NFL Thread 2024

#51      
Roundball Sage
Genesis said:
I grew up as a Big Red Cardinal football fan because my dad and uncle shared season tickets. Didn't know how good I had it and paid very little attention to the college game except for ND/USC. Attended a Monday Night game and lots of other games. About the time I turned 30, they offered to pass the tickets down to the next generation and I said they could put them in my name. I was an NFL season ticket holder for 4 months and then Bidwell (the owner) skipped town. I've hated the football Cardinals ever since. It contributed to my becoming a college fan and I've never looked back. Once my kids went to Illinois, I jumped in with both feet.
Click to expand...

After all these years I still can't get used to the Colts being in Indy. And the Cleveland Browns of today are not the same franchise as the Cleveland Browns of the past. The Rams are now on about the fifth or sixth different 'Home' stadium. And the Raiders are not far behind that many. As the saying goes... Follow The Money (to understand the workings of the NFL).

The nice thing about College Ball is that the Home Team ain't gonna be moved anywhere out of town.
 
#53      
Roundball Sage
Football will always be a dangerous game. Large men running into each other at full speed and often at weird angles. The very valuable thing sitting on our shoulders always exposed to dangers each moment. Knees and hips and necks taking a beating.

Players trying to hold on to valuable roster spots and finding ways to stay on the field that bring their power and abandon to each play. Defensive players looking to make that big hit to get everyone’s attention and lots of play on social media.

These men on the field willingly take this on. No one forces them on to the field. But often this game gets fully tied up with their identities and feelings of personal worth. And they don't know who they are apart from a game they grew up with.

And if they get to the highest level of football (and now with NIL the College level)... they will be richly reward financially. And lots of attention.

But at what cost to them and their future health? The futures of their wives and children? Their mental capabilities down the road? Does anyone take a good and deep look at these players when they hit their 50s and 60s? And sometimes when that does hit a media site... it is not a pretty picture. Often very sad.

Football will always be with us because it is the big money maker and the big draw for advertisers in America. And we know that money rules all. But every play and every player comes at a price. We are all entertained – until something happens when we aren’t. And the camera turns away from the man lying on the field and we get to watch other smiling people peddling trucks or beer or something for the next three minutes.

‘Protect The Shield’ is the gospel of Professional Football. More so than Protecting The Players? And despite efforts around the edges to make the game ‘more safe’... it can never be safe. It cannot be unless flag football really catches on.

So much to like about this Game. And so much not to like. All mixed up and tied together in the last collective bonding ritual we have left in America.
 
Back