Correct.

That's also why head trauma is such a big problem with offensive linemen. It's not the 1 big hit, it's the 30+ little ones they take during the course of every game.

Wishful thinking on Cuban's part perhaps. I don't watch the Thursday night games because the level of play has been poor, however that fact hasn't impeded my desire to watch the Sunday games at all.

Cuban is exaggerating of course. But 40-50 years ago the most popular sports in America were MLB, Boxing and Horse Racing.

Who's to say in another 30 years or so the most popular sports might be MLS, MMA and NHL?
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Cuban is 10 minutes away from an implosion at any time.

It may not be up to us. If a judge starts handing out $50 million verdicts to "concussion victims", the business model doesn't work. I'm not saying it'll happen, but if we recognize that the NFL is a business, then businesses only operate when they're profitable.

I agree more with Cuban that the problem is going to be interest more than some catastrophic business change. However, it all ties together to some extent. The business of the NFL is....

...watering down the product to broaden their fan base, for the goal of chasing revenue increases.

...watering down the product to minimize legal risk.

...attempting to minimize the two impacts above by increasing their exposure.

...attempting to create new revenues streams such as TV products (e.g., RedZone and Sunday Ticket).

...attempting to create bigger stories by creating bigger stars via those new TV products.


It all makes sense from an MBA perspective. The thing that worries me is that marketing is driving the process now, and not the product. It's the same problem as any industry - if you have a crappy product with great marketing, people will still eventually figure out that it's a crappy product. And as Mark Cuban suggests, that actually speeds up the decline because you know have a broad awareness that it's a crappy product.

You haven't been paying much attention to all the brain injury suicides then and how folks just say, "meh."

Honestly I wish Cuban could buy the Chiefs franchise. I know Cuban would do what ever it takes to bring in a Championship.

Hell I'm already almost done. They're pricing me right out of the building, and the on field product has me turning off the TV and turning my attention elsewhere.

The NFL responds!

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nfl-ans...48462-nfl.html

I can see that. There was a time where I could watch any nfl game and enjoy it, but it's gotten to the point where the only NFL I watch these days are when the Chiefs play. I don't care about any of the other games, monday night, sunday night etc. I don't watch them unless it's the playoffs.

Horseshit.

SB winning teams win thru the Draft.

Roger Goodell will find a way to ruin the game. One thing at his job he's actually good at.

Spreading the draft out several days. **** you.
Forcing games in London with reckless disregard for homefield advantage and travel disadvantage. **** you.
Spreading out games and ruining football Sundays I spend with buddies? **** you.
Complete monopolization of TV rights such that you have to plant a satellite dish to watch a game at home? **** you.
Signing an exclusive jersey apparel deal that allows the maker to ridiculously jack up the price? **** you.
Ridiculous rules that allow TV companies to change game times at the last minute, flying a middle finger in the face of out-of-town travellers? **** you
Creating ridiculous offensive friendly rules that sell tickets, but now give extraordinary advantage to teams with great QBs? **** you

And the reckless disregard for safety has created the NFL version of MLB's steroid controversy. They were so stupid about this for years that they can't actually enforce rules now without admitting a mistake. Here's a classic example. How is there not a rule to force players to wear a ****ing mouthpiece. Honest to God.

I still love the NFL. But Cuban's got a point.

You know that Goodell does none of these things without the blessing of the owners? And often with the agreement of the players? And that some of these things have nothing to do with him? Your complaint is with the owners.

People need to stop blaming Goodell for these changes.

He does this stuff because the owners want it, too.