Anyone else finding their interest in the NFL on the decline?

My son is playing high school football and is going to be a fullback/linebacker. I was running back in my day, too. Needless to say, I was pretty pumped when he told me this. Anyhow, we were talking about running the ball and I mentioned to him about how I thought fullbacks run the ball. You know, run people over and make holes where there are none. I, finally, said if nothing else stick your head down and be a battering ram. He looked at me and said, "Dad, we aren't allowed to put our head down and run into people. It is a penalty if you do that". Are you kidding me? All my fullback used to do was stick his head down and run people over. Crazy!

 

Why do you think I have been saying that the Steelers
need to renergize their fan base with a Bettis type trade,They are hard to watch.We need a SUPERSTAR, GAME CHANGER.I begged for one the past 2 off seasons. How would a Larry Fitzgerald look in BLACK and GOLD LOL!

 

Give people to much of something and their interest may eventually wane.

 

Look at the underlying causes for the actions that the league is taking. I believe that everyone that's directly involved with the sport is responsible for the changes that are occurring.

 

You could be right Blount.

 

The NFL is still far and away my favorite team sport. I used to love MLB and even had dreams of playing baseball for a living at one time, but unbridled free agency and the money monopoly turned me away from it. I still follow it but on a more casual basis.

The reason I've stuck with the NFL is because the league has done a nice job of leveling the playing field with the salary cap and an equitable system of revenue sharing. Access to the talent pool is pretty much equal for all 32 teams. So it comes down to the chess match of putting the right talent in place and coaching them up to achieve success. I love that aspect of the game!

I will say this though. While I don't usually miss one play of a Steeler game I find my interest in watching other NFL games diminishing a bit. I still thoroughly enjoy the NFL though.

 

I don't believe every hard hit is flagged now. However, it is difficult to make judgement calls on what is or isn't an illegal hit under the current rules.

The NFL is attempting to limit law suits from head injuries and god forbid an eventual death that has the possibility of happening on the field. The league is attempting to cover it's butt from lawyers and the Feds.

This all steams from the breeding of bigger, faster, and stronger players. Fans don't realize it but they crave those bigger, stronger, and faster "big play" athletes. The game wouldn't be the same without them. We might see more preseason style games without players using PED's. Many of the bigger, stronger faster players use PED's at some point during their careers. Most players can't be as good without PED's. PED's allows players to obtain the riches of the NFL. The rewards out weigh the risks for players. Those same players will bite the hand that feed them all those years.

The league will need to deal seriously with players and the use of PED's at some point. Giving players a slap on the wrist isn't the answer. Maybe they need to ban players from the league that test positive for banned substances? That won't happen because the league doesn't want a season riddled with preseason style games and neither do the fans.

 

So tell me why did the switch from leather helmets?

This nonsense about wearing leather helmets is ,well nonsense!

 

Ditka said it last week....he said that the most money, science and protection is put into the helmet....then shoulder pads......and you keep having the players aim lower where no protection is....makes no sense.

HACK

 

Makes perfect sense. You can still live and function with a bad knee, but not so much with a bad brain.

 

My interest has not declined, but I dont agree with all the rule changes, and it does make me upset with what this league is turning into. And I like the point some have made on here about fantasy football. I think it's ruining the game for the fans. Now I'm not too old, only 25, but my dad taught me growing up as a steeler fan to despise cleveland, and then Baltimore. Never in my wildest dreams would I have ever thought i'd see a devoted steeler fan say on here or anywhere else that they hope Pittsburgh beats Baltimore, but that Ray Rice at least gets 100yds rushing because he's on their fantasy team? Excuse me, I hope Ray Rice or any back who we face has negative yardage against us! And Ive noticed in younger kids that they all dont seem to have a favorite team any more, my neighbors kids have all types of different hats and jerseys. Every week during the fall I see a Tom Brady jersey, then Adrian Peterson, Peyton Manning, Calvin Johnson, all of this because every sunday the pregame shove stats down your throat about this guy and that. Kids like the stars, but there isn't as much loyalty any more. And it also doesnt help that the rule changes make the sport even more hard to follow for the younger generations trying to learn about the game. But When I have a child someday he or she is going to bleed black and gold just like his or her dad! Just like my dad taught me.

 

No.

 

Here's the deal, the more rules you have, then, the more penalties and fines you have, players are now afraid to go high on a tackle because of the fine, so instead of concussions there will be more knee injuries this year: Players are now saying hit me high so you don't end my career with a low hit, so I guess they will have to pass a new rule that any hit above or below the waist will be a fine and a penalty, I watched 3 kickoffs in the Chicago game last night because they have so many stupid kickoff rules it's getting ridiculous, it's unsportsmanlike if a player goes out of bounds and comes back into the field of play, and these push in the back and holding call penalties are out of hand, and the refs can call it on every kickoff but seem to be selective on when they call it: The only problem with the NFL is all these damn useless rules of which half of them serve no purpose other than to slow the games down and reward undeserving teams, like the stupid tuck rule took decades before they decided that was a stupid rule........

 

Gooddell has really curbed my enthusiasm for sure.

 

I'm not a big fan of how the game is changing , but I get what they are trying to do. Players are thinking short term to often. Of course the would rather only miss two games instead of the whole season, but what injury is going to affect them more long term? I'm of the mindset of if you sign up to play you know the risks involved, problem is after these guys get done playing and realize their head is messed up they want to sue!

 

I'd be ok with that.