NFL Week 1 Thoughts
I was so happy to finally have the NFL back on TV this past week. Football, in all it’s wondrous glory, was back on TV. This meant I could finally stop forcing myself to sit through baseball broadcasts and get back to enjoying the greatest sport around. The season kicked off on Thursday night with a disappointing game between the Steelers and Titans. It was poorly played and was definitely a letdown considering how good both teams were last year. A 4th-quarter fumble sent the game into overtime where the team that won the coin-flip ended up winning the game. (surprise!) Opening game of the 2009 season and we are already reminded of the stupidest idea this side of the Tom Brady Tuck Rule. Note to the NFL: Change the rule to the college rules. It’s much more exciting and way more entertaining. Another rule that the NFL needs to look into is the “blackout rule” which is starting to be the big storyline this season. Apparently there is this recession thing going on so people aren’t flocking to the stadiums anymore. On top of that, you have teams like Buffalo and Detroit who are fielding mediocre teams and still charging full price to watch them lose. We have increases in ticket prices combined with a decline in talent on the field and they are wondering why games aren’t selling out. Meanwhile the league is still making a killing with TV contracts, endorsements and merchandise sales. I don’t know why Jacksonville and San Diego aren’t selling out, but most of the other teams are suffering because of the product on the field. What do they decide to do? Blackout games so that the fans can’t watch their teams play. They need to put some sort of hold on the “blackout rule” until the economy rebounds and the teams who are suffering get their acts together. It’s not fair to the fans, you know those same ones who keep the NFL profitable year after year after year.
Fast forward to Sunday (or is it rewind at this point?) we see some of the future stars on display. Mark Sanchez looked great. Adrian Peterson showed the world that if he can stay healthy, the might end up being one of the best ever. The Giants defense is healthy and terrifying. Joe Flacco looks even better than last year and Matt Ryan and the Falcons got the week 1 win. There were a bunch of good, young teams on display and all was right with the world. Football was back and boy was it great! What made it all even better was the ridiculous play at the end of the Bengals-Broncos game. And who better to call that game than the always over-excited Gus Johnson? Fantastic! Opening weekend was off to a great start…then Monday night rolled around…
Everyone was predicting blowout wins for the Patriots and Chargers over the Bills and the Raiders. The underdogs played well and both had the lead deep into the 4th quarter but managed to give away the win in excruciating fashion. Both games were very exciting down to the end but there was one big problem during the Bills-Patriots game in particular. It seemed that too many people were way too excited about this game. I don’t know if it was the Tom Brady factor or what, but fans’ emotions were way too high. It seemed that too many people put money on the Pats and too many Bills fans (I’m one of them) put their hopes on the Bills. People were just too angry when it was over. I was upset that the Bills lost, but I wasn’t thinking of exacting some sort of revenge for the loss. Some deranged “fans” actually went to a player’s house and trashed his yard. Really? Way to overshadow a good weekend of football with a horrendously stupid move that gives fans everywhere (especially Bills’ fans) a bad name. With all of the crazy things that have gone on in the last few years with NFL players, the last thing the fans should do is take it upon themselves and get involved with them directly. You are a fan. That’s it. You do not have any real stake in “your” team no matter how hard you root for them. Just like the idiot Cubs fan who showered a baseball player with beer to prevent a catch earlier this year. No one should think it is their duty to get involved with the teams and the players, especially not to “motivate” their team by vandalizing their home. Stay home. Root for your team. Celebrate the big win with a high-five and mourn the big loss with some dignity. Remember. Football is back! It can’t be all that bad.
