Have the protests caused you to watch the NFL less?

[PhoenixEagles1]

I ignore the protests just like I ignore all liberal crybabies.

We are crybabies. I agree. I've been crying nonstop that Trump is giving billionaires a trillion dollar tax break that the country can not afford because, well billionaires have it really hard. He is taking the money from our Health care system which will lead to a reported 10 to 15 thousand needless deaths each and every year because of lack of coverage. I wonder why he'd want to hook up billionaires. Oh thats right. I forgot.
15,000 people are going to die every year, needlessly, because billionaires desperately need a HUGE, unaffordable tax break. Yeah, I am crying about that.

 

[broncosmitty]

The ever increasing gayness of the league isn't helping.

And I'm gonna puke if this faux patriotism keeps going.

But no, I usually smoke cigarettes during the NA anyway.

 

[TheStarOne]

no

The quality of play has hurt the NFL.
Injuries have hurt the NFL.
Aaron Rogers,Deshawn Watson, JJ Watt,Andrew Luck,OBJ, Carson Palmer.
There really aren't any complete teams.

 

[richig07]

From a hardcore football fan, who was phased by none of this last year. Here is my long-winded, self-important take... which I didn't intend to be so long winded. However, this is a league that I am pretty passionate about.

For the last 15 years, during NFL season. It's been everything I've looked forward to. I planned everything, to make sure I had nothing going on during Sunday's and/or Bears games. I don't know, something has certainly changed this year. I straight up FORGOT about the TNF game yesterday until like 10 PM, then turned it on. Normally, I'd not only know it was coming, but look forward to it all day and even know the inactives for both teams.

I am a true NFL fan... a student of it's history. I love watching all of those old NFL films pieces, to learn about the greats. I love stories even about the old dynasties of the leather helmet Bears and Packers. Sammy Baugh... Unitas. The Ice Bowl. The Steel Curtain. All of those old America's Game episodes? Forget about it! The best! Love it! I can recite off of the top of my head, the starting 22 for the 1985 Chicago Bears. Along with their nickel back, change of pace back, kicker, punter and a few reserves. This shit is ingrained into who I am. If that's pathetic to some people... fuck em!

I got into football as a kid in the year of 2001. Yes, it was a rough start with 9/11 occurring just before Week 2... BUT... My Bears had a MAGICAL 13-3 season out of nowhere. You had Favre lighting it up, the greatest show on turf, McNabb/Reid's Eagles emerged, Peyton was really coming on in a huge way, Brady dynasty begins, The Tuck Rule game, Brady gets hurt in the ensuing AFC Title game, but Bledsoe goes and upsets Pittsburgh. Then they start Brady in the Super Bowl anyway as 14 point underdogs... and Brady pulls a hugely dramatic upset. That was probably the biggest SB upset since Namath at the time. What... a... year.

To me, if you want to protest... that's your right. It has nothing to do with me agreeing or disagreeing. But this year it is just a CONSTANT stream of drama being thrown at you. From the protests, the political posturing now from each side. The political/social figures more and more using the NFL as a statement. Whether it's the right, talking about the ratings dip, spewing this ridiculous over the top patriotism... or the left using Kaep and other black athletes to talk about inequality.

"Did you hear what Cam said!"... "Yeah, but Gronk (white guy) made a 69 implication once, after he scored his 69th touchdown! RACIAL BIAS!".... UGH! I want to puke. It's exhausting.

Now this stupid thing in Houston... to pair up with this NEVER ending Zeke thing. Kaep files suit against the NFL. It's just like... IT ALL NEVER ENDS.

Remember when you could just tune into ESPN or NFL Network... and the talk was just about "how are the Broncos going to take down the Chiefs in this big AFC West showdown?"... "Brady vs Manning: part whatever..."??? I know those aspects are still there, but it's not the same. Not even close.

I literally just tapped out of politics a few months back, because it's too much right now. Now, it's like the NFL is too much apart of all that same aspect of society. It's like it's own fucking political platform now... instead of just a god damn football league. I literally had to just tune out of Sunday morning pre-game shows a few times this year, for a full segment because of it. How can I just ignore it anymore, you know? It's constantly in the way of my football viewing experience.

Kneeling was originally making a statement, but now STANDING is making a damn statement? What could I do if I was a player? CROUCH? Lol... Fuckin a man.

Remember in 2014 with the whole Ray Rice thing? How the talk was; "It's getting hard to watch these guys. When it's clear that so many possess zero character, and nobody hiring them cares."... Then to try and eradicate that. The NFL starts pushing their players to push their "platform" (which is really where all of this started, if you think about it). Then, everybody had a platform... yada-yada. Then THAT all boils over into this. Now, just three years later. Many of the same people who criticized them in 2014... Oh my gosh. These guys are heroes! They should have a voice! They're making change in society!... Again... PUKE!

I'm just exhausted a bit by it all. Go ahead and kneel, don't kneel, speak out... it's your right as an American. Just personally, as a loyal consumer of the NFL's product. I am under no obligation to stick around and view/listen to it.

I just want my football back... That's all

Biggest TL;DR of all-time... sorry. lol

 

[PhoenixEagles1]

I dont get why anyone would stop watching. Kapernick said over and over and over this has nothing to do with our veterans. There are somethings that need to be fixed for the better yet some people just cant understand that. Then the 2nd waive of protests were aimed at our ding bat president. Then the 3rd wave was at an owner who called his employees criminals. Not once did they mention veterans.

 

[Cave_Johnson]

Colin Kaepernick being a retard doesn't stop me from doing anything.

Honestly I probably watch the NFL more because, as bad as the officiating is, it's isn't nearly as god awful as college football with those fucking targeting calls.

 

[broncosmitty]

From a hardcore football fan, who was phased by none of this last year. Here is my long-winded, self-important take... which I didn't intend to be so long winded. However, this is a league that I am pretty passionate about.

For the last 15 years, during NFL season. It's been everything I've looked forward to. I planned everything, to make sure I had nothing going on during Sunday's and/or Bears games. I don't know, something has certainly changed this year. I straight up FORGOT about the TNF game yesterday until like 10 PM, then turned it on. Normally, I'd not only know it was coming, but look forward to it all day and even know the inactives for both teams.

I am a true NFL fan... a student of it's history. I love watching all of those old NFL films pieces, to learn about the greats. I love stories even about the old dynasties of the leather helmet Bears and Packers. Sammy Baugh... Unitas. The Ice Bowl. The Steel Curtain. All of those old America's Game episodes? Forget about it! The best! Love it! I can recite off of the top of my head, the starting 22 for the 1985 Chicago Bears. Along with their nickel back, change of pace back, kicker, punter and a few reserves. This shit is ingrained into who I am. If that's pathetic to some people... fuck em!

I got into football as a kid in the year of 2001. Yes, it was a rough start with 9/11 occurring just before Week 2... BUT... My Bears had a MAGICAL 13-3 season out of nowhere. You had Favre lighting it up, the greatest show on turf, McNabb/Reid's Eagles emerged, Peyton was really coming on in a huge way, Brady dynasty begins, The Tuck Rule game, Brady gets hurt in the ensuing AFC Title game, but Bledsoe goes and upsets Pittsburgh. Then they start Brady in the Super Bowl anyway as 14 point underdogs... and Brady pulls a hugely dramatic upset. That was probably the biggest SB upset since Namath at the time. What... a... year.

To me, if you want to protest... that's your right. It has nothing to do with me agreeing or disagreeing. But this year it is just a CONSTANT stream of drama being thrown at you. From the protests, the political posturing now from each side. The political/social figures more and more using the NFL as a statement. Whether it's the right, talking about the ratings dip, spewing this ridiculous over the top patriotism... or the left using Kaep and other black athletes to talk about inequality.

"Did you hear what Cam said!"... "Yeah, but Gronk (white guy) made a 69 implication once, after he scored his 69th touchdown! RACIAL BIAS!".... UGH! I want to puke. It's exhausting.

Now this stupid thing in Houston... to pair up with this NEVER ending Zeke thing. Kaep files suit against the NFL. It's just like... IT ALL NEVER ENDS.

Remember when you could just tune into ESPN or NFL Network... and the talk was just about "how are the Broncos going to take down the Chiefs in this big AFC West showdown?"... "Brady vs Manning: part whatever..."??? I know those aspects are still there, but it's not the same. Not even close.

I literally just tapped out of politics a few months back, because it's too much right now. Now, it's like the NFL is too much apart of all that same aspect of society. It's like it's own fucking political platform now... instead of just a god damn football league. I literally had to just tune out of Sunday morning pre-game shows a few times this year, for a full segment because of it. How can I just ignore it anymore, you know? It's constantly in the way of my football viewing experience.

Kneeling was originally making a statement, but now STANDING is making a damn statement? What could I do if I was a player? CROUCH? Lol... Fuckin a man.

Remember in 2014 with the whole Ray Rice thing? How the talk was; "It's getting hard to watch these guys. When it's clear that so many possess zero character, and nobody hiring them cares."... Then to try and eradicate that. The NFL starts pushing their players to push their "platform" (which is really where all of this started, if you think about it). Then, everybody had a platform... yada-yada. Then THAT all boils over into this. Now, just three years later. Many of the same people who criticized them in 2014... Oh my gosh. These guys are heroes! They should have a voice! They're making change in society!... Again... PUKE!

I'm just exhausted a bit by it all. Go ahead and kneel, don't kneel, speak out... it's your right as an American. Just personally, as a loyal consumer of the NFL's product. I am under no obligation to stick around and view/listen to it.

I just want my football back... That's all

Biggest TL;DR of all-time... sorry. lol

I actually read that in its entirety, with no breaks. Cover to cover.


Paul Edinger can still fuck right off.

 

[richig07]

I dont get why anyone would stop watching. Kapernick said over and over and over this has nothing to do with our veterans. There are somethings that need to be fixed for the better yet some people just cant understand that. Then the 2nd waive of protests were aimed at our ding bat president. Then the 3rd wave was at an owner who called his employees criminals. Not once did they mention veterans.

My above post, I think echoes why a lot of long-time NFL fans may be a bit turned-off by all of this.

Then the 3rd wave was at an owner who called his employees criminals.

Lol... See, this is what I'm talking about in my above post. This intellectual dishonesty, from both sides. It's not just one.

"He called his players prisoners!" Oh, grow up. You're better than this.

He used an analogy that has been around for what? A century? "Can't have the inmates running the asylum"... "Can't have the inmates running the prison". I think my junior high school dean used that on a regular basis, as did many of my bosses over the years. It's a fucking analogy, that's been around for how long now? Just to say, that if you are the head of an organization. There has to be protocol and order to it. It cannot be a free for all. Nobody cares about context or truth anymore. Just looking for a reason to stir the pot, and posture against the other side on these issues.

Again, this is both sides who do this.

There are somethings that need to be fixed for the better yet some people just cant understand that.

Another thing... what are these "things"? Just, generally speaking... you want equality? What laws or bills can be passed to help? What is the end game? That's the only time protests work. Is when you are trying to get something specific accomplished. When you're just vague like that, it gets us nowhere. You can always just sit here and say "things are not fair yet". At this time, there is no reasoning or logic behind this protest. It's just "this isn't fair!"... Okay... what? What do you want done so it can be? Name a starting point on what isn't fair. Let's work something out. This is just one big "racism" cry, as it appears right now.

It's not going to end, until there is a path laid out for us to get there. Again, not even taking a side. Just telling ya...

You ever see a Union protest of any kind? Teachers, construction workers... etc... They have DEMANDS. lol. They don't just stop working and picket that "this isn't fair!".... "Uh... Okay, what isn't fair? What do you want, so we can get back to work?"... "IT'S JUST NOT FAIR!"

LMAO... could you imagine that? That whole teacher district would be stuck with scabs for the rest of it's existence.

yet some people just cant understand that

And there's things you cannot understand about opposing sides as well. Clearly.

Not once did they mention veterans.

Dude, stop with the veterans thing. Christ. Not what fans dropping off is about. That's just political posturing from politicians on the right, to add to the fire. The vast majority of normal people don't think anyone's calling out veterans. Jesus. Get a clue.

If you want to start on getting that clue, please... just read my above post. It's not about agreeing or disagreeing. I am fine with anyone protesting as an American, expressing their opinion. It's just... it's too exhausting for some people who just love the game. A LOT of people want their entertainment/sports as an escape from all that. When it gets in the way, it just gets to be a bit much. It never stops in this league now.

I don't disagree with anyone, I don't agree with anyone. I just miss football, when it was football. People supporting the protests, don't seem to get that. They think the fans losing interest, are taking some kind of a political stance against it. No! It's the OPPOSITE. I'm just sick of it taking over a league that I love. I'm all tapped out of politics right now, and this is becoming a central part of it all.

I'll add that, I'm not completely gone from the league, in the least. It would be next to impossible to get me to stop watching the Bears. However, the rest of it? Meh... I'm just not as immersed in it all as I have been throughout my life.

 

[richig07]

Colin Kaepernick being a retard doesn't stop me from doing anything.

Honestly I probably watch the NFL more because, as bad as the officiating is, it's isn't nearly as god awful as college football with those fucking targeting calls.

The officiating is what it is man... Almost an impossible sport to officiate. I think it's impressive that do as well as they do. Middle-aged men trying to keep up, stay out of the way of 22 heat seeking missiles and watch every move they make. While it flies around you at 100 MPH.

 

[Darrell Green Fan]

Isn't "no" the same as "same as before" in this situation?

First thing I thought as I was voting. OP must be on medical marijuana or something.

 

[PatsFan2003]

They're over-extended. Too much football with too few teams and good matchups..

That's been the problem for me for the last few years..

Considering I rarely watched the national anthem before the game that's a big no

 

[Balljim55]

I'm watching the same amount of football but I watch much less pre-game programming due to the influx of social issues. I never turn on ESPN unless there is no other option to watch a game I'm interested in.

 

[Battlelyon]

I can understand people being upset about the protest, and not wanting to go the games or watch. There is nothing wrong with not wanting to join a protest or to watch a protest, particularly at your favorite off time activity. Then the media piles on insulting peoples intelligence that don't want to see the protests and telling them if they are against the protest they are racist or some other derogatory statement. Not one person wants to pay their money to watch a protest. How many stories of players protesting in their off time is there? The average football watching person can't protest on company time on their company property.

 

[Dr. Strangelove]

I watch the same as I always have. I completely ignore the other stuff and I have never watched the National Anthems in any sport, period so it just doesn't matter to me.
I do agree that the TV talking heads coverage of it is more annoying than anything but I flip the channel or hit the mute button when they start yapping about it.

 

[RobBase]

Yes.

I watch the games, but I no longer watch any pre or post game stuff, no ESPN, no PFT etc...

I'm simply not retarded enough to sit through those political shows, but kudos to those who are.

 

[Godstree]

I do not watch any lions games. Before I would catch a few. I also would watch some Bears but not now. I flip on Thursday nights and monday nights where as before I wouldn't.

Cowboy games for sure and sprinkle in a glimpse or two of other games. Before I would watch so much more as well as the lions game. But the lions game was to see how they would pull off a miraculous loss.

 

[night]

Yes. I still watch but not like I used to.

 

[night]

Colin Kaepernick being a retard doesn't stop me from doing anything.

Honestly I probably watch the NFL more because, as bad as the officiating is, it's isn't nearly as god awful as college football with those fucking targeting calls.

They should at least be honest and just say they are throwing a flag for hitting someone too hard. It seems like the majority of them are clean hits leading with the shoulder where the defender made a punishing hit.

 

[Wazmankg]

They have no impact on my interest. After this years initial flurry of publicity and the president weighing in, there's been little if any mention of it during the actual game broadcasts and I don't watch the talking head shows on espn or any of the other sports channels. So the only time I'm really exposed to the issue is on here with the various outrage threads about it.

Fox doesn't even show the anthem before Lions games anymore. I haven't really noticed it before the other games. But I've rarely focused on a game broadcast until kickoff in the past and it's still like that. I haven't attended a game since this became a thing, but I never paid attention before to what the players were doing when the anthem was played and doubt I would now... maybe if I heard booing from the crowd I'd look around to see what that was all about. Much ado about nothing.

 

[SteelersPride]

Me personally no, but its annoying

i work with geriatrics, and older folk, and their loved ones, are not watching bc of it..........i hear it daily