rolling American football death spiral thread

https://pixel.nymag.com/imgs/daily/intelligencer/2017/11/22/magazine/22-leitch.nocrop.w710.h2147483647.jpg
Panthers vs. Bears, October 22. Photo: Scott Boehm/AP Photo

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2017/11/leitch-is-this-the-end-of-the-nfl.html

A few weeks ago, sportscaster Bob Costas told a group of students at the University of Maryland that “the reality is that this game destroys people’s brains” and that “the whole thing could collapse like a house of cards if people actually begin connecting the dots.” Costas is a smart man, and more than that, he is a survivor: One of the skills of his career has been understanding which way the winds are blowing and adjusting accordingly. For the past several years, he was the host of the pregame show for the most-watched NFL game every week, Football Night in America. He left the show this year and has been speaking out against the NFL ever since. For the past few years, it was reasonable to wonder whether defending the NFL was going to put you on the wrong side of history. It is becoming increasingly clear that that history is nigh.

https://www.theringer.com/nfl/2017/12/5/16737164/steelers-bengals-dangerous-hits-ryan-shazier-vontaze-burfict-joe-mixon

Rough night

“I don’t like seeing that kind of football,” Gruden said.

“It’s an ugly night,” McDonough said

earlier in the broadcast both of these guys were constantly bemoaning all the penalty flags that were being thrown, and at one point Gruden started praising Burfict, implying that his willingness to get fined was part of what made him a great player to watch. can't have it both ways I guess.

will nfl return to leather helmets

excellent piece on the american football death spiral https://thebaffler.com/salvos/downward-spiral-roth

I assume at some point the NFL owners will decide that they don’t actually need anyone to play football during a football telecast.

Just 12 hours of fighter jet flybys, national anthems, breast cancer awareness, and artfully thrown penalty flags.

I’m glad for the revive because I needed to post this:
https://verysmartbrothas.theroot.com/forget-about-colin-kaepernick-i-think-im-done-with-the-1821136817

It was the first time in a long time that I just decided not to watch an entire Steelers game. And while I missed the game, I didn’t actually miss it.

Damon didn't miss that feeling of being slightly distracted and intermittently entertained, interspersed with dozens of commercials and frequent tedium?

https://deadspin.com/fox-is-seeking-los-angeles-area-actors-who-can-pretend-1821152419

lol that url stub is very good

also the rams being one of the best teams immediately upon moving to LA and still not attracting any fans is a victory for humanity

whenever i'm talking football w/friends around here in L.A., I always try to mention "The San Diego Chargers" at least once and i've never once been corrected.

gaining two NFL teams no one wanted, teams that historically possess the exact same color scheme, is a recipe for hilarity.

not sure if this has been covered other places but a bunch of NFL Network/ESPN analysts/x-players have been accused of sexual misconduct/harassment and have been suspended for now.

In it, she names producers and on-air talent as subjecting her to unlawful discrimination and retaliation. Those named include former executive producer Eric Weinberger, who is now president of the Bill Simmons Media Group, as well as current and former on-air TV analysts Marshall Faulk, Ike Taylor, Warren Sapp and Heath Evans.

also Mcnabb and Eric Davis from ESPN.

https://www.si.com/tech-media/2017/12/12/nfl-network-sexual-harassment-jami-cantor-lawsuit-faulk-mcnabb-weinberger

espn execs walking slowly backwards like there is nothing to see in our company culture

hopefully chris berman gets lit up for real this time

does he have a history with this i don't know about?

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/11/10/report-espn-settles-sexual-harassment-claim-involving-chris-berman/

missed that entirely. not too surprising sadly.

Read the oral history of ESPN book by the guy who did the SNL oral history

Basically, it was a frat house and I wouldn't be shocked to see stuff about anyone that worked there

not sure if this has been covered other places but a bunch of NFL Network/ESPN analysts/x-players have been accused of sexual misconduct/harassment and have been suspended for now.

In it, she names producers and on-air talent as subjecting her to unlawful discrimination and retaliation. Those named include former executive producer Eric Weinberger, who is now president of the Bill Simmons Media Group, as well as current and former on-air TV analysts Marshall Faulk, Ike Taylor, Warren Sapp and Heath Evans.
also Mcnabb and Eric Davis from ESPN.

https://www.si.com/tech-media/2017/12/12/nfl-network-sexual-harassment-jami-cantor-lawsuit-faulk-mcnabb-weinberger

― Spottie, Tuesday, December 12, 2017 12:50 PM (two hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Simmons has certainly been a purveyor of toxic masculinity in the past but to his credit he's evolved and The Ringer is a progressive, gender-equitable site, so while I see Weinbeger has already been placed on indefinite leave, hopefully he'll be swiftly axed assuming these allegations hold up.

xp mike tirico was suspended for harassment and stalking at ESPN--he's about to be the face of NBC's Olympics coverage and I wouldn't surprised if people dredge up his old allegations

wouldnt be surprised by just about anything at this point. hoping that stu scott is clean tho.

ugh at this letter

http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/21846807/baltimore-ravens-send-letter-fans-noticeable-no-shows-home-games

bigger ugh at ESPN's sidebar headline, "Ravens admit protest has led to fan no-shows", as if it's the actual case and not some excuse, not an old white dude attempting to save face and distance himself and the franchise from the social issues that led to that one-time protest in London.

yeah, fuck this

these ppl are so caught in their own damn web

https://academic.oup.com/brain/advance-article/doi/10.1093/brain/awx350/4815697

These results indicate that closed-head impact injuries, independent of concussive signs, can induce traumatic brain injury as well as early pathologies and functional sequelae associated with chronic traumatic encephalopathy.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2018/01/18/a-new-study-shows-that-hits-to-the-head-not-concussions-cause-cte/

Here's every concussion in the NFL this year pic.twitter.com/zyzwciboSj

— Josh Begley (@joshbegley) February 1, 2018

Aside from the concussion issue
as a fan of football, I think there's something to the fact that football on NFL and college level for the past decade have been dominated by Belechik/Patriots and Saban/Alabama, who are really two of the most anti-charismatic/joyless operations in the history of sports....just grim hyper competence....just comparing it to say guys like Steve Kerr or Popovich in the NBA who seem like really cool, smart guys

also like...the Cleveland Indians are not handling their team name and mascot issue particularly well but they're moving a bit forward and MLB is pressuring them, which is SOMETHING, whereas in the NFL Goodell is just standing w/Snyder and that terrible team's inarguably racist name. They should be contracted.

i really don't have much positive to say about the league or sport or most of its prominent players tbh.

RIP football

No one on Jeopardy knew anything about football 😂 pic.twitter.com/EomJWawkWF

— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) February 2, 2018

i coulda won a lot of money

lmao

Then there's this piece

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/02/opinion/sunday/nfl-cte-brain-damage.html

bananas

https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/05/22/anthem-rules-kneeling-penalties-home-team-stay-locker-room-roger-goodell

if both teams kneel, the penalties offset and they'll replay the anthem

lol

the crowd should kneel

https://media.giphy.com/media/24yUvz2kSe2Dm/source.gif

*refs start breakdancing*

ATLANTA -- NFL owners have unanimously approved a new national anthem policy that requires players to stand if they are on the field during the performance but gives them the option to remain in the locker room if they prefer, it was announced Wednesday.

The new policy subjects teams to a fine if a player or any other team personnel do not show respect for the anthem. That includes any attempt to sit or kneel, as dozens of players have done during the past two seasons. Those teams will also have the option to fine any team personnel, including players, for the infraction.

"This season, all league and team personnel shall stand and show respect for the flag and the Anthem," NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement. "Personnel who choose not to stand for the Anthem may stay in the locker room until after the Anthem has been performed.

"We believe today's decision will keep our focus on the game and the extraordinary athletes who play it -- and on our fans who enjoy it."

A vote took place at the conclusion of the league's spring meetings and was approved by all 32 owners.

creepy af

forced patriotism is the best patriotism

also, any student who doesn't stand for the pledge of allegiance gets detention

Now it will be even more of a protest when they kneel, good job you dickheads

everyone should kneel

NFLPA not happy: http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/389018-nfl-players-association-criticizes-new-league-policy-on-kneeling

donate $130,000 per kneel to planned parenthood or gtfo

Do you think they'd be fined for kneeling AND praying?

nfl in screwing up really badly again shocker.