Wow, when I saw the “Real Clear” heading, I thought it would be okay, like “Real Clear Politics”.
NOT A SINGLE ONE OF THE TEN POINTS HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE MECHANICS OF THE GAME ITSELF. And half of the problems are unique to the NFL.
Some of the commentary was self-contradictory. For instance, we are over-saturated with football, but it’s too bad that NFL teams only get to play 16-20 meaningful games a year.
Pretty much every single one of his complaints is solved without having to resort to watching soccer.
The NHL has everything soccer does (continuous action, satisfying play even when goals aren’t scored, fewer injuries than football, rabid fans), plus international players (if that’s your desire) in two countries, 82 games instead of 38, generous playoff provisions where almost anyone with a winning record gets in, plus an extended playoff round to make sure that a bad team doesn’t make the finals based on luck.
Best of all it is all done at three times the speed of soccer and on skates. That is skill. Heck, even Bo Jackson didn’t pretend to be able to play hockey.
And hockey has hitting. Major difference.
If you could check someone into the boards in soccer, that might make it more interesting...