Posted on 02/02/2014 11:34:17 PM PST by Kaslin
While everyone was paying attention to the demise of the U.S. economy, the U.S. workforce, the checks and balances written into the U.S. Constitution, a terrible tragedy has ensued almost unnoticed.
Yes, while the rest of were working to “save” the country from galloping Big Government, the most perfect game in the history of the universe has brought itself to the brink of extinction.
The downfall of the National Football League is imminent
There are many signs and symptoms of the NFL’s impending doom there for the thinking person to see.
The NFL used to have the problem that there was more demand than there was supply of NFL games. But after a half-a-dozen years of expanding distribution, including game replays, games without commercials, games over the Internet and NFL on demand, there’s too much product out there.
And then there’s the almost forgotten fact that the average fan won’t spend the $500 it costs to go to a game.
But that’s not the worst of it.
Their leadership is clueless, too.
Take NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell for example.
Here’s a man who wouldn’t be a bad commissioner if he didn’t want to be a commissioner so badly. But he does want to be commissioner so badly that he thinks that HE’s the game.
Goodell is the NFL’s answer to Barack Obama, a guy who thinks that just showing up and being a rock star is his job description.
Roger Goodell is certainly the worst commissioner the NFL has had in my lifetime. He might be the worst commissioner in all ofsports in my lifetime.
Under his lack of leadership, the play on the field is incompressible, with rules so complex and indefinable that the referees are having a tough time calling a clean game.
Rule changes, like those affecting the part of football that has to do with the foot—kickoffs and extra points—have been deemed practically superfluous, without a lot debate, thanks to Goodell.
You gotta get the product right on the field first and foremost, guys.
That’s what the game is about.
But these aren’t the worst things about the trend of the game.
The NFL has allowed politics to be interjected into the game repeatedly, running anti-2nd Amendment commercials on the one hand during the Super Bowl, and rejecting a commercial from a gun manufacturer—who by the way sells a perfectly legal product, guaranteed by the constitution.
But the sellout doesn’t stop there.
It gets worse.
As my friend Bill Rogan, sportscaster for KNUS AM710 Denver has noted: “Quarterbacks Kyle Orton, Curtis Painter, Michael Vick, Rex Grossman, Drew Stanton, Ryan Lindley, Colt McCoy, Tavares Jackson, Jordan Palmer, Shaun Hill, Scott Tolzien, Seneca Wallace, Josh Freeman, Christian Ponder, Matt Cassel, Sean Renfree, Dominique Davis, Derek Anderson, Jimmy Clausen, Luke McCown, Dan Orlovsky, Thad Lewis, Matt Moore, Pat Devlin, David Garrard, Matt Simms, Geno Smith, Mark Sanchez (injured reserve), Tyler Bray, Chase Daniel, Matt McGloin, Terrelle Pryor, Brad Sorensen, Charlie Whitehurst, Tyrod Taylor, Josh Johnson, Zac Robinson, Jason Campbell, Brian Hoyer, Alex Tanney, Brandon Weedon, Bruce Gradkowski, T.J. Yates, Matt Hasselbeck, Ricky Stanzi, Blaine Gabbert, Chad Henne and Rusty Smith were all on NFL rosters this past season. But Tim Tebow wasn't.”
“Well they say Tebow isn't an NFL quarterback. He can't throw. He can't read defenses. He can't play,” Rogan continued. “I'm glad I watched the video to confirm that this guy can't play. He can't complete a pass. He doesn't do anything to help his team win. What a loser. No wonder he wasn't on an NFL roster. All those guys listed above have proven themselves to be NFL greats with highlight reels hours long. Yep, watch the video. This guy can't play.”
He can play. But really he CAN’T play… because he’s Christian.
"And just as I feel compelled to call out the league when it comes to injustices like the dearth of minorities in offensive play-calling roles,” wrote Yahoo NFL writer Michael Silver last year, “the apparent blacklisting of a quarterback who went 7-4 as a starter in 2011 and won a memorable playoff game over the Pittsburgh Steelers doesn't seem kosher to me.”
That’s because it’s not kosher.
Imagine the NFL blacklisting someone who is outspoken about global warming, or anti-poverty programs or women’s and minority issues.
They wouldn’t dream of doing it.
You can rape and abuse a woman, be an accessory to murder, get nailed for doping and as long your play on the field is acceptable, the NFL has a place for you.
But being a Christian?
That’s where they draw the line.
Of course they’re in trouble.
When the game that helped America kill the color barrier has no more room at the stadium for Touchdown Jesus, the end is near.
(P.s. While I was editing this column a commercial for Scientology appeared during the Super Bowl. It’s a good thing the NFL has standards. I rest my case.)
bfl
I agree with everyone’s comments. What has been done to Tebow is infuriating.
Now I wonder how they are going to treat Russell Wilson. He praised God numerous times in all the post game press. Actually sounded alot like Tebow to me!
John Ziegler was worse than Bettman. If you didn’t live in an NHL city...you had zero hockey on TV. Ziegler couldn’t even get a cable TV deal for hockey....the only network he got was SportsChannel...few cable companies had the channel
At least w Bettman you have major over-the-air networks carrying hockey...and a very good NHL network that gives US audiences Canadian network coverage
Bingo. Tebow has talent and has played in some winning games; mostly thanks to some very excellent defensive teams, but his passing is not only, not NFL caliber, most importantly he doesn’t show consistency and doesn’t perform well under pressure. And from what I’ve read, Tebow didn’t do well, doesn’t perform well in practice. A coach isn’t going to field someone who looks that bad in practice. It has nothing to do with his Christianity, it has to do with his playing abilities. There are many devout Christians in the NFL who profess their faith. The difference is that they deliver.
Then why didn't the NFL blacklist Kurt Warner? Nobody was more open about his faith than Warner was. Could it possibly be that Warner was a good quarterback and Tebow stinks?
My prediction is that they'll treat Wilson like they treated players like Kurt Warner. Why? Because Wilson and Warner are great quarterbacks and Tebow isn't.
Judging the way Tebow has played over his career, had be been their starter this year the Broncos would have been watching the Super Bowl from their living rooms.
In fact, the winning QB, Russell Wilson, plays just like Tebow...
ROTFL. Except for the fact that Wilson can read defenses, pass accurately, and has a good head for the game then yeah, Wilson is a lot like Tebow.
Well — John Elway is certainly licking his wounds after last night.
That was a major thrashing —
I turned my TV during the 3rd quarter and went to bed. I had enough when the score was still 29-0
That Scientology ad mocked Christianity.
Go Tebow!
You mean John Ransom is right, don't you? I only copied and posted the article. I do agree with him also.
And that stink bomb of a Super Bowl game last night didn’t help prolong the life of the NFL either. The outrageous over-hyping of these games leads to disappointment nine out of ten years for real fans of football as it once was played.
I did not watch the super bowl... I will never watch the nfl again. They destroyed baseball... football... basketball and NASCAR. Now the nfl.
Tebow wasn't on an NFL roster last season because he's not an NFL quarterback. It's really that simple. Many of us have said this for years.
He certainly isn't the first guy to win a Heisman Trophy as a running quarterback in a fast-paced offense that is well suited to the college game, only to turn into a bust in the NFL.
He's actually a tremendous athlete and would probably be an All-Pro candidate for much of his career if he had played a different position.
Well the reason why I watched was because helicopters from the 101st Airborne Division were supposed to do a Flyover during the Halftime, which they did. You would have missed it though if there hadn’t been an announcement on the screen.
Newsflash, the Denver defense during the 2011-2012 season was by no stretch of the imagination “good.” This is the same defense that was torched the first four games of the season with Kyle Orton at the helm on offense.
The radical improvement in the defense happened AFTER Tebow took over because THE DEFENSE WAS RARELY ON THE FIELD. During Tebow’s time behind center the Broncos overwhelming led the NFL in time of possession which kept the defense OFF the field. The problems emerged when the Broncos would be forced into short 4 and outs by teams like the Patriots. When that occurred you got the same crappy results from the D.
Elway STILL has not upgraded the D. He spent all that money on luring Manning.
I have little interest in football but something.told me to pick seahawks. i watched most of the game. now i know why. :)
Time Warner Cable went down across a better part of the country for most of the second half. Had it been college football or baseball I would have freaked. But as it was the NFL, the Mrs and I just blew it off and turned to the Joseph story on the Military Channel.
If Denver would have kept Tebow and let him from Manning we would be looking at years of a dominant franchise, rather than looking at sinking back into the cellar of embarrassment for years as we are now....
Some people just won’t listen to reason, but you are of course absolutely correct. Tebow’s skills just didn’t translate to the NFL. It happens.
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