where the woman is effectively being punished by the league, by depriving the abuser of income that would go to her. So I get that it's not as easy a call as it's made out to be sometimes. But goddamn, people don't want to root for players that should be shunned by society.

[PhillyPhreak54]

Agreed

It has to be investigated better. Once an issue is known NFL security (which it sounds like they need an overhaul) needs to get on it. Or use a third party investigation firm to keep it kosher.

A false accusation (ala Ezequiel Elliot in the summer) could ruin a guy professionally and publicly. So do the due diligence and then make a decision that the evidence warrants.

Their PR now is shtein and it gets worse. They give the impression that custom cleats, kneeling for the anthem, ticky tack celebration penalties and marijuana are worse than beating the shtein out of a woman.

[QB Eagles]

I do think that once a guy is on record saying that he thinks his wife is his slave to abuse and that he is her god, it's okay to ban him for life. Kudos to Brown for at least having the honesty to admit he feels that way and the basic outline of a conscience necessary to seek the psychological treatment he needs, but regardless, that's a farged up dude who is a danger to others.

[Rome]

People aren't ignoring the NFL because the players are women-beaters or drug users.  They're turning the channel because the game is boring.  There's too many zesty penalties and the play on the field has been atrocious.  Parity breeds boredom and finally indifference.  And that's where we are now.

[hbionic]

There are no interesting storylines. I've never really cared for watching non-eagles football to begin with. Why?

It would be great if the last place team, (worst record) was reward with the last pick in every subsequent round following the 1st round. That would at least make Browns games interesting.

Maybe they can create a relegation division, where the 4 worst teams go into this division. They cannot make playoffs, regardless of their record. Best they can do is be the best one of that division, and climb back into a playoff eligible division, and the worst team in the playoff eligible divisions, gets relegated into the shtein hole division.

That would bring a little fun into the league. They could still reap the financial benefits, and it could give them something to play for. Change financial incentives based on performance, not automatically be gauranteed top pic, and then rinse, repeat. People would tune in to see the worst of games, for the story alone.

[General_Failure]

Maybe they can create a relegation division, where the 4 worst teams go into this division. They cannot make playoffs, regardless of their record. Best they can do is be the best one of that division, and climb back into a playoff eligible division, and the worst team in the playoff eligible divisions, gets relegated into the shtein hole division.

Sorry, but someone from the AFC South will be forced to host a playoff game.

[ice grillin you]

Meanwhile, Josh Gordon is effectively banned for life for what is, assuming the worst, a mental health issue. Taking drugs worse than assaulting human beings, apparently.

yeah this is revolting

People aren't ignoring the NFL because the players are women-beaters or drug users.  They're turning the channel because the game is boring.  There's too many zesty penalties and the play on the field has been atrocious.  Parity breeds boredom and finally indifference.  And that's where we are now.

it can be both and six other reasons

[MDS]

People aren't ignoring the NFL because the players are women-beaters or drug users.  They're turning the channel because the game is boring.  There's too many zesty penalties and the play on the field has been atrocious.  Parity breeds boredom and finally indifference.  And that's where we are now.

not really

there a fewer penalties this year than last year. the play on the field is largely the same....you get a ton of people saying DURRR da game was so much better 10 years ago DURRR but ratings have soared over this period. they are down this year and its because of the quality of play? dont think so.

the biggest thing leading to the ratings drop is crappy national games, which has fueled this conversation across the country. they did a poor job scheduling. there are plenty of very good 100 and 400 games that nobody sees. everyone, meanwhile, is seeing brian hoyer, blaine gabbert, matt barkley, ryan fitzpatrick, brock osweiller, etc.

[Sgt PSN]

What are the city/regional ratings this year compared to previous years?  Are the same number of people in the Philly market watching Eagles games as the last decade?  Or the Bay Area with SF & Oakland?  I'd imagine there's not much difference anywhere except St Louis.

[QB Eagles]

Haven't seen the city-by-city numbers. The NFC day games are basically the same as last year, the AFC day games are down like 7-8% (the AFC is farging awful and its biggest star was suspended the first four games), and the night games are all down like 15-20%.

[MDS]

What are the city/regional ratings this year compared to previous years?  Are the same number of people in the Philly market watching Eagles games as the last decade?  Or the Bay Area with SF & Oakland?  I'd imagine there's not much difference anywhere except St Louis.

philly is up...san fran is up which you can shove in the face of the right wingers who think the ratings are down because of kap

people are still going to watch their teams. the issue is fewer people are watching other teams. but the caveat is this -- the nfl game sucked and was down thursday and still beat the mlb game 2:1.

Haven't seen the city-by-city numbers. The NFC day games are basically the same as last year, the AFC day games are down like 7-8% (the AFC is farging awful and its biggest star was suspended the first four games), and the night games are all down like 15-20%.

NFL Year-Year Viewership Trend By Network Thru Week 6:

Regionalized
FOX:  -1%
CBS:  -7%

Non-Regionalized
TNF:  -16%
SNF:  -18%
MNF:  -18%

thats from the sports numbers guy at fox. come up with your own hot takes, everyone.

[Rome]

I don't give a rat's hairy dick about television ratings.  The games I've watched have been excruciating.  They stopped hitting in practice several years ago and the games have suffered since.  Add in the refusal of the NFL to allow defenses to actually play defense and the ridiculous number of penalties that are being called and you have insufferably boring games to watch.

That's just my impression, of course.

[ice grillin you]

pretty much sums it up as far as on the field stuff goes

too much parity for me as well....I know some people like every team going 7-9 or 9-7 but I want great teams....really the only team I somewhat follow other than the Eagles is the pats who I actually "root" for...I love belly and Brady and hope they win three more chips if the eagles aren't going to get any

[Sgt PSN]

pretty much sums it up as far as on the field stuff goes

too much parity for me as well....I know some people like every team going 7-9 or 9-7 but I want great teams....really the only team I somewhat follow other than the Eagles is the pats who I actually "root" for...I love belly and Brady and hope they win three more chips if the eagles aren't going to get any

I'm in that category as well. I know we're supposed to hate all things Boston/NE, but I have a shtein ton of respect for how they've been dominant for 15 years now and show no real signs of letting up.  Once. Just once I'd like to see that kind of dominance from a Philly team. Hell, I'd even watch the Flyers if they were hockey's version of the Pats.

As for the local ratings, regionalized games appear have a minor drop off but nothing too crazy imo.  The drop in national games is a clear indication that a combo of poor play, bad officiating, bad teams, bad match-ups, and anything else you can throw in there.

[MDS]

I don't give a rat's hairy dick about television ratings.  The games I've watched have been excruciating.  They stopped hitting in practice several years ago and the games have suffered since.  Add in the refusal of the NFL to allow defenses to actually play defense and the ridiculous number of penalties that are being called and you have insufferably boring games to watch.

That's just my impression, of course.

there where 12.07 penalties per game in 1991. this year there are 14.05. a grand total of 2 more penalties per game, which you can easily pinpoint to personal foul calls based on player safety than didnt exist back then. sometimes those calls are wrong, naturally. omg!

i cant argue with your impression of the game if you are less entertained by it, or whatever. thats your feeling and youre entitled to it. but the numbers are the numbers.

facts and stuff: http://www.sportingcharts.com/articles/nfl/how-many-penalties-in-an-nfl-game-on-average.aspx