Why the NFL is losing fans

[LIJETFAN]

If anyone saw the Pats-Steelers game, and that absurd call at the end of the game reversing an obvious Pittsburgh TD, you know why fans are getting sick of this week in and week out. The officials just changed the entire complexion of the playoffs because of one absurd call. The receiver clearly caught the ball, and reached across the goal line for what was an obvious TD that was reversed. The same thing happened against the Jets with Jenkins. As a fan of the sport, I'm appalled that the game has come to this...

I wonder how much Kraft paid for that call.

I hope the Patriots get their asses kicked in the playoffs.

 

[TonyFtLaud]

It was the right call. He lost possession when he stretches out and the ball hits the ground. Had no reason to stretch out there. Complete the catch.....

 

[LIJETFAN]

Sorry Tony, but disagree. It might be the right call with the current rule - but the rule is ridiculous. At any of level of football, that's a catch and a TD. It's.a joke. And before the Calvin Johnson play, that;s a TD. The league has erased decades of football and what was great about the game by overdoing it with the rules and regs.

 

[gmf1369]

it was the right call, the tight end James lost possession as he went to the ground

it may be a ridiculous rule but it is what it is and until the committee either changes it in the off season or modifies it where if the player still has control when the ball jostles that it is considered still in the possession of the ball carrier, but until then it isn't the reason why the NFL is losing fans...

fans are tired of the miscarriage of justice from the league office mainly Roger Goodell and his uneven punishments and fines for players...

 

[LIJETFAN]

I don't think the fans give a crap about fines to be honest. I think they care about the product on the field. The uneven punishments affect a handful of players. The officiating and rules affect every game, and when they affect the outcome of the games and the playoffs, it's ruins the integrity of the play and the product on the field. At times, it's almost unwatchable. I've been a fan for 43 years. The game that changed it all was the Pats-Colts playoff game. Ty Law was mugging receivers, and then Polian pushed for a rules change. Now we have to question every play to see if it's a catch or not. We get an illegal contact or PI called on half of the incomplete passes.

If it looks like a catch, it's a catch. It's pretty simple. This nonsense about the ball moving when you reach across the goal line is absurd. If you are a running back, that's a TD. That's how stupid the rule is...

 

[gmf1369]

I don't think the fans give a crap about fines to be honest. I think they care about the product on the field. The uneven punishments affect a handful of players. The officiating and rules affect every game, and when they affect the outcome of the games and the playoffs, it's ruins the integrity of the play and the product on the field. At times, it's almost unwatchable. I've been a fan for 43 years. The game that changed it all was the Pats-Colts playoff game. Ty Law was mugging receivers, and then Polian pushed for a rules change. Now we have to question every play to see if it's a catch or not. We get an illegal contact or PI called on half of the incomplete passes.

If it looks like a catch, it's a catch. It's pretty simple. This nonsense about the ball moving when you reach across the goal line is absurd. If you are a running back, that's a TD. That's how stupid the rule is...

it is not so much the fines but the suspensions... there is no charges legally then the NFL shouldn't have their own investigation and then they decide to become prosecutor, judge and jury on a case that had no evidence in the first place to be brought to justice... so how can the NFL hand down a sentence on it's players for a crime that wasn't legally a crime so to speak... that is the miscarriage I am talking about...

the rules in place, from the competition committee needs to have clear understanding of what each rule states and then maybe the calls on the field won't be interpreted by the refs on based of which team is under revue... they left the window for interpretation which is unfair because there is too many ways each play can be called, if they clean it up then maybe fans will reengage enjoying this sport they grew up watching...

 

[Bigmoe]

They keep saying correct call ??
not buying it
yes I understand rule complete catch thru process but......
its so hypocritical
he caught the ball obvious
down on a knee obvious untouched
stretches out control of ball over goal line obvious
ground cannot cause a fumble
play should be over at that point ....end of story ...he was actual a runner at that point with control of the ball at the goal Line
end of play cross the goali line with possession
obvious
and the NFL also states the ball can move as long as you don't lose contro, again obvious
these calls have become bullshit

 

[LIJETFAN]

Agree 100% Bigmoe.

 

[cheaterhater]

They keep saying correct call ??
not buying it
yes I understand rule complete catch thru process but......
its so hypocritical
he caught the ball obvious
down on a knee obvious untouched
stretches out control of ball over goal line obvious
ground cannot cause a fumble
play should be over at that point ....end of story ...he was actual a runner at that point with control of the ball at the goal Line
end of play cross the goali line with possession
obvious
and the NFL also states the ball can move as long as you don't lose contro, again obvious
these calls have become bullshit

I agree 100% but you've got Kraft on the phone making offers to the booth officials. Once his offer is high enough the call is changed. Hey, at least they didn't take the ball away from the Steelers and give it to the cheetahs like they did in the Jets \ cheetahs game. But then again had they done that then we would have missed Tom Brady picking off
??Big Ben in the end zone on the next play. That wasn't Tom Brady you say, of course it was, he's the reason the Cheetos win all their games

 

[cheaterhater]

When the play went to review and the broadcasters all declared it an easy call as a touchdown, how many of you knew the call would be reversed? It was a cheating game ,of course, so you had to know. I turned to my wife and said, " they're taking away the touchdown and giving tom brady the ball". well, I Was Half Right

 

[cheaterhater]

And a couple points while we're talking about that game.

Number 1, we all know that there is a league rule that No one is allowed to get close to brady, but is there also a league rule that no one can guard gronkowski on the last drive of a game? They didn't even hit him at the line on that drive. Wtf?

Number 2, I didn't watch the superbowl and I still know that the cheetahs can score 2 td's and 2 2 point conversions in 9 minutes. What the neck were the Steelers thinking trying to play pre vent offense with 9 minutes left and up by only 8. Freaking go after them and try and score for shits sake. Again wtf?

 

[cheaterhater]

If anyone saw the Pats-Steelers game, and that absurd call at the end of the game reversing an obvious Pittsburgh TD, you know why fans are getting sick of this week in and week out. The officials just changed the entire complexion of the playoffs because of one absurd call. The receiver clearly caught the ball, and reached across the goal line for what was an obvious TD that was reversed. The same thing happened against the Jets with Jennings. As a fan of the sport, I'm appalled that the game has come to this...

I wonder how much Kraft paid for that call.

I hope the Patriots get their asses kicked in the playoffs.

Kraft paid the officials

Belichick had the Steelers playbook.

I too hope the cheetahs get there ass kicked in the playoffs, but we all know that they have already won the so yet again... And that is the real reason people are getting tired of football

 

[gmf1369]

 

[cheaterhater]

I wonder how much Kraft had to pay to get that rule in the book? Maybe the rest of the league should pitch in some money to get a rule that stops belichick from cheating.

Rule #63b. Anything THat Is Obviously Illegal But Is Not Necessarilly spelled out As Illegal In The Rule Book Is Now Declared Illegal In The Rule Book So Dont Bother Trying To Find A Way Around It Belichick.

This Rule Would Fix All The Leagues Problems And Get Fans To take Football Seriously Again

 

[magicjohnson]

I wonder how much Kraft had to pay to get that rule in the book? Maybe the rest of the league should pitch in some money to get a rule that stops belichick from cheating.

Rule #63b. Anything THat Is Obviously Illegal But Is Not Necessarilly spelled out As Illegal In The Rule Book Is Now Declared Illegal In The Rule Book So Dont Bother Trying To Find A Way Around It Belichick.

This Rule Would Fix All The Leagues Problems And Get Fans To take Football Seriously Again

Kraft didn't have to pay a dime......he wrote the rule book

 

[beresford]

Patriots in the Superbowl again. Boring. Are they the luckiest team in football or what?

I think the NFL are sucking the life out of the game with too much replay, particularly the hair-splitting decisions. They had it right when the only replay was via coaches' challenge, which should have been expanded so that any play can be challenged, including PI.

 

[cheaterhater]

Patriots in the Superbowl again. Boring. Are they the luckiest team in football or what?

I think the NFL are sucking the life out of the game with too much replay, particularly the hair-splitting decisions. They had it right when the only replay was via coaches' challenge, which should have been expanded so that any play can be challenged, including PI.

Beresford, you seem surprised by the fact cheetahs are winning the superbowl again. We knew that last year. This year they become the team with the most superbowl wins, I believe.

They still need to get an undefeated Superbowl season, a Superbowl shutout , and the largest margin of victory in a Superbowl, as they have always won by 3 points or less.

They could achieve a few of these goals in the same season but I think they will chose to do 1 a year over the next 4 years just to have something to keep them interested.

And for anyone thinking once Brady is gone it will be different, let's remember the cheetahs record without Brady is 14-6 and that's with backups that had never played a single play. Once Brady's replacement gets used to hearing the other teams plays coming over his headset, that record will get even better.

Again 14-6 without brady. What we we give for our Jets to ever have a span of 14-6?

 

[beresford]

Beresford, you seem surprised by the fact cheetahs are winning the superbowl again. We knew that last year.

I'm resigned to them being in it, the only thing that can stop them is a big hit on Brady that brings Hoyer in. I'm now coming round to the opinion that whoever qualifies from the NFC the Patrotz will be red-hot favourites. If Namath made a deal with the devil, the Hoodie has assumed a partnership. Whose name do you think is uppermost on the brass plaque on the office door, Bellichick or Beelzebub?

As an NFL fan I don't want to be prevented from watching the Superbowl. What I am considering this year is to go to bed after the third quarter (which remember is early morning UK time) then look up the result the next morning before watching the recorded fourth quarter, at fast forward if needs be. That way I won't get false hope before the 'amazing last-minute turnaround' BS.

It really is the worst division in football. Patriots have the AFC East sewn up for the next two years. Beyond that things get a bit foggier.

 

[SackExchange]

This type of play has, if I recall, decided three games this year, all involving the Patriots. Two of them, they were on defense, against the Jets and the Steelers. The third, they were on offense, against the Texans (Cooks). In all three cases, the Patriots got the call. So it's an incompletion when NE is on defense, and a catch when they are on offense.

 

[lounap23]

#fakenews when it comes to NFL losing it's fans. It was the highest rated Sunday night game of the year. Also, up 8% in ratings for the same week last year.


But on the real news note. Both the rule for the Pitts TD and the the Oak play at the end of their game need to change. James caught it, clearly had complete control, reached over the goaline to break the plain for the TD and the ground caused it to come lose. If he caught it on the 7 yard line took 2 steps and dove from the 4 or 5 yd line and the same thing happened its a TD. The rule is dumb.... And same with OAK... Like the play with ASJ a fumble through the end zone should not be a touchback and change of possession. Fumble with no recovery through the end zone should be the offense gets the ball back at the spot of the fumble.