Red Apples, I am with you. And I hope even though you don't seem to be getting alot of support in this thread, I can tell you that I have heard several sports guys say the same thing (I think Peter King was one of them).
I think what a lot of people aren't understanding here (or are just unwilling to miss any of the all mighty draft)is that this is CLEARLY the one biggest and best chance we have as fans to really get the attention of the NFL.
The NFL does not care in september how much the real fans that are following this every day go through and get upset about any of this. Because, in September, or whenever else they decide to play again, people are going to come running back...at least thats what they expect because of our behavior.
HOWEVER, if we all drew a line in the sand, at this early juncture, and REALLY got some momentum behind this and made a REAL impact (media started picking up on the story, etc) and then, by some magical way it actually happened and a significant number of people did NOT watch the draft and people were openly all over the news saying they were not watching: well that my friends would be the shot heard around the world.
IF the NFL actually saw with their own eyes that the fans were fed up with this enough in APRIL to actually say "get your heads out of your butts and get this done" it would frighten them to death. Right now they bank on us rolling over and slurping right back to them. But if they saw a real effort, they would fear losing followship and revenue enough to make them take notice.
The NFL does not want to lose our dollars. The players don't either.
Imagine what the news would report if the NFL had to realize that the fans demanded more and the ratings were pitiful and they weren't invulnerable. Just a year ago when they switched to this format, they did it to (surprise) generate more revenue/following. There were people a year ago saying that this could become like a national holiday; as big as the first round of the NCAA's...must See tv that became an annual event.
And here we stand with the chance to make it happen and people are scoffing at the idea. Saying things like "you'll be a fool if you di it because there isn't going to be any missed time". A year ago at this time EVERYONE said we would never get to THIS point. There was too much money at stake. This was too good to give a black eye. And now we have a decertified union and venom is spewing from the mouths of each side more and more and we are going to court. This MIGHT get ugly people. Don't pretend that you might not lose some season this year.
So why not do a small non-violent silent protest to show where you stand? What do you have to lose? One night of tv that might be meaningless fi there is no league to play in? What do you have to gain? The attention of the entire NFL as you support your fellow fans?
Red Apples, i am with you.
