Surprise, surprise, surprise!
Posted on 07/31/2017 11:34:28 AM PDT by Thistooshallpass9
The NFL took a massive ratings dive last year after a number of players, led by former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, refused to stand for the National Anthem. At the time, NFL officials claimed they didn't exactly know why ratings were down and even used the 2016 presidential election as an excuse for why more people weren't watching.
But according to a new survey from J.D. Power, NFL fans did in fact tune out in droves because of the disrespect and protest of the National Anthem before games. From ESPN:
National anthem protests were the top reason that NFL fans watched fewer games last season, according to a new survey released by J.D. Power.
The pollster said it asked more than 9,200 people who attended either one football, basketball or hockey game whether they tuned into fewer games and why. Twenty-six percent of those who watched fewer games last season said that national anthem protests, some of which were led by Colin Kaepernick, were the reason.
After that, 24 percent of those surveyed who said they watched fewer games said they did so either because of the league's off-the-field image issues with domestic violence or with game delays, including penalties. After being dropped from the 49ers last year, sports pundits and fellow players have accused anyone and everyone of racism for Kaepernick's failure to resign with another team. Turns out he's not only a bad quarterback, but a business liability.
Patriotism is still winning in America and that's a good thing. Here's to hoping this season comes with more respect on the field from players who are privileged to live in the greatest country on earth.
That’s a big part of it to be sure.
Another factor is the overall Thuggishness of players today, and the constant stories of players being arrested.
I stopped watching after 50 years.
Don’t miss it.
Too late for them to decide what nation their are the football league of.
They knew it at the time. NFL football is one of the most heavily market-researched products on television and has been for years. I think they’d hoped to ride it out.
Young kids are not into the NFL.
NFL lost fan loyalty by changing the team names and locations too many times.
Surprise, surprise, surprise!
Years ago a game would take from 2 3/4 hours to 3 hours to play. Now games take about 3 1/2 hours .
Why do they have a bloc of commercials after the scoring at, come back for the kickoff, then delay the game another few minutes at that point for another commercial Bloc? It interrupt the flow of the game.
And what do girl sideline reporters add to the game? Why are they all girls?
What's obscene is not that there are idiots of the caliber of Kaepernik in the NFL. It's that the NFL didn't have the guts to at the very least say stay in the locker room until after the Pledge, that no employee was going to disrespect the flag on company time.
Many NFL players need full time baby sitters. They shouldn't be given second chances when they break laws or tolerance when they pull stuff like Kaepernik did.
I know few kids that watch or can even name a team I gave it up after John Madden and Pat Sommerall hung it up I or we watch the super bowl every year its just an excuse for some family and friends to share a meal and a drink and goof on the commercials
I recall reading months ago that while the NFL ratings were down, college football ratings did not exhibit a comparable drop.
To me, that was compelling evidence that this was an “NFL problem” and not a broader drop in interest in football.
Maybe I’m remembering it wrong.
Last year was the last straw for me.
The days of Dandy Don, Cosell, and Gifford are gone.
The thug NFL has arrived. Whatever.
Lots of truth in that. I took a hiatus from the NFL when the Rams left LA. I still had faith in my two other fav's the Seahawks (lived in Seattle when they opened in 1976) and the Cowboys (family from Texas). Still love the Hawks and the 'Boys but the Rams are anathema.
“The pollster said it asked more than 9,200 people who attended either one football, basketball or hockey game whether they tuned into fewer games and why.”
So, bad as the poll results are, they don’t even take into account two large segments of boycotters:
- Those who didn’t attend even a single game
- Those who never attend games to begin with, and have now also stopped watching broadcasts
“The pollster said it asked more than 9,200 people who attended either one football, basketball or hockey game whether they tuned into fewer games and why.”
So, bad as the poll results are, they don’t even take into account two large segments of boycotters:
- Those who didn’t attend even a single game
- Those who never attend games to begin with, and have now also stopped watching broadcasts
I quit watching last year because of the National Anthem and I won’t be coming back.
A storyline of League conspiracy plays into Liberal media and Kapernick victimization excuse. The fact is he is a read option gimmick Quarterback in a time that defenses caught up with this offensive wrinkle and defeated it. His limited pocket passing skills render him to backup status at best and he is seeking a starting job only.
I call this the Colin Kaepernick copper clapper caper.
I should have added because of the response of the NFL — it refused to stop it.
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