Poll Is the NFL hurting the entertainment value of the game?

by nateoak10 on Feb 20, 2012 1:09 AM CST

I'm writing a class research paper and part of my topic is that the NFL is ruining much of the entertainment value of pro football and it's main appeal, the violence of the sport. The NFL is a violent game and the league is trying to minimize that but they are also trying to protect the players we love to watch. What is your take on this issue? Please answer the poll question below

Note - I do not plan on using any of your quotes , if for some reason I did you will remain anonymous unless requested. Thank you

Poll

Is the NFL's goal of protecting the players hurting the entertainment aspect of the sport?

Yes

23 votes

No

31 votes

Other

2 votes

56 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 17 comments | 0 recs |

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Comments

I dont think violence is the main appeal anymore

People want to see high scoring games, and comebacks.

by onlyK on Feb 20, 2012 1:24 AM CST reply actions

Violence isn't the main appeal of football,

if violence was, MMA would be the most popular sport in the world.

Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit; Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.

by Brick Top on Feb 20, 2012 9:26 AM CST reply actions

Thats not really the question

Yes its not the only attraction but it is part of it, im just specifically talking about 1 part of the game and if the NFL is hurting that aspect of the sport

by nateoak10 on Feb 20, 2012 2:11 PM CST up reply actions

It's a grey area

The NFL penalizes for helmet to helmet hits and for “hitting a defenseless receiver.” Unfortunately, the referees do not always get these calls correct (they’re human after all), and in some instances it takes away from the competitiveness of the sport since players are afraid to see a good hit.

How many of you rewind the DVR when you hear a good hit? How often do the stations do it? In the past, I remember better hits, and football was more entertaining. I think there are less now, but that is due to the players taking it easy and not laying the wood.

Another problem is the touchdown celebration. In America, the free country, players are not given the freedom to celebrate their touchdowns. How cool was it to see TO run out to the Dallas 50 and plant the ball on the star, only to get taken down by Teague. Pure entertainment. Or Ochocinco and his crazy celebrations. Now it’s the no fun league.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-nxdzgQH8U

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=souMwFUMjAU&feature=related

by 81 Witness on Feb 20, 2012 10:37 AM CST reply actions 1 recs

I agree with the celebrations

but not with player safety issues. I seem to be one of the few on the NFL’s side on that. Yes officials need to be more consistent with it, but there is no reason for some of these dangerous hits to be in football.

Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit; Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.

by Brick Top on Feb 20, 2012 10:42 AM CST up reply actions

Is the NFL's goal of protecting the players hurting the entertainment aspect of the sport?

IMO The NFL goal is to reduce the amount of medical compensation for the players. It has little to do with player safety. The NFL is a business first and foremost. The goal of any business is to make as much profit as possible while at the same time, reducing expenses by as much as possible.
Being a business; The NFL must take care of it’s image. They must take into account public perception in regards to the treatment and care of it’s players. The issue is very complex.
My response:
With the money being generated from The NFL, a portion of annual revenue should establish a medical fund that covers the players; former and current for life. The amount should be adjusted annually as medical cost rise. The medical treatment should include LTC, drug treatment, and mental health care.
Professional football is a high speed crash. There is very little that can be done do reduce the casualties. The one thing that can be done; is to take care of those who play this violent game.

by ValdezY on Feb 20, 2012 10:57 AM CST reply actions

I simply don't agree with your premise.

Which do you think would bring more profits to the Indianapolis Colts – having Peyton Manning playing QB for them or reducing their medical costs for his treatment? While I don’t think the NFL owners are completely selfless, I do believe a good part of the rules on protecting players is to try to keep solid players on the field and not in the hospital.

Concering the medical fund you suggest, I thought the recent contract negotiations did take some baby steps in that direction. To really fund it at the level you imply, both the union and the owners would have to agree. I think the union showed in the latest negotiations that their primary focus is on paying current players nad not funding long term care for former players.

by andyhawk on Feb 20, 2012 11:41 AM CST up reply actions

Winning Is Profitable

Regardless of who the QB is. If Indy had a winning season despite losing Manning, I do not think many fans would care.
The system in place to protect “certain players” is a farce. The game is favored strongly on the side of the offense. The majority of personal foul calls go against the D. The QB is a position that is overly protected. When they leave the pocket, defenders must take extra precautions when they hit them; that alone is silly.
The majority of fines levied is against the D; in addition to being penalized in the game.
The NFL is unrealistic in their approach to managing a violent sport.

by ValdezY on Feb 20, 2012 12:04 PM CST reply actions

Yeah it's hurting the entertainment value

But the reward is priceless if the concussion syndrome is lowered. I love the big hits but not at the expense of quality of life of the human beings who play this game. The effort makes for less big hits, thus it brings down the entertainment value. I still watch though. I still will.

Wolf. Wolfgang Wolf

by dbcouver on Feb 20, 2012 12:05 PM CST reply actions

NFL is getting to be a wheres the flag, I just got hit

You see it every play almost a player that gets hit calling for a flag.A QB gets pushed then falls gets a flag,.It sure the Hell isn,t the football that I’ve watched for 50 years.

by chndlr54 on Feb 20, 2012 1:22 PM CST reply actions

The football you watched for 50 years

caused so many concussions and so many head injuries that some of the players from that era are committing suicide just to get rid of the turmoil going on in their brain. Is your entertainment so important that these results don’t matter?

by andyhawk on Feb 20, 2012 11:17 PM CST up reply actions

Absolutely yes.

The players continue to come out and even say themselves that some of the new rules are absurd. This in itself to me shows that the NFL is a greedy scum corporation like most and really dont care about anything but profit (no surprise).

To me football is allll about the big bone crunching hits. If I wanted to watch flag football, I easily could. Would I go strap on some pads and a helmet and do what NFL players do for $5 mill a year? Absolutely hell yes!

by SosaRams on Feb 21, 2012 6:12 PM CST reply actions

Absolutely not

One of the resounding themes in an informal poll of co-workers and friends is that the rule changes to open up the offensive side of the ball game has enhanced the excitement the sport brings. If you have ever attended an Arena League game you will know what I am talking about. High flying offense and savvy athletic defense is all the rage now days. Good clean violent hits can still be made within the rules of the game as well.

I think if anything the rule changes force the defense to be better athletically and mentally. For so long the NFL was brainy athletic offenses against assignment junky athletes on defense. In today’s game, a defensive player has to be more cerebral and have the ability to recognize offensive sets and tendencies, not just able to run to the ball and throw their body around. Don’t get me wrong, I like a good hit as much as anyone, but I love it even more when a linebacker diagnoses the run game and stuffs the half back or when a defensive back knows the route better than the wide receiver and steps in front of that perfectly placed pass from the quarterback. Is that not exciting!!??

They will notice and they will giggle.

by papapegasus on Feb 21, 2012 9:51 PM CST reply actions

These are good points

Wolf. Wolfgang Wolf

by dbcouver on Feb 22, 2012 2:33 PM CST up reply actions

To you

This may be exciting. I dont watch football to see 300 points scored a game, thats just me. Im a football fan, I love tough hard defense. I’d rather see a 6-3 game than a 65-57 game. Theres a reason theres only 6 points put it, because these guys are professionals and are the best in the WORLD at what they do. Dont try to change that to get 13 year old kids excited about football.

What good is it looking like Laron Landry if you cant crank someone? The rules are completely irrelevant because these guys are arguing about the rules themselves and are signing the dotted line.. Just me but I’ll take a players perspective over Roger Goodell or an office guy ANY DAY.