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What’s this? A chance to dump on Roger Goodell, on refs, on fantasy football, on the money involved, the schedule, the owners, the me-first players, even the violence inherent in the system?
Seize it. You know how people hate it when you complain too much, because later, behind your back, they call you a big fussy whiner and laugh at you? This is your opening to vent any legitimate or semi-legitimate football-related gripes, and instead of being judged for it, to hang among like-minded gripers.
There is plenty right with the NFL, or it wouldn’t be the most popular pro sport going. But the clouds are numerous on the horizon, the forecast is iffy, and these things go in cycles: it wasn’t that long ago the NBA and MLB ruled the airwaves and the headlines.
Poll
What is most wrong with the NFL, today?
This poll is closed
-
5%
Poor / ineffective leadership from the commissioner’s office
(80 votes) -
13%
Games are too long / too hard to watch / too commercialized
(178 votes) -
22%
Poor / unclear / inconsistent officiating
(306 votes) -
7%
The exorbitant sums of money involved are a turnoff / too expensive to attend live games
(102 votes) -
7%
Emphasis on fantasy football is ruining real football
(99 votes) -
4%
Thursday night games
(66 votes) -
0%
Preseason is too long
(11 votes) -
2%
Game has gone soft
(40 votes) -
0%
Game has gotten too violent
(4 votes) -
4%
Game has lost its fun through crackdowns on uniforms / individuality / celebrations
(65 votes) -
0%
Lack of star power / players less compelling / fewer interesting stars
(3 votes) -
7%
Concussion concerns threaten its future / sap current enjoyment
(103 votes) -
1%
The quality of the product, in general, is worse than it used to be, but I can’t put a finger on why exactly
(21 votes) -
0%
Instant replay
(8 votes) -
1%
Too many franchises moving too often
(18 votes) -
2%
Nobody cares about the fans anymore (players / owners / commissioners)
(34 votes) -
2%
Too much emphasis on parity / the draft and salary cap punish good teams while rewarding bad ones too much
(27 votes) -
1%
The media coverage
(23 votes) -
9%
Offense is prioritized at the expense of defense
(131 votes) -
2%
Other (but don’t you think the list is bad enough already?)
(30 votes)
I will get off your lawn. Just answer the poll question first.
(Note: The top 4-6 answers will advance to a playoff later this weekend.)