The more the NFL "plots" and tries to "finesse" this shameful issue—and the less sober-minded reflection on the actual facts—the worse things are going to get for these idiots.
Nothing short of an abject and heartfelt mea culpa—by the players, the team owners, and the league management—will save the NFL at this point.
The NFL is apparently too conceited to understand what's going on—that anything can happen in America. The current and former fans could drop the league in a heartbeat, like some rotten hot potato, if given the opportunity of consuming a superior entertainment product.
Hey NFL: you don't own the fans—the fans own you. You live and die according to our whims. You got that, bitch?
America is the land of unlimited possibilities. Eventually, some shrewd entrepreneurs will come along, seize this golden opportunity, and completely change the course of football history.
With the avowed goal of getting back to actually playing the game of football—and conducting the business of entertaining fans—instead of spitting on them and insulting their country—someone, somewhere is going to take advantage of this situation and—by doing do—Make Football Great Again...
If McMahon can be persuaded to drop the reviving the XFL idea. (particularly drop the rule changes for now dangerous play!) Revive something like the USFL he probably could immediately walk off with 25% to 30% of the fan base.