Just a quick note before you read this conversation. This conversation happened a while back while Aaron Rodgers was still kind of crapping the bed and while the Vikings were the king of the world.  Hope that helps give you some context, enjoy.

Ted Flint, Kansas

 

@Arnoldthethird: So the past few weeks there has been a lot of media commentary on the declining TV ratings for the NFL. I have some thoughts on this but I wanted to get your takes

@jared_leeper: How much do you think it can be attributed to cord cutting? There are so many options for television now with streaming

@HAVRHLL: Since most games are via bunny ears, I’m not sure its cord cutting, as is the case with college sports. I think there’s too much other stuff on television that has diluted the population of potential game-watchers.

@jared_leeper: The Monday Night ratings are down too. Which you can’t get via bunny ears

@jaredsmith24: It’s cord cutting for me, I watch Monday night usually because its on Sling ESPN.

@jared_leeper: The ratings for the heavy Sunday slots are fairly flat

@jaredsmith24: Or is it because Aaron Rodgers is so bad now?

@HAVRHLL: :rage:

@jared_leeper: It’s the ratings when only one game is on (Thurs/Sun/Mon nights) that are taking the biggest hits.

@HAVRHLL: Once evening hits, there are other commitments for many families. Also, there are good television shows going up against those games.

@Moldy78: I don’t agree with this, Sundays are a barren wasteland from Noon to 6 CT, and haven’t most problems been with primetime/island games? Only SNF is over the air and MNF has taken the biggest hit.

Havrhll:
Since most games are via bunny ears, I’m not sure its cord cutting, as is the case with college sports. I think there’s too much other stuff on television that has diluted the population of potential game-watchers.

@TedFlintKansas: I honestly think social media has a big part of it. Im huge into Fantasy. Couldn’t miss a game. But now I can follow along with beat reporters on Twitter. And see vines of the big plays and not miss much
While watching the newest Luke Cage episode

@jared_leeper: The NFL has tried blaming this shit storm of an election for the decline

@Moldy78: This has me watching more than ever

JaredSmith24
‘Or is it because Aaron Rodgers is so bad now?”

@jaredsmith24: LOL I also try to watch and see just how bad he actually is now.

@HAVRHLL: I blame this election for every problem in our nation, but I digress.

@Moldy78: I agree with this. I can follow on twitter easily and get the stats I’m interested for games that don’t involve my Vikings. Cable has become less and less critical to know what’s going on.

Ted
“I honestly think social media has a big part of it. Im huge into Fantasy. Couldn’t miss a game. But now I can follow along with beat reporters on Twitter. And see vines of the big plays and not miss much”

@jaredsmith24: Do you think that the concussion and off field stuff has turned the casual fan away? I think this contributes at least slightly.

@jared_leeper: How do they track ratings on streaming services? (edited)

@Moldy78: I think that’s pretty minor.

@jared_leeper: The NFL has started streaming the Thursday games on twitter

@HAVRHLL: The Thursday Night games have been awful so far this year.

@Moldy78: I’m sure any streaming service can measure directly how many are watching.

@jared_leeper: I wonder if other sports/organizations will try exploring that option soon

@jaredsmith24: I would much rather watch NFL network and have my twitter free to disperse my hot takes.

@Moldy78: Vs cable having to use sampling and Nielson ratings

@jaredsmith24: You would think it would be more accurate as well.

@Moldy78: You need another monitor or a bigger one to split, works like a charm.

JaredSmith24
“I would much rather watch NFL network and have my twitter free to disperse my hot takes.”

@jared_leeper: One of the things that turns me away from NFL games is the constant commercial interruptions and stoppages of play. I’m sure the ratings take into account how long you stay on a particular game

@Moldy78: That is a huge issue for me as well. They’ve got to improve the viewing experience

@jared_leeper: Sundays I’m always bouncing between games

@jaredsmith24: Yeah I don’t do desktop twitter, drives me insane. Not how our founding fathers intended twitter to be used imho.

Moldy78
“You need another monitor or a bigger one to split, works like a charm.”

@jared_leeper: And for the prime time games, I’m constantly searching other channels because of the interruptions

@Moldy78: The TD, Commercial, XP, Commerical, Kickoff, Commercial, play cycle is brutal. I think that was a big factor in moving the XP back further.

@jared_leeper: Absolutely it was

@jared_leeper: “Player safety” With Dr Evil quotes

@Arnoldthethird: This has contributed for me. The concussion issues have affected my football fandom. The NFL hierarchy has affected my NFL fandom

JaredSmith24
“Do you think that the concussion and off field stuff has turned the casual fan away? I think this contributes at least slightly.”

@jaredsmith24: “Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight”

@TedFlintKansas: Sundays I watch the Dolphins and wonder what life decisions lead me to such a sad place

@Moldy78: They want more teams going for two and more focus on the XP to keep people going. But in reality they need to remove on of those breaks. I am a fan of the XP change though

@jared_leeper: Ted you don’t have to anymore!

@jaredsmith24: Yeah Arnold we’ve started to see the “evil” side of the NFL I think.

@jared_leeper: Tom said it’s ok to switch teams

Should I abandon my fandom by Tom Danielson

@Arnoldthethird: The concussion stuff has been on my mind for a while, but what really got to me this summer was what happened with Tre Mason

@jaredsmith24: Evil may be a strong word.

@Moldy78: Tom is a smart man not because of his decision to leave, but because he chose the best replacement team.

@Arnoldthethird: Where he was nearly arrested and the cops told his mom that he should focus on football, and she’s like, “this isn’t my son anymore. He’s not the same”

@HAVRHLL: The NFL has had a lot of bad PR over the last 3-4 years. Usually 4 bad stories for every good story.

@jared_leeper: Arnold How do you think the NFL is doing in regards to cleaning up the concussions?

@Moldy78: It has certainly made me question if my kids will be allowed to play football but I’m curious why it’d affect your interest in watching?

Arnoldthethird
“This has contributed for me. The concussion issues have affected my football fandom. The NFL hierarchy has affected my NFL fandom”

@jared_leeper: Do you believe the safety measures are helping? Or just a smoke screen?

@HAVRHLL: I know a lot of people in Dallas who aren’t Cowboys fans simply because they don’t like the owner, assault charges, etc. They prefere the Mavs or Rangers.

@Arnoldthethird: Leeper the safety measures are an act of good faith I think, but how much can really be done? there are still 4 or 5 plays a game where I wonder if a person will be able to get up off the field. And either way, the biggest risk for CTE is the minor hits that accrue over the years

@jaredsmith24: I just think the super casual fan is turned off by the shadiness of the NFL right now. I mean it’s always had it but now we see it more I think.

@jared_leeper: Smith I agree with that. Goodell is not exactly a likable figure. (edited)

@Arnoldthethird: Moldy the Tre Mason thing has affected me. Like, I heard the audio from that mom and in my head I was like “football has ruined this lady’s life.” I’m starting to question if it’s worth it anymore.
And there are many more stories like hers, my issues with the NFL are separate from that though

@TedFlintKansas: Concussions are the reason I’m not worried about conference realignment. Because in ten years football could be gone, Lawsuits will happen.

@HAVRHLL: I think as a country we are overloaded with the shadiness of everything with enhanced media coverage and platforms. Look at the disapproval ratings of this election, of the NFL, of our workplaces, of the Big 12, etc., so we just turn it all off and find something more pleasant to occupy our time with.

@TedFlintKansas: Then high schools will drop the sport
Chain reaction

@jared_leeper: I think it takes longer than ten years @ted

@jaredsmith24: Need to go back to leather helmets with no facemask. People wouldn’t lead with their head as bad.
hot take alert.

@jared_leeper: But maybe in 30-40 years it could be gone

@Arnoldthethird: Namely, their completely and utter failure to seriously address these domestic violence issues that seem to be commonplace, as well as their penalizing players for showing seemingly random celebrations

@_AJSPECK_: I’m still shocked there isn’t a cap to how many concussions you can have before being forced to retire.

@jared_leeper: There’s just too much money in it for too many people right now

@Moldy78: This would be a lot closer to my take for NCAA football but these guys are making millions of dollars. I do think the NFL has been deliberately untruthful about the effect of concussions but as far as the actual games hurting people, I think we’ve always known they did, right?

Arnoldthethird

“the Tre Mason thing has affected me. Like, I heard the audio from that mom and in my head I was like “football has ruined this lady’s life.” I’m starting to question if it’s worth it anymore”

@jared_leeper: Arnold that is so spot on
They are just so tone deaf

Why is a group celebration equated to leveling a guy with your head at full speed?

If anything encourage the celebrating. It’s supposed to be an entertainment league.

That kind of shit sours me to the NFL

 

@HAVRHLL: I’m not sure I differentiate much between high school, college, pro football when it comes to concussions. It was the culmination of concussions in the three levels of the game which led to Tyler Sash’s death.

Moldy
“This would be a lot closer to my take for NCAA football but these guys are making millions of dollars. I do think the NFL has been deliberately untruthful about the effect of concussions but as far as the actual games hurting people, I think we’ve always known they did, right?”

@jared_leeper: The idea you can’t have a coordinated celebration with teammates is so ridiculous

@Moldy78: Couldn’t agree more. Things seem to be getting better on that front? Hardy is blackballed from the league and they’ve instituted harsher penalties for DV. But as soon as they do that, they butcher Josh Brown’s suspension and he only gets 1 game.

Arnoldthethird
“namely, their completely and utter failure to seriously address these domestic violence issues that seem to be commonplace, as well as their penalizing players for showing seemingly random celebrations”

@jared_leeper: Need more Hingle McCringleberry!!

Unlimited pumps!!

@Jaredsmith24: Celebration rule: No birds, no jerkoff motion, no dry humping, less than 5 second celebration.

@HAVRHLL: Lambeau leaps should be allowed in every stadium. Imagine if players were fined if they didn’t leap after a TD. Ratings BURST.

@Arnoldthethird: The Tyler Sash thing got to me too. I saw an interview with his mom where she talked about how much he had changed–their relationship changed because he became so quick tempered and angry all the time. She could see it but she didn’t realize it was because of his disease

@Moldy78: The difference is NFL players are getting paid millions of dollars where college players are being given coupons for school that can be dubious in their value after graduation.

Havrhll
“I’m not sure I differentiate much between high school, college, pro football when it comes to concussions. It was the culmination of concussions in the three levels of the game which led to Tyler Sash’s death.”

@jaredsmith24: Air humping is allowed though.

@HAVRHLL: Does money matter when someone is deceased tho?
moldy
The difference is NFL players are getting paid millions of dollars where college players are being given coupons for school that can be dubious in their value after graduation.

@Moldy78: The player signed the contract and walked onto the field. I can’t fault the NFL for that. I do fault them for hiding information that would inform players better. But the sport itself, the NFL plays handsomely. They should provide healthcare to older players who did not get paid like this though.

Havrhll
“Does money matter when someone is deceased tho?

@_AJSPECK_: Stricter concussion protocols, 1 strike DV policy, have severe punishments in place for assholes like Suh and Burfict who would rather hurt their opponents than play them.

@jared_leeper: And unlimited touchdown dances

@_AJSPECK_: Forever

@jared_leeper: I don’t care if Usher is coordinating them. I want more, longer celebrations

@TedFlintKansas: Final arguments. How do you fix the rating problem and Go

@Moldy78: Develop better streaming options.

@jared_leeper: Streaming, pick up pace of play, allow touchdown dances.BOOM!

@jaredsmith24: loosen up uniform rules, TD celebrations and more cheerleaders camera time.
Outlaw Punts

@_AJSPECK_: NFL streaming is pretty awesome. The choices are there and the accessibility is pretty awesome. NFL ticket is cheap too.

@HAVRHLL: I think the NFL needs to keep games limited to Sundays and one Monday game. Having a Thursday game and two Monday games is schedule overload. Add some mystique and prestige to the premiere time slots instead of going for every quick dollar they can find.

@jared_leeper: More in game ads to save from the insane number of commercials.
Premier League has only one stoppage of play, halftime. And they figure it out.

@jaredsmith24: Also teach Aaron Rodgers how to be great again…..

@_AJSPECK_: Stop it

@jaredsmith24: LOL

@Moldy78: The twitter streams and the London streams are great but that needs to be a regular option. Where can you stream games on CBS and FOX? And SNF/MNF?

Ajspeck
“NFL streaming is pretty awesome. The choices are there and the accessibility is pretty awesome. NFL ticket is cheap too.”

@HAVRHLL: I love you Aaron. Get well soon.

@jared_leeper: It’s apples and oranges, but the idea isn’t bad. Make A A Ron Great Again

@Moldy78: I’d like to see Hundley get a few snaps

mostcommon
Also teach Aaron Rodgers how to be great again…..

@jaredsmith24: AAAAAAAAANNNNNNNND WE’RE DONE HERE.

@_AJSPECK_: Sling TV is pretty great with this and I really think options like Sling will take over TV soon.

Moldy
“The twitter streams and the London streams are great but that needs to be a regular option. Where can you stream games on CBS and FOX? And SNF/MNF?”

@Moldy78: As nice as Sling is (I have PSVue and love it) I think the NFL needs to go direct with it’s streaming, offer an NFL only package through twitter/youtube/whoever

@_AJSPECK_: Ohhh I like that, consolidate it all in one place. If they would get those exclusive games on Sunday Ticket it would be perfect.

@Arnoldthethird: continue to develop safety measures and emphasize proper tackling techniques

@_AJSPECK_: And for all that is holy, PLEASE STOP PUNISHING FORM TACKLING

@Arnoldthethird: also get more people in positions of power other than old white dudes who don’t give a shit about women and who think that a fake jumpshot after a touchdown is worth penalizing

@TedFlintKansas: We talking about football or the GOP?

@Arnoldthethird: Heyoo!

@jaredsmith24: This should be really fun to edit.