[steve-b]

The law may be on their side, but this is a stupid and unnecessary PR fiasco in the making....

[Red Badger]

Just how does this violate NFL copyrights? This is stupid...........

[ml/nj]

Didn't we do this last year?

ML/NJ

[cinives]

So who cares whether you are watching on 1 huge screen or on 15 smaller screens - it’s still a broadcast, for Pete’s sake.

Dumb, really dumb.

[The Louiswu]

The NFL pulled this crap with a church here in Indy. Finally at the 11th hour the NFL caved due to PR pressure.

I wish the NFL would pull it's head out of it's butt and stop pulling these kinds of legal stunts.

[Always Right]

They did this last year against some churches in Indianapolis. Not sure what the NFL really thinks they are gaining.

[Richard Kimball]

They've been doing it for several years. I have no idea how it hurts them for churches to have parties and watch the Super Bowl. The NFL can control media coverage to some extent, as most of the sports press (ABCCBSNBCFOXESPN) all have contracts with Fox and are business partners. They actually function as the public relations arm of the NFL.

The NFL has always done weird things, but they make a ton of money doing it.

[Man50D]

The league bans public exhibitions of its games on TV sets or screens larger than 55 inches because smaller sets limit the audience size.

Churches could always install more than one screen/TV under 55 inches.

[Biblebelter]

I do not have the attention span to watch a lot of the Super Bowl and will watch some of it like I watch all sports on televisions without the sound. That said, I am not sure why Churches would want to have Super Bowl parties. If there is something called worldliness as mentioned in the Bible, then there is no greater public celebration of worldliness than the Super Bowl. If individuals want to watch the Super Bowl so be it, but churches should not be feel wronged if the NFL will not allow them to pimp for it.

[Disturbin]

I have an 8-foot screen at home, but won’t be watching the game due to lack of cable and reception.

This sort of so-called ban by the NFL is ridiculous. After the kind of garbage they allow during the half-time show, are they really in a position to deny church parties? Do they ban bars and clubs from showing the bowl?

We have a group of people watching the bowl game at the rod and gun club, but I believe our TV is 48” or so.

I wonder when 55” will change as the cutoff point?

[SamAdams76]

Well I think it’s stupid of the NFL to do this but on the other hand, I’m somewhat amazed that churches these days show football games. When I went to church as a kid, it was always serious all the time. The thought of showing a football game in church was unthinkable and about a dozen old ladies would instantly die of a heart attack if the priest even brought up the idea.

[AnnGora]

Wow. I always thought churches had services on Sunday evening to worship God, not football. Although He is the same: yesterday, today, and forever, some churches apparently feel the need to evolve with the times. Next thing you know, they will be having drive thru servi...

uh, wait a minute...

[Screaming_Gerbil]

Maybe I am a bit confused here, but I don’t see how Churches and the Super Bowl go together.

Maybe they are not mutually exclusive, but it’s not exactly a religous message I think - and should a church be where people gather together to watch the Super Bowl?

I Wonder how something like that half-time Janet Jackson breast exposure act would go over if it was being shown in church...

[Wolfie]

Fiasco? I think not. Americans are rabid for Pro Football.

[Tanniker Smith]

But it’s okay to watch in bars???

[Arcy]

The NFL is anti-family, anti-community, and anti-church. What does it matter where and how many watch this "game" when almost all of the attendees are paying inflated rates for cable television at their own homes?

[Red in Blue PA]

Soon you will need to count the number of people in your living room who are watching the game and pay for each person.

This is simply: Capitalism run amok!

And sadly, many here will defend this form of capitalism, where the laws are used as a bludgeon.

[OrioleFan]

I guess the advertizers on the 6 hours of hype and 5 hours of game and post game have nothing to say about a smaller audience...

[Anonymous Rex]

If you can watch it on a big-screen in a bar you can watch it on a big-screen in a church. The NFL needs to pay a price for this.

[metesky]

How are they going to know?

Maybe some of the undercover cops lurking around your church (or favorite bar) will have to come out in the open, eh?

[OKSooner]

Bean-counters and lawyers at work.