Fantasy Football is killing the NFL (1 Viewer)

[NOONAN]

what was the logic that it has ruined the fans? that people root for their players over their nfl team players? it has done wonders for the ratings, that's for sure. Especially for lopsided games.

Yes, that was his point. That people players care more about the player's stats money than if the team won the game the fans of their team.

Yep, his point was the fans are now just like the players.I say good for us, we learned it from the players and owners.

My thoughts, exactly!!! If they want TEAM loyalty from the fans, scrap free agency. Can you imagine Elway as anything but a Bronco??? Montana as anything but a niner....nevermind.

 

[Liquid Tension]

They are wrong. FF did not ruin the NFL. It's just a sidegame.The NFL has been ruined by:1) Free Agency2) No capped rookie salaries3) Overexposure4) My team sucks5) Corporate money1) Free agency looks great for the players, but its also the reason fans can't get into their teams as much. It is hard to root for players that have previous attachments to other teams and are likely to leave within 3 years to go to a rival. For me, Portis is tough to get overly excited about, knowing that his guaranteed money will run up in 2 years and he'll be whining for a new contract, then get traded for a 6th rounder. I'd rather track my Hokies in the NFL...Michael Vick, Bruce Smith, Kevin Jones, Tapp, Williams, Hall, Engelberger, etc....they will always be Hokies and will never move for more money to some other U.2) Guys coming in the league and getting paid on potential is a major disaster. I'd rather see veterans getting paid, than a guy like Williams, Bush, Ferguson, etc. Make them put in their 3 years, then play the market (since #1 is unlikely to change). Teams have to tie way too many cap resources, and risks, into drafted players.3) I used to get excited to watch the Skins game on Sunday, then catch some MNF if the teams were good. Now I can get info on the web, NFL Network....everywhere. I guess it deadens my happiness in seeing a game. You can say, just turn it off, but to a certain extent this is where FF won't let me.4) WAS blows right now. The stadium went to ####### Eastern MD. Parking and travel to get there, and flop down $100/ticket, just aren't worth it when I can watch it on TV with my kids. I've turned down free tickets to 4 games this year, because of #5.. 5) The teams and league have sold out to the corporate dollar. I guess if I owned a team or played in the league, I would have too. All the ads don't bother me, but the quality of the fan at an NFL game does. It's usually some corporate guy with his buddies or family that has almost no interest in the Skins. They are there to be seen, not for the action on the field. This is beyond true in WAS. Watch any game and the mid-level deck (sold mainly to corporations) is empty. The people in the suites are too busy stuffing crabcakes in their mouth to even watch the game. Some cities still have the heart (PHI, NY, CHI, KC)....but going to WAS games has become beyond lame.

Good post, but I think you are forgetting the referees controlling so much of the game and how instant replay has really ruined the experience for me. First, the incredibly inconsistent calls that are crucial in games can't be overturned. 35 yard Pass interference, holding calls and defensive holding/illegal chuck on 3rd and 30 giving an auto 1st down. Calls like that can change a game and we have seen so many games that were over that ended up going the other way. I am not trying to complain about a specific game, but the officiating has been awful and I can't stand waiting and losing momentum in a game while the officials review a 5 yard play with 1 minute to go in the game. It is sucking the life out of the games. The network showing replays should be impact how the games are called on the field (in terms of reviews). I also liked when you went out of bounds the clock actually stopped so we gout to see MORE football plays. IR made the games go too long so they changed the rules (yes I know they put more ads in also)

 

[s_ezy]

Here is my question......How many of you would have the sunday ticket if there was no fantasy football? Exactly. NFL is some way shape or form is making a lot of money off this not to mention Direct TV.

being a football fan lead me to fantasy football, not the other way around

 

[cowboyz]

the best part of that episode was shanahan questioning why anyone would want to know who's the starting runningback

 

[yetiknight]

I benched Tony Romo and Terry Glenn vs. the Giants last week. It didn't end up costing me, but I can't stand rooting for players against my team.

 

[Tag]

the most enjoyable weekend of football seems to be the weekend after i've been eliminated from my fantasy playoffs

I have a hard time watching football if I dont have fantasy players to root for. I think thats why I dont watch college football. :(

 

[AsimoV]

I love fantasy football. I also love the saints and have season tickets with some buddies. If I had a nickel for everytime we'd be up by a couple of posessions entering the 4th quarter and one of them would call for an opposing player to score a TD "since we're safe", I'd have an assload of nickels. It's certainly not killing the NFL. What it IS doing is killing off the true meaning of the word "fan" as well as greatly over-estimating the importance of individual statistics. This is a game of teamwork and heart, not averages. The last thing I want football to turn into is baseball, where every man is an island, and it could certainly be argued that this is coming to pass.

 

[Phurfur]

what was the logic that it has ruined the fans? that people root for their players over their nfl team players? it has done wonders for the ratings, that's for sure. Especially for lopsided games.

Yes, that was his point. That people care more about the player's stats than if the team won the game.

Wow, just like the real players.

 

[mchaps55]

I love fantasy football but it makes nfl games not what they used to be for me. I'm a diehard dolphin fan but years later after doing fantasy football I find myself rooting more for my fantasy team then the team I love. Watching an nfl game from start to finish is something I somewhat miss but with direc tv and fantasy football I find myself not being able to do it with all my players playing ect. You just keep flippin and flippin.

 

[tdk_316]

As a lifelong Lions fan, FF is all I have :(

 

[Kiddnets]

I love fantasy football but it makes nfl games not what they used to be for me. I'm a diehard dolphin fan but years later after doing fantasy football I find myself rooting more for my fantasy team then the team I love. Watching an nfl game from start to finish is something I somewhat miss but with direc tv and fantasy football I find myself not being able to do it with all my players playing ect. You just keep flippin and flippin.

I can admit it....I love fantasy football but it has grown into an obsession for me - I used to just care about the Jets but now I delve into every move on every team. I watch football from 1pm to midnight on Sunday - pissing off my wife the entire day. At least I know I have a problem! I used to get so pissed off at my games that I would be in a crappy mood - I now have calmed down and just roll with it no matter what happens - I'm still obsessed but at least I've put it into perspective.

 

[delusional]

If anything FF has gotten me more involved in the NFL by not just following my hometown team

edit: but people hate to watch games with me cause i ##### constantly when FF is involved lol

 

[Gr00vus]

The things that have "killed" the NFL, and pro sports in general are 24 hour media coverage and the transition from private to corporate ownership and influence.

The corporate ownership is the more obvious one. Sure there were always a few rogue owners who did crazy things, but for the most part teams used to be run as a family business type thing, and most of the owners really really wanted to win. The teams weren't profit centers, they were toys for rich people, and things just felt different. There are a few holdovers from that era still, but for the most part teams are either run by businesses, or if still in private hands they're run as businesses. That's had far reaching effects in sucking some of the innocence and fun out of pro sports. Every year the superbowl is less and less about the two teams playing and more and more about selling commercial time with insane pregame and halftime shows that have absolutely nothing to do with football.

The media thing is less obvious, but possibly more insidious. In the past, yeah you'd hear about the really notably screw ups in players' private lives, or the extremely boneheaded things they'd say, but it wasn't instantaneous and it was tougher to propegate. The advent of 24 hour worldwide sports media coverage has really changed things for the worst I think. Sure you can get some news faster than before, but the trade off is an industry that is now feeding on itself and has really placed itself above the games they're supposed to be covering. All the mountains out of a mole hill that are erected on an hourly basis, all the obnoxious ranting "pundits" spewing their screed (whether they have a point or not) really don't serve to enhance anyone's appreciation of the games - they're just the male version of the National Enquirer, Entertainment Tonight and Joan Rivers.

I really miss the days when the games would start when they were announced to be started. I miss the days when I didn't have to hear some gawd awful Pink song for however long before kick off. I miss the days when they'd show highlights (with Howard Cosell narrating) all through halftime instead of some mushmouthed useless Jim Grey interview. I miss the days when they'd actually talk about the game during the game instead of using it as a platform to promote Desparate Houswives by having whatsherface blabber on and on through the 3rd quarter (oh by the way the home team just scored a touchdown).

Maybe fantasy football has worsened the effect of those things by enlarging the potential audience, but I don't think it's the primary cause.

I'm a Charger fan 1st and foremost. If I'm playing against LaDainian and he scores, maybe there's a brief twinge, but it's brief and the Chargers getting a W and playing well is much more enjoyable than a fantasy win.

 

[The Hank]

He's probably mad because he has been dropped in every league including the one he is in ; )

Not only that, he probably owned himself. Double whammy--he lost his starting job and his fantasy team stinks because he doesn't have a good qb.

He probably saw it coming and dropped himself for Jay Cutler, or tried to get some value by trading himself before he got benched.

 

[lions327]

what was the logic that it has ruined the fans? that people root for their players over their nfl team players? it has done wonders for the ratings, that's for sure. Especially for lopsided games.

Yes, that was his point. That people players care more about the player's stats money than if the team won the game the fans of their team.

Yep, his point was the fans are now just like the players.I say good for us, we learned it from the players and owners.

My thoughts, exactly!!! If they want TEAM loyalty from the fans, scrap free agency. Can you imagine Elway as anything but a Bronco??? Montana as anything but a niner....nevermind.

 

[Sigmund Bloom]

FF is not actually affecting the product on the field. It might change our perceptions of the game, but it does not change the game.

 

[MileHigh]

So I can only speak for myself, but to be honest, I had been out of Fantasy for the last two years and can really say that I had pretty much given up watching pro ball and only watched college (those of you with kids will understand how you get busy with life). Anyway, this year I am playing in two different leagues and I actually look forward to Sundays and know pretty much every team and their players, which is a h*ll of a lot better than when I was not even watching a game (last season I did not even watch the Super Bowl, how sad is that?). The two years off actually made me realize how much I really enjoyed it and watching the game. If I had not started playing fantasy again that would definitely not have changed. I still watch college, but now I actually pay attention, for that matter I post in NFL blogs...

As for Jake, maybe he will learn to appreciate Fanstasy because that's his only connection to the game in the future. I would also recommend him picking up Cutler for his dynasty team...

 

[The_Borg]

I think Plummer is a baby. I can't believe that Shanny or any other head coach would give a tinkers damn about us Fantasy Footballers when they make a personnel change. A head coach's job is to put players on the field that gives his team the best chance to win. If any coach bowwed to us, he would not have a job for very long.

 

[Cecil Lammey]

As for Jake, maybe he will learn to appreciate Fanstasy because that's his only connection to the game in the future. I would also recommend him picking up Cutler for his dynasty team...

Fantasy football only enhances the NFL experience. I would rather have a Steelers SB win over a fantasy championship anyday.

 

[Dr. Evil]

I'm a Raider fan. I have been cheering for the Raiders for roughly 30 years. I could care less about my fantasy players when the Raiders are winning.

The only thing fantasy football has changed is that I might watch a Denver game and no longer wish for an old fashioned outbreak of the plague to take out all of their players.......But it would still be funny if they all came down with the stomach flu in time for kickoff. Too funny to put into words the thought of all those orange uniforms stained brown at one end and vomit covered at the other.

Like I said, I'm a Raider fan.

 

[Mario Kart]

Not sure about it hurting football but it has hurt math skills of some players.

 

[Rozelle]

FF definatley changes the way you watch football. The players get exposure from fans they wouldn't get without it, especially on the defensive side of the ball. The revenue is HUGE. Its here to stay, but I'm sure there are some fans who cross the line. When you are have a year like Jake, they are prolly crawlin out the woodwork.

 

[Iron Mike Tomczak]

I had a big reply but my comp froze and I lost it. So im gonna keep this short.

Fantasy Football has done nothing but help the sport, and make the fans more loyal.

We sacrifice our pride, money, and time just to be happy if our hometown boys win. Most football fans (true football fans) use fantasy as a supplement to their existing love of the game. If my Steelers win, I dont give a #### about fantasy, just the same for any other team. But in a year like this one, Fantasy is what drives me to watch the Bears and Vikings play a s h i t- tastic game. I still have gould, johnson, and taylor to watch. I also learn to appreciate the games and how they are played, even sloppy games, cuz its fun in its unpredictability. But my point here, is fantasy makes us even bigger fans of our teams. We sacrifice our fantasy teams for our hometown boys, and any real fan will say that. Any player scoring against our team merely eases the pain if we own the player.

FF also makes people buy jerseys of out of state players, watch out of state/conference games, and even mundane games from teams elimated from the playoffs. Fantasy football generates revenues and viewers, it helps the sport.

Im tired, thats all I got, but screw Plummer, hes a bum. Fantasy is possibly the best thing that ever happened to the NFL.

 

[AsimoV]

Fantasy Football has done nothing but help the sport, and make the fans more loyal.

But my point here, is fantasy makes us even bigger fans of our teams. We sacrifice our fantasy teams for our hometown boys, and any real fan will say that. Any player scoring against our team merely eases the pain if we own the player.

http://forums.footballguys.com/forum/index...=293241&st=The poll on this thread would seem to indicate otherwise. The human mind can rationalize anything it wants to.

 

[Iron Mike Tomczak]

Yeah that poll is somewhat troubling, but the results were still 80 votes for the hometown team, and 57 for the fantasy team. Though it may be somewhat skewed by fantasy, the majority of fans are still loyal to their home team, but not as many as one would think. You have to take into account the detroits, clevelands, arizonas, etc. where the fans have been broken for a long time and fantasy has become more of a realistic chance of winning. More competitive teams will have more loyal fans, since the fans actually have a legitimate shot at a championship.

I see the point in this post that many fans are flip flopping, I actually read that alot in this post, but all in all, the majority of fans are still "true" fans, and the poll reflects that I think.

 

[davidwb]

there are many ways to view this, but one that i like is that i am a more knowlegable fan now that i play ffb. i know many more of the players, know which ones are good or not, and have a much better appreciation for teams outside of my local market. is that a bad thing?

 

[Cunk]

Although I'd rather see the Pats win than my fantasy team win I have no problem with someone who felt the other way. Does your team winning put money in your pocket? Do they have any loyalty to you? Did you have anything to do with the outcome of there games?

 

[Two Deep]

I'm a Raider fan. I have been cheering for the Raiders for roughly 30 years. I could care less about my fantasy players when the Raiders are winning.

The only thing fantasy football has changed is that I might watch a Denver game and no longer wish for an old fashioned outbreak of the plague to take out all of their players.......But it would still be funny if they all came down with the stomach flu in time for kickoff. Too funny to put into words the thought of all those orange uniforms stained brown at one end and vomit covered at the other.

Like I said, I'm a Raider fan.

Whew! Thank God for Fantasy Football