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Gaffes, TV ratings concerns dominated as NFL, players forged anthem peace (the boycott's working!)
ESPN Magazine ^ | October 27, 2017 | Seth Wickersham and Don Van Natta Jr.

Posted on 10/27/2017 7:04:46 AM PDT by Zakeet

Morale was bad inside the league office, and the pressure was not letting up. There was the looming notion that sponsors would leave the NFL -- not just because of the protests but because of an array of challenges confronting the league, including the continuing decline in TV ratings. Nearly all of the league's longtime sponsors, from Papa John's to USAA, were rattled, and fissures within the league offices and teams, to say nothing of the players, were starting to expand.

[Snip]

Polls show that the protest issue has resonated with millions of fans who insist all players should stand for the national anthem; some are calling for an NFL boycott and vowing to never watch another NFL game. Owners are alarmed at how rapidly fans' outrage is eroding many of the league's key business metrics, and executives at some broadcast partners have complained to owners about how the NFL lurches from crisis to crisis. A recent Morning Consult poll revealed that the NFL's net favorability has dropped to 11 percent from a high of 56 percent in May. Jones was furious that local TV ratings in Dallas were down, especially a 19 percent drop for this year's game against Green Bay, compared with last year's. "There is no question the league is suffering negative effects from these protests," he would tell reporters after the Cowboys routed the 49ers. "All times, I want to do the right thing by [NFL sponsors] and their customers. I have a great responsibility to the people who support us. ... We all get great benefits from having a lot of us watching our games. All of us do."

(Excerpt) Read more at espn.com ...


TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: boycott; espn; nfl; tvratings
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To: Zakeet

Football fans are mostly right-leaning Conservative Republican so hearing the anti-American leftist crap from players is a no-brainer dumbass thing to be doing


21 posted on 10/27/2017 8:10:04 AM PDT by Awgie (Truth is always stranger than fiction.)
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To: Zakeet
New York Jets linebacker Demario Davis stood up in the center of the room and told owners: "I'm going to break it down for you guys. You guys aren't supporting us, and until you do, there's going to be an issue."

Imagine being in a meeting with your boss, and saying this. You wouldn't even be given the chance to return to your desk - they'd throw you out the door on the spot.

The owners should fire every single player that refuses to stand for the anthem. I'd rather see a bunch of lower-skilled players than in any way support these social justice warrior morons.

Actually, it doesn't matter, as I count myself among those who will never support the NFL or watch it again, unless and until these SJW posers are shown the door. Not disciplined, not forced to stand for the Anthem - SHOWN. THE. DOOR.

22 posted on 10/27/2017 8:23:28 AM PDT by Sicon ("All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others." - G. Orwell)
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To: Zakeet
after all, some players privately view the commissioner as the puppet of ruthless billionaire owners.

Yeah, "ruthless billionaire owners." You idiots are being payed millions of dollars a year to PLAY A GAME! Those owners are so "ruthless", eh? Try working a real job in the real world, and see what a "ruthless" employer actually looks like.

23 posted on 10/27/2017 8:28:42 AM PDT by Sicon ("All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others." - G. Orwell)
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To: Grampa Dave

Not having read the article, will say this

THE AMERICAN CONSUMER: “DON’T TREAD ON US”


24 posted on 10/27/2017 8:31:03 AM PDT by V K Lee (DJT: "Sometimes by losing a battle you find a new way to win the war. ")
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To: Zakeet
I forgot that there was a game on Monday, also last night (until I saw this article). I've no idea who played either game, or what the score was.

Two years ago, such a thing would have been completely unimaginable to me.

"Indifference" is far worse to the NFL, than "Boycott". I may never go back.

25 posted on 10/27/2017 8:45:46 AM PDT by wbill
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To: Sicon
Imagine being in a meeting with your boss, and saying this.

Imagine saying this to a customer, which is exactly what the NFL has been doing. I've no idea why there's not more outrage.

26 posted on 10/27/2017 8:47:27 AM PDT by wbill
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To: Caipirabob

Now, for the first time that I can see, they are finally admitting that the anthem protests are the major driver in their business “metrics” falling apart.

What they don’t understand is that this will have the effect an affair has on a marriage. It was a bond of trust between fans & football. This cannot be restored now, no matter what they do.


27 posted on 10/27/2017 8:52:26 AM PDT by LS ("Castles Made of Sand, Fall in the Sea . . . Eventually" (Hendrix))
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To: wbill

The opposite of love is not hate. The opposite is indifference. I really don’ give a crap about the NFL any more.


28 posted on 10/27/2017 9:00:56 AM PDT by JusPasenThru (America has two types of fascists: fascists and antifascists.)
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To: Snickering Hound
Anna Isaacson, the NFL's vice president of social responsibility...

VP of social responsibility? Part of the NFL's problem is that such a position exists.

The league's business executives ripped it, accusing Isaacson -- who had joined the NFL after working in merchandising and community relations for baseball's Brooklyn Cyclones...

Had to look it up... The Brooklyn Cyclones are an A-ball club. Big leap from there to the head offices of the NFL.

29 posted on 10/27/2017 9:21:10 AM PDT by Rummyfan (In any war between the civilized man and the savage, support the civilized man. Support Israel.)
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To: LS

Very well said.


30 posted on 10/27/2017 9:37:34 AM PDT by LouisianaJoanof Arc (#I'mWithHim #MAGA)
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To: Snickering Hound
'Vice President for Social Responsibility'...

And therein lies the problem...

31 posted on 10/27/2017 9:59:11 AM PDT by ripnbang ("An armed man is a citizen, an unarmed man, a subject.")
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To: Rummyfan
p07

Seabiscui...Anna Isaacson has more input on football and the NFL than the fans.

And pulls down a bigger salary than anyone reading this.

Thanks, Goodell...

32 posted on 10/27/2017 10:05:07 AM PDT by Snickering Hound
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To: fortheDeclaration

Your local tee shirt shop can make you one.


33 posted on 10/27/2017 11:03:50 AM PDT by jch10 (I STAND FOR MY COUNTRY, MY FLAG, AND THE NATIONAL ANTHEM.)
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To: GSWarrior

40 to 0 beatdowns are not good for ratings either.

i liked it...


34 posted on 10/27/2017 11:11:31 AM PDT by teeman8r (Armageddon won't be pretty, but it's not like it's the end of the world.)
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To: Zakeet

I guess both the owners and the players need a good old fashion lesson in economics...


35 posted on 10/27/2017 6:58:50 PM PDT by Beave Meister (Leave the gun. Take the cannoli....)
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To: Caipirabob
I'll tell the truth...I could care less if these animals stand up for our flag, but they should stay in the locker room while the rest of us spend a couple of minutes thinking about why we can spend Sunday afternoons watching or playing a stupid game...

let them keep their arrogance and their ignorance to themselves!

36 posted on 10/27/2017 7:05:51 PM PDT by cherry
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To: cherry

It’s shocking that Goodell and most owners can bury their heads in sand and completely ignore the signs of death of the NFL. Too bad, but you can’t fix stupid. I’ll sit back and enjoy the demise, rather than than action....it’s just as intriguing.


37 posted on 10/28/2017 5:00:49 AM PDT by chiller (If liberals didn't have double standards, they'd have none at all.)
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To: Zakeet
apparently a letter to the editor from one of our Florida newspapers.

nfl_letter_to_editor

38 posted on 10/29/2017 11:35:44 AM PDT by SoFloFreeper
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