Has the NFL jumped the shark?

[DTro]

Do any of you ever ask yourselves why you continue to watch the NFL?

Every week it gets worse and worse. The scandals, the blown calls, failed instant replay, strange tackling rules, fines, suspensions, rampant drug use, domestic assaults...and of course sexting.

It’s basically a step above the WWE.

Yes, last night’s game is still ringing in my head, and might have some weight in my opinion, but no matter the outcome of that game, it was just painful to watch, all aspects of it.

The NFL has prided itself on parity and lived by the “any given Sunday” motto, but you know what, it’s not parity any more...it’s mediocrity. Everything is so watered down that it is hard to watch. From something called Todd Bauman throwing 2 TD’s, to a supposed great QB like Cutler throwing 4 INT’s to the same guy in one half, and let's not forget the Dolphins getting hosed by "we couldn't tell who had the ball" excuse. It’s garbage, it really is and now they want to add 2 more weeks to the schedule?? Phooey.

In the end its just entertainment, but the last several years I’ve found hunting and fishing and (believe it or not) video games to be a much more entertaining way to spend the fall season. Plus in the unlikely event that the home team here ever actually wins a championship, what do we get out of it?

In the immortal words of Willy Wonka...”YOU GET NOTHING!!”

[harvey lee]

I still watch many games. There have always been blown calls and there will always be.

As far as the rest, oh well, its gone on forever except now there is a bit more light on these issues.

I still enjoy watching and it is what it is.

[Big Tom]

If a radio is handy and I'm not in the blind or on the bite, I may listen to the Vikings. I haven't planned my Sundays around football in 12 years. I don't miss it at all.

[FISHINGURU]

We need a new coach.

[Steve Foss]

Yeah, I agree with Darren. I "watch" most of my football online now through nfl dot com. Allows me to multitask, and I don't have to sit through as much of the bullsnot.

What does it mean to "jump the shark?"

[rugbymn]

What does it mean to "jump the shark?"

It's a reference to Happy Days. In one of the episodes, Fonzie jumped his motorcycle over a pool with a shark in it. All of the Happy Days episodes after that were very sub par and the show went down hill. Remember Joanie Loves Chachi?

The reference has made it into pop culture and it means that something is past its prime, in steep decline, or not nearly as good as it once was.

[LightningBG]

In one of the episodes, Fonzie jumped his motorcycle over a pool with a shark in it. All of the Happy Days episodes after that were very sub par and the show went down hill. Remember Joanie Loves Chachi?

Close but not quite. It does in fact mean that its on its way down the tubes, but this is what its from

[LightningBG]

Definitions of Jump The Shark on the Web:

* Jumping the shark is an idiom used to describe the moment of downturn for a previously successful enterprise. The phrase was originally used to denote the point in a television program's history where the plot spins off into absurd story lines or unlikely characterizations. ...

[SkunkedAgain]

I don't think that the NFL is there, not even close. It may feel that way after losing to the Packers, but it is still a good game. There are many previously-enacted rule changes that were worse than the recent helmet-as-a-missile change. The off-field stuff was worse before Goodell. Look back at all of the off the field problems that plagued the league in 2005 and 2006. While not a huge fan of Goodell, I think that he brought down the hammer on that kind of foolishness.

Football is still a good game. It will have highs and lows but never jump the shark.

[WyoChris]

Jumping the shark may be a little extreme.....

However, it seems more and more games and not won by the talent of the team, but rather who gets the least penalties..... or who wins the overtime coin toss in a NFC Championship game.....

[DTro]

Yeah we'll see how folks feel when there is a lockout next year and the purple are whining (or threatening) about a new stadium.

It sure isn't the game it once was.

Contraction would help it a lot I think.

[PierBridge]

Nope it hasn't!

We're "NFL" still in Seinfeld territory if we are going to use the comedy sitcom angle!...

[Getanet]

I don't think it's jumped the shark, but I definitely don't live and die with the team like I used to. My buddies and I all used to have season tickets. We got to every home game before 7am to get "our" tailgating spot. After we quite buying season tickets we still got a big group together for every game and made it an event.

Nowadays I watch the games but if I have something else to do I don't get upset about missing it. Especially this year's teams. We're a Top 5-10 team in talent, but we're misfiring on all cylinders.

I won't get caught up in it again. Unless of course we find a way to sneak into the playoffs this year

[rugbymn]

Yeah we'll see how folks feel when there is a lockout next year and the purple are whining (or threatening) about a new stadium.

It sure isn't the game it once was.

Contraction would help it a lot I think.

I'm with you, dtro. I actually stopped watching a while ago after a self-imposed boycott of the NFL. Personally, I just thought they are getting way too big for their britches. Fining players for silly little celebrations, blackouts in the local market if the seats aren't all sold, fining players for voicing their opinion, fining players for wearing or mentioning non NFL-approved sponsors in an interview, bullying the tv networks, prosecuting small church groups for having superbowl parties . . . the list of grievances goes on and on.

[B. Amish]

Jumping the shark may be a little extreme.....

However, it seems more and more games and not won by the talent of the team, but rather who gets the least penalties..... or who wins the overtime coin toss in a NFC Championship game.....

i completely agree, more and more games are being determined by the yellow flags instead of the players on the field.

it's hard to celebrate a big play, because you're always holding your breath to see if there was a flag or not.

[lawdog]

From something called Todd Bauman throwing 2 TD’s, to a supposed great QB like Cutler throwing 4 INT’s to the same guy in one half

Hey, as a former little kid's travelling baseball team teammate of Todd's, I take offense to that, sort of...or something, whatever that's a cheapshot at any rate... I thought the MN farm boy performed pretty well for having limited practice and not really having played much more than in practices for the last few years.

[DTro]

Easy lawdog, I know all about Todd. I watched him play in the state BB tournament with his brother Troy I believe. The were both extraordinary athletes. Matter of fact, I might have spent a little time with a couple R-T-R lady fans that weekend. LOL

The fact of the matter is that we are seeing more and more mediocrity as the NFL expands and the season gets longer.

[greebs]

maybe it's getting older but definitely don't watch the game nearly as much as I used to. think when I was younger and minus the internet we didn't hear nearly as much about the off field activities and antics of professional athletes so we didn't really know or realize that these heroes that we cheer for aren't close to heroes off the field. now that I know what many of these people are like, it's hard to cheer for them.

[Steve Foss]

maybe it's getting older but definitely don't watch the game nearly as much as I used to. think when I was younger and minus the internet we didn't hear nearly as much about the off field activities and antics of professional athletes so we didn't really know or realize that these heroes that we cheer for aren't close to heroes off the field. now that I know what many of these people are like, it's hard to cheer for them.

I'm there.

Internet so-called "news" outlets are so out there that they actually might be a good thing. I mean, if shytes like that are pretending it's news, maybe we'll start actually thinking for ourselves again instead of sucking up the soap operas.

Just saying.

[fishersofmen]

Loosing more and more interest every year because of various reasons. Used to be a big NBA fan as well but now I wouldn't care if that league was flushed down the toilet.

[Raider4ever]

Loosing more and more interest every year because of various reasons. Used to be a big NBA fan as well but now I wouldn't care if that league was flushed down the toilet.

Watching way less NFL and way more SEC on Saturdays. That is some excellent football. And back in the 80's and early 90's, you couldn't pull me from an NBA game with a tractor. Now, finals are now more like old halftime scores. I could care less if the NBA tipped off ever again.

Finally, like hockey, there are WAY too many teams in the NFL. Greed has caused an expanded "talent pool". Yeah, not really. Just means there are more horse-bleep players in either league. NFL could go back to 24-28 teams (pipe-dream) and the NHL could go back to 20-24.

[MuleShack]

I think they need to abolish the zone defense like the NBA and Play man to man all game. That would be a little more interesting??

I'm also starting to ponder the thought of actually doing something other than watching the games on Sundays. After all you dont get that time back

[lawdog]

Easy lawdog, I know all about Todd. I watched him play in the state BB tournament with his brother Troy I believe. The were both extraordinary athletes. Matter of fact, I might have spent a little time with a couple R-T-R lady fans that weekend. LOL

Yes Troy is right. He and I are the same age, two years older than Todd, he was on that same traveling team too. They have another brother Shane that's two years older than Troy. All three were very good athletes all played college sports at the D2 level.