NFL

Has the Quality of the NFL Degraded?

Fresh Videos

By @AnthonyBeers

Getty Images

Getty Images

The NFL is a ruthlessly masterful business that stops at nothing for a fan’s dollar. Football is a beautiful game where players learn life lessons on team unity and focus. For a very long time, fans have tuned out that first statement and embraced the latter. But will the business aspect ever trump the integrity of the game?

The quality of the game provided by the NFL is forever changing. This generation of fans will never understand the overwhelming physical demands on which the NFL used to pride itself. In the past, intimidation by any means necessary was expected. Today, if a quarterback is hit in the pocket there’s a good chance a flag will be thrown. How did the NFL go from so tough to so light so quickly?

Player safety rules are the reason for the NFL’s rapid change. While all fans should support player safety, at what point is the game negatively impacted? In the past the NFL kept hidden information about the health of retired players. It wasn’t until the tragic case of Junior Seau that the details emerged. The NFL quickly implemented rules to encourage a safer game and committed $765 million to the benefit of retired players.

Naturally this resulted in a very different game with many more flags, fines, and controversial plays, none of which actually increase player safety. If the NFL was truly committed to player safety it would focus on the quality of equipment, playing surfaces, and the media the NFL provides. So does the NFL really care?

First and foremost the NFL cares about fan money. Under the regime of Roger Goodell the NFL has worked incredibly hard to protect its image in its pursuit of maximum revenue. The circus-like atmosphere surrounding the allegations of Ray Rice and Adrian Peterson well represented the NFL’s commitment to their reputation. They put their foot in their mouths constantly, contradicted previous comments, and ultimately committed to any ruling that gave them the best public opinion.

This approach is what has changed the quality of the game. There is no base of integrity. There is no line they’re afraid to cross. The amount of flags and sloppy play doesn’t matter as long as fans are committed to their fantasy football, NFL Redzone coverage and overpriced jerseys.

Comparing the NFL to just five short years ago, officials have thrown nearly 500 more flags in a season. The 2009 season bared 3083 flags, whereas the 2014 season totaled 3514. Anyone who’s watched football recently knows this isn’t directly because of player safety. The NFL is more flag happy than ever and many of the penalties are difficult to rationalize.

Despite all these rule changes and a game that’s “evolving,” the playoffs of the 2014-15 season had a new controversy each week. The pass interference call that got picked up between the Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions. The Dez Bryant catch against the Green Bay Packers that got called back by a rule that makes no sense. And now every reporter and their mother is hung up over the New England Patriots deflate-gate controversy.

Forget all that. All of it. The quality of the NFL is without a doubt deteriorating. The NFL’s commitment to increased revenue and their relentless pursuit of a squeaky clean media image is crippling one of the greatest games ever to have been created. Rules need to be fixed, integrity needs to be restored, and fewer flags need to be thrown.

Since the NFL lives to hear about the opinions of fans, they have a tremendous amount of influence in the situation. If fans want a better quality game their displeasures need to be voiced now more than ever. The die hard fans deserve better than this. Vince Lombardi has been rolling in his grave. A better football can be restored if the fans demand it.

Share Tweet
Trending Now on