Mark Cuban: "The NFL is 10 years away from an implosion."

[KCUnited]

More comparable to the UFC. I went from watching every event to not even knowing when it's on (last night) and the UFC is more popular than ever.

[J Diddy]

Originally Posted by KCUnited

More comparable to the UFC. I went from watching every event to not even knowing when it's on (last night) and the UFC is more popular than ever.

The UFC's surge in popularity was easy to spot just by noticing the rise in Midnight Vulture looking douchebags wearing ring gear. There is a positive correlation there.

[alnorth]

Originally Posted by Dick Bull

The UFC's surge in popularity was easy to spot just by noticing the rise in Midnight Vulture looking douchebags wearing ring gear. There is a positive correlation there.

Off-topic, but the funny thing about combat sports is how people tend to view UFC as some kind of crazy bloodsport, but think Boxing is a noble activity. Its actually the opposite, boxing is barbaric and the health of the fighters is not really a consideration at all, while MMA seems to be more like a civilized sport.

In MMA, once a guy is beat they try hard as hell to end the fight and keep him from getting hurt. No one is usually going to stop a fight if a boxer gets hurt, it doesn't stop unless you are knocked the hell out or you are so badly damaged that you can't stay on your feet. Longtime MMA fighters can retire in relatively good health, while longtime boxers suffer debilitating injuries more often.

[mr. tegu]

Originally Posted by GoChargers

So being a fan of the product means never criticizing it and always being satisfied with the direction it's going in?

I guess you are correct. When I desire to purchase a book at the bookstore I often find myself complaining about being inundated with books. It is the same when I go to a Royals game. I just hate being bombarded with MLB stuff everywhere.

[MahiMike]

Originally Posted by mr. tegu

I do find it ironic that people on a football message board are complaining about an oversaturation of the NFL.

Why? It's our love of the game that wants it protected. Too much of a good thing is not healthy.

[BigMeatballDave]

Originally Posted by MahiMike

Why? It's our love of the game that wants it protected. Too much of a good thing is not healthy.

It's not too much for everyone. Being on the road most of the time, I don't get to watch nearly as much. No MNF or TNF.

[Chiefnj2]

If for some reason ratings were to drop to basketball levels, Roger will just send a team or two overseas and cash in on foreign revenue.

[Discuss Thrower]

1) Oversaturation in the United States.
2) Impossible to grow support for the game of football, let alone a professional league, in both the developed world outside of the US and Canada as well as the developing world.
3) One on-field death will force the NCAA and NFL to radically change the rules of play to non-collision as well as scare parents into forbidding their children from playing the sport.

Cuban's absolutely right on this.

[BigMeatballDave]

Originally Posted by Discuss Thrower

1) Oversaturation in the United States.
2) Impossible to grow support for the game of football, let alone a professional league, in both the developed world outside of the US and Canada as well as the developing world.
3) One on-field death will force the NCAA and NFL to radically change the rules of play to non-collision as well as scare parents into forbidding their children from playing the sport.

Cuban's absolutely right on this.

Bullshit.

If he actually thought that, he would never have tried to purchase a team.

Butthurt.

[alnorth]

Originally Posted by Discuss Thrower

1) Oversaturation in the United States.
2) Impossible to grow support for the game of football, let alone a professional league, in both the developed world outside of the US and Canada as well as the developing world.
3) One on-field death will force the NCAA and NFL to radically change the rules of play to non-collision as well as scare parents into forbidding their children from playing the sport.

Cuban's absolutely right on this.

1) Disputed.

2) Irrelevant

3) No, they won't. (both the NCAA/NFL and the parents)

[Discuss Thrower]

Originally Posted by alnorth

1) Disputed.

2) Irrelevant

3) No, they won't. (both the NCAA/NFL and the parents)

1) Then why are the owners trying like hell to get so many games in London?

2) Pretty damned relevant. What's the most popular sport in the world? More importantly, in the developing world? Why? How can a sport that calls for expensive equipment and playing fields compete with a sport that can be played on pavement, dirt or scrub grass?

3) Notice the reactive rules designed to stave off criticisms involving CTE. Imagine the host of changes to the game if some poor bastard's next get snapped on live television... let alone the backlash from busybody government / activist types.

[alnorth]

Originally Posted by Discuss Thrower

1) Then why are the owners trying like hell to get so many games in London?

2) Pretty damned relevant. What's the most popular sport in the world? More importantly, in the developing world? Why? How can a sport that calls for expensive equipment and playing fields compete with a sport that can be played on pavement, dirt or scrub grass?

3) Notice the reactive rules designed to stave off criticisms involving CTE. Imagine the host of changes to the game if some poor bastard's next get snapped on live television... let alone the backlash from busybody government / activist types.

1) This has nothing to do with the NFL being "saturated" in America. I for one, argue that it is not saturated and that the market would welcome an additional day of NFL, and would probably even accept an 18-game season.

As for why though, why not? Hey, free money.

2) No, not relevant at all. The NFL is welcome to try to grow their game internationally, but if they don't, who gives a damn? Whether the sport makes 8 billion, or 12 billion, or 28 billion a year, it is, and will continue to be, a wildly successful business. Remember, the thread is about the NFL possibly declining, not having to settle for being "fabulously wealthy" after failing to be "hilariously Bill Gates Rich", or having to settle for being "king of America" instead of "king of the world".

3) People die playing or practicing football every year. If a high-profile incident happens there may be a small handful of weiner parents who react, but for the most part nothing will happen. Kids will still want to play, and parents will let them.

[Discuss Thrower]

Originally Posted by alnorth

1) This has nothing to do with the NFL being "saturated" in America. I for one, argue that it is not saturated and that the market would welcome an additional day of NFL, and would probably even accept an 18-game season.

As for why though, why not? Hey, free money.

2) No, not relevant at all. The NFL is welcome to try to grow their game internationally, but if they don't, who gives a damn? Whether the sport makes 8 billion, or 12 billion, or 28 billion a year, it is, and will continue to be, a wildly successful business. Remember, the thread is about the NFL possibly declining, not having to settle for being "fabulously wealthy" after failing to be "hilariously Bill Gates Rich", or having to settle for being "king of America" instead of "king of the world".

3) People die playing or practicing football every year. If a high-profile incident happens there may be a small handful of weiner parents who react, but for the most part nothing will happen. Kids will still want to play, and parents will let them.

The league and the NCAA's wealth is threatened by CTE lawsuits.

I have no faith that the owners' won't settle at being the Kings of America. They seem to me to have Rockefeller-levels of greed that isn't suited to choosing sustainability over the risk of astronomical levels of wealth if consequence is failure of the league.

And this is why I stress a high profile player death as being the harbinger of football's end: rule changes that turn the game into flag football will probably not be well-received if they're brought in on the heels of a tragedy. I'd put money on the fact that tackling will be legislated out of the game within the next quarter century but I'm guessing that point the NFL, NCAA/NFHS will have made such gradual changes over this coming decade that only the most die-hard fans of football as a sport will complain and therefore turn away from the product.

However, if a player like Drew Brees is killed on Sunday Night Football with millions watching it will be impossible to play the game under current (and already compromised, in my opinion) rules and the rule-making bodies will have to accelerate this shift in the game without the same level of acceptance in fans.

[Steron]

Originally Posted by Discuss Thrower

1) Then why are the owners trying like hell to get so many games in London?

2) Pretty damned relevant. What's the most popular sport in the world? More importantly, in the developing world? Why? How can a sport that calls for expensive equipment and playing fields compete with a sport that can be played on pavement, dirt or scrub grass?

3) Notice the reactive rules designed to stave off criticisms involving CTE. Imagine the host of changes to the game if some poor bastard's next get snapped on live television... let alone the backlash from busybody government / activist types.

2. Futbol?

[Jimmya]

They haven't outlawed ufc.... They sure as hell won't mess with football.