Are you under the impression that the NFL is the government?

You really fail to understand this: The NFL is GUARANTEED $1.5 BILLION DOLLARS PER YEAR with Direct TV.

Why in the ****ing world would they take their business elsewhere, which doesn't include guarantees, in a time of declining viewership?

You're ASSUMING that more people would subscribe but it's just that: An assumption.

You can order the most basic DTV package for $29.99 and get Sunday Ticket FREE or you're charged $259-$359 each year with the most basic package.

If more people WANTED Sunday Ticket, they could purchase it.

People are finally realizing games are directed towards a certain result. I know for a fact whoever the team that won last year was caused many to give up football for good. It was that blatantly rigged. The Rams leaving caused a HUGE segment of fans to do the same.

Are you under the impression that in someway changes to point of the issue?

Hiding behind a company does NOTHING to change whether it's oppression of personal freedoms or not.

It's sad that some people actually want the right to peacefully protest squashed by any entity. Government or not.

you're nuts

That would be awful dude.

You're not miserable standing out in 30 degree freezing rain?


(Cough cough) bullshit (cough cough)

Poor Waaaz still breaks out his Hulkamania shirt weekly

Now NFL games are rigged?

What's weird is that I still love watching the NFL yet I enjoy reading stories about its demise. Not sure how smart that is but it's just my natural reaction. Perhaps it's me hoping it will make Roger look bad. Maybe I want the elitist NFL-only fans to understand other sports have fantastic draws. IDK.

Yep, right along with a fake moon landing and 911 being an inside job.

Do you have to be outside to enjoy yourself?

Jesus, you are a miserable prick.

Gotcha ... So how exactly is it rigged?

I have no idea, ask PGM

He knows.

If "rigged" includes...Slanted towards a certain result? Absolutely.

Nah I'll pass. Thanks anyways.

Holding, pass interference, illegal contact, replay...etc

Ok

;)

So how does the NFL keep all this stuff a secret?

As soon as the NFL fines a ref or a ref retires ... what keeps that guy from getting pissed off and telling everyone?

What keeps a ref from keep a recording of his next set of instructions and blackmailing the NFL for millions? The NFL would have to pay or risk losing it's billion dollar golden goose.

Once nzoner gave the insight into the shady dealings with point spreads, it became an eye opening experience

I do not fully subscribe to the NFL being fixed, but it wouldn't be that hard to do.

One official, one or two calls a game.

It's not a secret that's the funny part. The guise is the refs are "bad".

cue the Dan Moldea video...

Not fixed, but slanted towards an outcome.

That's why the Chiefs need stars.


I hope Jamaal explodes, because he is a guy the media actually pays attention to.

Peters and Kelce as well. Most of the country seems to know those guys. NFL Network thinks Peters vs. Brown will be the match up to watch. This despite the fact that the Chiefs may not even do it that way for most of the game.

$1.5B alternative:
-Bid contract out. Recover a lot of the $1.5B back
-Significantly increase paid subscribers (market to 100M households instead of 20M)
-Offer sponsorship/advertising on streaming site
Most obvious: significantly increase viewership. Increases fan loyalty which creates fan spending $'s. Charge more $ for advertising/sponsorship.

There is absolutely a tipping point where $1.5B isn't worth restricting options for fans. You continue to push installing a physical dish and committing to a year-long contract when 15% of Americans are cutting the cord... that's not consistent with reality today. If the NFL wants to stay relevant, they have to offer online streaming to a mass audience. I don't know how that's even a question.

Good ****ing god. To understand economics?

No other entity is going to outbid DTV's $1.5 billion a year deal, period, ESPECIALLY when viewership has declined by 20% in one year. The NFL is taking in the dough, regardless of whether or not their broadcast partners are losing money.

Also, DTV is getting closer to dumping the dish and going over the internet. Regardless, if DTV decides it's in their best interest to offer Sunday Ticket at $200 a pop (which is considerably lower than the current $359), they would need 7.5 million subscribers - nearly 4 times as now - to reach the breaking even point of $1.5 billion.

Again, it's a horseshit assumption.

I think the biggest problem with the NFL now is a lack of parity, which is ironic for a league that was supposed to be built on the idea of "Any Given Sunday".

Think about how many zombie franchises are out there now, that essentially have been non-factors for several years with no relief in sight.

Miami, Buffalo, Tampa, Cleveland, Atlanta, etc.

In the AFC you've had the same 3-4 teams represent the conference in the Super Bowl during the past 15 years or so.

Goodell's liberal agenda is killing the NFL. Time for the owners to put a new commissioner in. One that is concerned about football and football alone.

Why do people hate Goodell? Hate the owners, Goodell only does what he's told.

The main issue is old farts always bitching about how things used to be better. Everyone thinks everything is the best when they first starting following it...sports, music, whatever. If a few idiots not standing for the anthem or that they now check players for concussions ruins it for you, then watch something else. Just shut up already.

:facepalm:
I don't give a shit about Goodell one way or the other, but this is stupid.

Atlanta has been to 2 NFC champ games since 2004.

Texass everybody


:shake:

When did I say anyone has to outbid DTV? Take a lower bid... I'd say ability to market to 80M more households could easily recover the difference. And it's not just subscribers. More viewers = higher ratings/sponsorships/ad $'s. Loyal fans spend more $'s.

If ratings are down by 20% I'd be really damn concerned about winning those fans back instead of justifying a contract that restricts fan options.

The DirecTV contract was (*edit.. Wasn't bad) bad to begin with. But it's really bad today in a world where fans are watching significantly more shit online or streaming. DirecTV/ATT can and should offer Sunday Ticket to a mass audience. But until they do, the NFL will keep taking a bigger hit until the 2 sides adjust to reality. Goodell's Twitter deal suggests he gets it.

I don't care about the political - its a free country and people are entitled to their beliefs - it is the rule changes that I don't like. They have taken all the fun out of the game. No celebrations, taunting penalties for stupid little shit, etc. Hell, these are grown men playing a violent sport, but they can't wag a finger at an opposing player? What, is the NFL afraid it will hurt the player's feelings? Maybe they need counselors on the sideline....

The unfair officiating is a habitual problem that has overshadowed the game

Cheaters win but they shouldn't

you don't belong here. ill prove you a tired old pussy in 5 questions.

Just shut the **** up

I have NFL Sunday Ticket streaming - but I live in a condo and don't have DirectTV. As long as you live somewhere where you can't get DirectTV you can get the streaming - in other words anyone can get Sunday Ticket, DirectTV subscribers and people who can't subscribe because of where they live. There are really very few people that don't have it available to them.

Be a football player-not an activist.

No, it's all about avoiding getting sued by the players.

If the NFLPA and Players agreed to drop all lawsuits and waive injury liability then the rules can go back to what they were in 1980.

When players taunt then other players get pissed and retaliate with hits.

Zilla you have no damn clue what you are talking about. JFC dude...

There are 3.5M people who order MLB.TV

Only 2M have Sunday Ticket.

You do the math. I didn't realize baseball was so much more popular than the NFL.

I have both. MLB.TV costs $130 for the entire season, 162 games. NFL Sunday Ticket costs $200 for 16 weeks, 16 Chiefs games - minus nationally televised games like this Sunday. MLB.TV is a much better deal. Maybe that is why. Because unless you are in prison or live in a cave you can get NFL Sunday Ticket. I stream it right to my TV.

I wasn't aware that they were doing this and it looks like a recent thing. If so, then I'm wrong on my #'s. And I apologize. Though it only solves the problem where DirecTV isn't available. It doesn't solve the problem for those who have no interest in installing a physical dish. Until they solve that, they're holding the NFL back because it's still a huge missed opportunity.

How is the NFL politically correct?

No need to apologize.

I've been streaming it for 3 or 4 years. If people don't want a physical dish that is their choice of course, but they have the option so they can't really complain that they can't get it.

Well, the main point I was trying to make is that I'd imagine it explains some of the recent problems with ratings. The DirecTV Sunday Ticket model made a ton of sense a few years ago. But it's not a good model for households who are "dish or bust" for Sunday Ticket. Streaming usage is close to overtaking cable/satellite. It's unbelievable how quickly that's happened. At least DirecTV gets that and is changing their model. But until then, it's going to hold the NFL ratings back. Getting a dish to get to streaming is out of date. But I appreciate the explanation as I was clearly wrong on one of my main points.

Could be. I also think the price is too expensive for a lot of people. But for those of us who are out of the Chiefs broadcast area it is great. I wouldn't mind a pay-per-view cable system though. It would be easier and no worries about buffering.

It also doesn't solve the problem for those who have no interest in dealing with the crooked ****s at DirecTv.

15 years ago I figured it would only be a matter of time before DTV lost their stranglehold on the Sunday ticket. Now I'm beginning to wonder if I'll even outlive that contract.

I htink it's because the defense can't do shit
politics is not for my sunday
they can protest what they want before and after the game
I have no ****s to give for that, just american citizens exercising thier rights

I blame the product on the field

I think the ratings are down because the level of play has steadily gone down hill since the last CBA legislated practicing out of the game. Tackling is atrocious. More and more plays end up looking like playground football which is why running QBs are becoming more and more successful.

I hate replay. Arrowhead's attendance sucks this year.

More like the last 30. We've thrown out this stat before, and it might just get worse this year...

The Broncos, Patriots, Colts, Ravens and Steelers have represented the AFC in 23 of the last 31 Super Bowls.

And of those other 8 slots, half were the Bills run of 4 straight Super Bowl losses.

That's three solid decades of six teams hogging almost all the Super Bowl slots. You almost have to be 50+ years old to remember a time when anyone else was a really consistent great team.

This completely sums up my personal feeling although I might add that 33 years of John Elway and Denver's SEVEN Super Bowl appearances have certainly dampened my interest.

I *thought* there might be a chance to overtake them this year but they're 3-0 while the Chiefs offense looks like I-AA shit fest.

This

Owner influence decides that and we drew a lemon. Is what it is. We ****ed. It's no fluke why those teams get the exposure and calls that they do.

The "new" NFL sucks balls, and not fully inflated ones either.

Ever since they decided to become a mega-corp, with all the fluffy, modern, dumbass-appeasing nonsense that comes with it, the game itself has become pure shit.

I have watched exactly zero games this year, and I do not foresee that trend changing.

When I retire, I'm moving to the smallest goddamned town in New Mexico I can find, and I don't want to see, talk to, or look upon another ****ing human being unless I damned well choose to do so.

I've flown to all those mother ****ers. It sounds cool, but trust me, it's not.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/iY3lSh7ngII" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

I don't like the national anthem stuff at all, but what professions do people have to be in where being an activist is ok with you?

He does add on to it with how he acts sometimes. The draft year after all the Ray Rice crap he stood there and smugly laughed off all the boos. When people are booing for football stuff, go ahead and try to be a smart-ass and laugh it off. But when they are booing because you showed your concern for domestic violence is little to none, then maybe don't laugh off those boos because they are on a serious subject.

But of course he can't do that. He throws his staff under the bus for that debacle, and takes no honest responsibility for anything.

I try not to funnel my anger towards figure-heads, but he makes it pretty easy to dislike him as a person, regardless of why his decisions are being made.

political is a bad word choice. The NFL is not as good as it once was.

Several of the teachers at the elementary school in which my child attends were excused to attend a Black Lives Matter rally, with no consequences or repercussions.

..and this is me. :( ...been waiting 47 years while same teams get there..Well run organizations, but if anything shows that certain teams get breaks/help from the refs...it's the above stat.

I don't mean this as criticism, but I wonder why you are here if you aren't interested in football anymore? Do you always join message boards on subjects you don't like and then spend time complaining about it? Isn't there something better you could be doing with your time?

And all human beings will thank you. :D

It could always change, but DirecTV is not checking too hard on shared accounts. A student in my office signed up for the streaming only. They had to enter date of birth and university, pay for the account and create a password. Anybody that knows the name of the streaming account and password can then stream Sunday ticket. He said he didn't even have to go to his email or anything to activate it. And it's not like there is any sort of account to be messed with like there would be with something like a cable account.

Not everyone knows somebody who is a student, but I would think a lot of people would know somebody that lives in an apartment.

I generally avoid illegal downloads and pirated materials. But I'm in the cord cutter group and am not going to sign up for a physical dish. And it's not like Direct TV is completely losing out. They got $100 from me that they would not otherwise have gotten. Although they are losing out in the sense that I would have been willing to pay more. (But not a monthly pay TV subscription that I wouldn't use after football season.)

There is still a lot of OTA NFL football. The one that I think is really shooting themselves is hockey. When I watch NHL at my parent's house, I keep thinking I would really enjoy this if I got into it. But there is so little OTA or free content that I can't get into it. And I'm not going to sign up for an expensive option before I've convinced myself I'll get my money's worth.

I don't really feel that it is certain teams. It's that it is much easier to make it to the SB with an elite QB. Both because of what the QB intrinsically brings and because high profile QBs get the benefit of the call.

If KC had gotten Peyton and then gotten Luck, I think KC would be on that list. Sure, Dallas and the Giants get more attention than their record deserves, but small market teams can make it with a high profile QB.

I don't have the sense that Dak Prescott is getting more roughing the passer penalties just because he plays for Dallas.

The NBA is way, way worse. Sure, a team like OKC Thunder might have a short window of being relevant, but to get the calls from the refs, you have to be a high profile player and that is a lot easier playing for a big market team.

Too much rule legislating is what I worry about. I believe we are as far as we can go on safety i.e. to tackling that we can go without it ruining the game for good. What will ruin it for me is if they say once a RB gets to the 2nd level you must not tackle below the waist and hits and tackles on the WRs or RBs must be at the 'torso level' only. Imagine that.

I'm old school and tackling is tackling outside of flagrant face masking and helmet to helmet or flagrant spearing( I get that). I hate the horse collar rule as well and I don't give a rat's patute how many knee injuries have been caused by it either.

.i.e to PC ? Yes. It will only get worse as time goes on because all you have to do is follow the $$ and PC trial lawyers are waiting in the wings to get their stolen piece of the NFL capitalistic pie.

http://mmqb.si.com/mmqb/2016/09/30/n...otball-themmqb

Bo Jackson declared just this week that if he had known about the dangers of playing football (i.e., concussions), he wouldn't have played in the NFL. He also stated that his children are not allowed to play football.

Yet you want to blame the lawyers?

:facepalm:

Until the games are called evenly, many won't be back. It's a shit product now.

In fact there is, and I do.

I kind of wonder if the NFL has determined that sales and ratings are better when there are only a few teams getting all the wins. Those teams scrape all of the casual bandwagon fans off the wall and get them to buy stuff.

For me it's annoying seeing every single tackle, assist, catch or play being celebrated like that player just won the Super Bowl.

Entertainment as well as keeping their adrenaline as high as possible.