If the League is "Dying" and Losing Popularity..

[Popsickle]

8 minutes ago, Icege said:

I see your anecdotal evidence and present my own:

I'm a millenial and know at least three family members that are baby boomers who stopped watching the NFL over the protests. All three are hard line conservatives that vote based on party rather than policies. All three are also brutally racist.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Mind you, I don't think that everybody butt hurt over players kneeling is a belligerent racist (nor do I believe that baby boomers are). I just think that those crying about the kneeling are belligerently ignorant and would rather believe what they want than know what they need.

So, let me get this correct. Are they belligerently ignorant because they support standing for the anthem or because you think standing for the anthem is not needed?

[imminent rogaine]

Its all a charade.  There are two groups of "Boycotters": Those that never actually watched the NFL in the first place and those who never actually followed through on the threat of boycott. People who watch the NFL never gave it up; only pretended.

I've got a buddy whose behavior, I think, sums up the whole situation.

Tuesday Afternoon after reading about kneeling: "I'm done with the NFL. I'll never watch another game as long as these overpaid traitors refuse to respect our flag and our country! I can't believe... etc etc"

Sunday Afternoon while the 5-7 Jets battle it out with the 3-9 Broncos: "OMG, I can't believe how good Trevor Simien looked that last drive. Where has this been all year!? This guy has a real future in the  NFL."

[Jon Snow]

6 minutes ago, Icege said:

I see your anecdotal evidence and present my own:

I'm a millenial and know at least three family members that are baby boomers who stopped watching the NFL over the protests. All three are hard line conservatives that vote based on party rather than policies. All three are also brutally racist.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Mind you, I don't think that everybody butt hurt over players kneeling is a belligerent racist (nor do I believe that baby boomers are). I just think that those crying about the kneeling are belligerently ignorant and would rather believe what they want than know what they need.

This applies to all generations and all diehard political views.   Ignorance is the common denominator with extreme views on anything.   

[Icege]

3 minutes ago, Popsickle said:

So, let me get this correct. Are the belligerently ignorant because they support standing for the anthem or because you think standing for the anthem is not needed?

They're belligerently ignorant because they're making it about standing for the national anthem when it's about not allowing police to murder people based on skin colour.

Anybody stupid enough to think that kneeling is disrespectful, when he was advised to kneel rather than sit by a green beret, is just doing as I previously stated: caring more about believing what they want rather than knowing what they need.

[Icege]

2 minutes ago, Jon Snow said:

This applies to all generations and all diehard political views.   Ignorance is the common denominator with extreme views on anything.   

^ Exactly why I mentioned the bit about not believing all boomers are bigoted. In the end, in my opinion at least, it's more about people that want things to fit whatever narrative it is they've created rather than challenging their own views.

[Jon Snow]

Just now, Icege said:

^ Exactly why I mentioned the bit about not believing boomers are all bigoted. In the end, in my opinion at least, it's more about people that want things to fit whatever narrative it is they've created rather than challenging their own views.

Bigotry and ignorance is not limited to one age group or race.   

[Popsickle]

4 minutes ago, Icege said:

They're belligerently ignorant because they're making it about standing for the national anthem when it's about not allowing police to murder people based on skin colour.

Anybody stupid enough to think that kneeling is disrespectful, when he was advised to kneel rather than sit by a green beret, is just doing as I previously stated: caring more about believing what they want rather than knowing what they need.

That's right, I forgot police are required to systematically kill only black people...

More to the point, disrespect/respect is subjective, people will always have different opinions and always will. Disrespecting or putting down people of different opinions/views is frivolous, and the way this is making it's way into our society and becoming a popular norm is a saddening fact. 

[caatfan]

1 hour ago, Jon Snow said:

Bigotry and ignorance is not limited to one age group or race.   

Exactly. And stereotyping (as in all boomers having a problem with protesting players) is a short step away from bigotry. Growing up with racism and segregation doesn't automatically make you intolerant. 

[MHS831]

6 hours ago, PantherCam213 said:

I am a baby boomer and know exactly no one who fits this description.  

Kids these days.  Where do they get this stuff?

Damn Whippersnappers these days.

[thefuzz]

I can't answer as to why the NFL is losing popularity, but I can guess....and none of my guesses are shocking.

General way of things.  Things get popular, then they cool off, then they become unpopular.  Just the way it works.  Look at NASCAR.

The game is too slow, in a speeding up day.  Too many commercials, too many stoppages, too many reviews.  We want everything now, with no delays...that ain't football.

Concussions and player safety.  More importantly, I'm betting parents are trying to find things to do other than watch football with their young boys.  Many are being pushed into soccer, lacrosse, basketball, etc...

Oversaturation.  All day Sunday, Monday night, Thursday night, London, draft, dedicated channel, round the clock updates and stories coming out...not to mention the brain drain of fantasy.

Time commitment.  Back in the day it was fine to go to the golf course all day Saturday, and sit on the couch all day Sunday.  Either the kids played in the yard, watched football, or Mom took care of them.  That's not parenting this day and age.

 

At the end of the day, I know for sure that I'm watching MUCH less football than I was a decade ago, or for that matter even a couple years ago.  I just have more fun and important stuff to do than veg on the couch for 12 hours on a Sunday.

[PantherCam213]

3 hours ago, Icege said:

I see your anecdotal evidence and present my own:

I'm a millenial and know at least three family members that are baby boomers who stopped watching the NFL over the protests. All three are hard line conservatives that vote based on party rather than policies. All three are also brutally racist.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Mind you, I don't think that everybody butt hurt over players kneeling is a belligerent racist (nor do I believe that baby boomers are). I just think that those crying about the kneeling are belligerently ignorant and would rather believe what they want than know what they need.

Oh, I have no doubt that there are some who have stopped watching due to politics, but I believe it's because they are very conservative and closed minded.  I don't for a minute believe it's because they are "permanently scarred" by the protests of the 70s and experience "flashback meltdown"s during current protests. 

That's just a bunch of psychobabble.

[RumHam]

14 hours ago, MHS831 said:

the drop in interest this year was for political reasons.

THAT is why you do not use your place of employment to make political statements--then the politicians make a political statement out of your place of employment. 
The NFL is selling entertainment-not social justice.

And I stand behind the cause the players support 100%.  You just do not politicize the NFL because you run the potential of losing half of your  audience.  These players are paid to entertain and play football.  If they use the stage to promote personal agendas, they should not be surprised if the people who have the most invested in the business they are exploiting for personal reasons choose to overlook them.  They are damaging the brand and the value of the league. 

It does not matter if you agree with the players or not--they are hurting the league and abusing the media used to project this product to the nation.   Nobody is telling them what to think or support.

Best thing you've ever said. Why can't I support both causes? Why must I choose a side? Because Uncle Frank has an opinion on Facebook? Someone wants to divide this country as much as possible and since we've moved on from religion, it's now politics. Oh and the Mandela Effect. What makes this worse is the single person who started the whole fuging thing. If Cam came out and did it, it would be better, but Kaeperneck is such a fuging shithead and an overrated player plus with his girlfriend's ties, it makes it worse. Try doing this at your job and see if you get walked out. It's reverse bullying but I don't think Kaeperneck realized how much this would backfire. His ego makes his movement literally not believable.

[RumHam]

Also I could see WWE becoming more popular again in the next five years than the NFL. It's the biggest it's been. It's more over than the UFC. 

[Carolina Cajun]

15 hours ago, ARSEN said:

Commercials...  did you realize how commercials increased over the last few years?  Also, prices on everything gone up.

You're on the right track, but not complete with that answer.  Think about technology today, DVR is in most standard households, or most people have simply cut cable.  Most people are perfectly happy DVRing a show and watching it at their own leisure when they have the time and skipping commercials, in fact, it's getting more rare for people to take time out of their day at a specific time just to watch a show.  This is where Sports, and football in particular come in.  NO ONE is DVRing sports, if you're gonna watch a game, you watch it live, and while you watch it live it gives more power to the advertisers because it's more likely that people will be willing to "actively" watch 2 minutes of geico and Pert Plus commercials.  Of the Major sports, (MLB, NHL, NBA, and NFL), NFL still has the highest ratings, even if they are declining.  UNTIL the NFL falls behind in popularity to one of the other 3 sports, which I don't see happening anytime soon, Ad Revenue is still gonna be gigantic and only to go up.