The NFL should play more games. They have developed an infrastructure and a brand. They play 16 games a week, have national broadcasters, and fill arenas with 70,000 fans. Yet, they don’t. This is unfortunate. The NFL could be doing more to build its brand and increase attendance. Here are some of the reasons. a. The NFL doesn’t play enough games. It could do more.
Flexible scheduling allows teams to reschedule Sunday afternoon and night games
The NFL has official rules on flex scheduling, which allows teams to reschedule games if a team is unable to play them on a specified date. Sunday afternoon and night games are rescheduled for a week in which Sunday’s prime-time television is unavailable. Sunday games are listed as 8:15 p.m. for the Eastern and Central time zones, while games in the Pacific and Mountain Time zones are listed as 4:05 or 4:15 p.m.
The NFL first implemented flexible scheduling in primetime in 2006 and later expanded it to all games between Weeks five and seventeen. Only two games may be flexed into Sunday night between Weeks five and 17. This ensured that Sunday night games were still prime time, as well as gave surprise teams a chance to play on primetime. Below is a list of games tentatively scheduled for NBC Sunday nights.
The NFL playoff system allows teams to reschedule games on consecutive Sunday nights, but the NFL playoffs are often on the same day as the regular season. For example, the 2007 Patriots played the Redskins at Texas Stadium, while the Giants and Seahawks played on the same night on NBC. This arrangement has led to games being moved from Sunday afternoon to night when playoffs are underway.
The NFL avoids scheduling Thursday night games. This is because visiting teams must travel across time zones to get to a weekday game. In addition, if five teams in each division lived in the Pacific Time Zone, the scheduling options would be limited. Moreover, the AFC West and NFC West divisions are not in the same time zone, making it difficult for teams to schedule games in these divisions.
Replay made NFL games more entertaining
The introduction of replay technology changed the way we watch football games. In the beginning, the time between a play and its replay could be two minutes. Later, though, the speed of replays started to creep up. This could be attributed to the new stadiums having pristine WiFi infrastructure, which was not the case in the older ones. In addition to the increase in replay time, the new technology has also made games much shorter.
In 1992, instant replay was implemented into the league. However, it was rejected by seventeen teams owners because of its long delays and failure to make enough correct calls. However, the system was reinstated in the 1999 season after coaches and owners began to realize its positive effects. As the popularity of the system grew, the NFL’s owners agreed to adopt it as a challenged-based system. However, there was a time when the players and fans started to complain about the system.
In the past, the replay system was administered by a panel of officials: the AMGC, officials at the stadium sites, and the on-field referees. From 2017, the replay system was managed by Gameday Central. They had to gather all replay angles from game broadcasts and make a decision. Earlier, the replays were sometimes too slow for the fans to follow. Moreover, they could upset fans who didn’t agree with the official’s ruling.
The NFL also wants to make the game perfect. With replay, mistakes are reduced and time is saved. The NFL even added rules to deal with loose balls. In the end, replays made football games much more entertaining. The NFL hopes to eliminate the human element from their rules. The human element is the reason why they wrote such long rules. For example, the “touchdown” by Heath Miller on opening night stood because Nick Saban didn’t challenge it quickly enough.
Replay was made possible by the invention of videotape. The first replay tape was recorded over an episode of I Love Lucy. Verna went on to have an impressive career in television and was the man who invented instant replay. She described the process in a book published in 2008.
Los Angeles Rams and Oakland Raiders played late games on Sunday
Both the Los Angeles Rams and the Oakland Raiders were playing their late-season games on Sunday. Both teams have question marks in their secondary. Oakland’s starting cornerbacks are expected to be Trayvon Mullen and Casey Hayward. The Raiders will likely have Jonathan Abrams and Trevon Moehrig at safety, and veteran defensive back Karl Joseph is expected to play a reserve role.
The Rams will play a late game in honor of the victims of the Thousand Oaks bar shooting on Sunday. Rams coach Sean McVay said the tragedy puts everything into perspective. Meanwhile, the Camp Fire in Northern California killed five people near Paradise. Smoke has been drifting south in recent days, affecting the air quality in Southern California. While both teams will be playing late games Sunday, the Raiders practice will be affected by the smoke.
After winning the NFC championship in 1978, the Raiders relocated to Los Angeles. In the NFC, the Raiders would play the Chiefs in the playoffs if they lost to the Rams. The Raiders’ move to Los Angeles forced the Raiders to make their home games in California. While the Chargers dominated the Raiders for years, they were eliminated from the playoffs the following year. The Raiders will play against Joe Burrow on Saturday. If you cannot make it to the games, FuboTV has free NFL Week 18 games available.
Both teams had their moments of late drama. The Rams have Aaron Donald, arguably the best wide receiver in the league, while the Raiders’ Cooper Kupp was named the game’s most valuable player. Kupp finished with eight catches for 92 yards and two touchdowns. The Rams’ offensive line, on the other hand, did not have any players with the talent to dominate the Raiders’ defense.
While the Raiders were winning the game in overtime, the Chargers still managed to get a field goal. The Chargers won’t have a chance to take a knee on the last play. In the third quarter, the Raiders had a chance to win the game if they had a timeout. Coach Brandon Staley didn’t want the Raiders to push the envelope.
Flex-scheduling ensures that all Sunday night and on the doubleheader network have playoff significance
It’s not clear what will be included in the NFL’s Week 18 schedule, but there’s a lot to look forward to. This weekend’s slate will feature several games with playoff significance. In addition to the Sunday Night Football game, NBC will feature the Evian Championship, a women’s major in France. Another game could be an early-season PGA Tour event. Another possibility is an international team tournament. It’s not clear what the network’s plans are for the Browns-Ravens game, but it could be moved to Monday or Thursday night to avoid conflicts.
While it’s not uncommon to see playoff games on consecutive Sunday nights, there’s a catch. The NFL’s early flex can only be triggered twice a season. When this happens, networks will be allowed to protect one game on Sunday night and one game on the doubleheader network. Typically, the NFL chooses the game with the best chance of winning its conference. However, if there’s a game that is better than the one being flexed out, it’ll be shown.
The NFL uses a flexible scheduling system for its last seven weeks of the regular season. This allows the NFL to reschedule games up to six days ahead of time in order to ensure that as many playoff games as possible can be played during the weekend. This allows networks to maximize television coverage of all games. In addition, it also helps to ensure that games that are scheduled during the week are on the doubleheader network.
The NFL also tries to make Sunday night games more meaningful by scheduling two games instead of one. In 2017, the NFL did not schedule a Sunday night game. In 2017, it prioritized wild card spots and scheduled more games for the late slot than the early. In the playoffs, a wild card spot is more important than a Sunday night game, so the NFL schedule should reflect that.
The NFL has also embraced flex-scheduling in order to make sure that all games played on Sunday night and on the doubleheader network are of equal importance. The Raiders and the 49ers will both be playing at the same time this year, and the first two games on the doubleheader network will have playoff significance. And, with the Raiders moving to the west coast in 2020, the Chargers will no longer play on Sunday nights.
Would an openly gay player in the NFL be a distraction? That’s a great question. It would be easy to see why an openly gay player would be a distraction if it’s a first time. But why would it be a problem if he’s an established star in the NFL? If he’s already openly gay, it’s not like he’s the center of attention and would simply distract from the game.
Michael Sam
The NFL is trying to play down the distractions caused by Michael Sam’s sexuality, but not everyone is comfortable with that. While he may be an openly gay player, he’s not allowing his sexuality to become a distraction in the locker room. Interestingly enough, the Missouri team didn’t suffer because of Sam’s sexuality, as Dave Cullen points out.
The problem is that it can be difficult to determine the impact that Sam’s sexuality will have on his game. While Sam is a normal human being, his sexuality has little impact on his ability to play football. There are a few people who have reservations about drafting an openly gay athlete, and some of them vote online for them. While Sam’s sexuality won’t cause a distraction, his draft stock might suffer.
A number of media outlets have asked whether Michael Sam’s openly gay status could be a distraction for his teammates. The Rams responded that they were unlikely to sign him. As a result, Sam’s future remains uncertain. He’s unlikely to re-sign him to the team’s 10-man practice squad, but the Rams will need help elsewhere.
Carl Nassib
The NFL could be in for a bit of a distraction if the openly gay player who came out is not welcomed by the organization. Nassib came out to the media in April after announcing a $100,000 donation to the Trevor Project, a crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ youth. Nassib contacted the organization two months before his Instagram post to make sure he was helping raise awareness for LGBTQ youth.
During last year’s Pride Month, Nassib made history as the first openly gay player in the NFL. He was able to publicly come out and earn a spot on the roster, play in the regular season, and participate in the postseason despite his sexual orientation. Nassib has since been released from the Las Vegas Raiders and has not signed with another team. His public announcement sparked a flurry of attention and he remains unsigned with a new team. However, the fact that he has not signed with another team is a reason for concern.
While many Raiders fans worried that the openly gay player could be a distraction, Nassib’s openness has only added fuel to the Raiders’ already troubled season. Nassib has already played 44 percent of defensive snaps against the Ravens and made three tackles. In overtime, he collided with Lamar Jackson and forced a fumble. Later in the game, the Raiders’ offense scored a walk-off touchdown to win the game.
Michael Sam’s rushing ability
Sam’s sexuality became national news three months ago, and his emergence as an openly gay NFL player has caused a stir. The 6-foot-2, 252-pound player was considered a late-round pick after his performance at the NFL Scouting Combine. Sam’s lack of vertical leap, combined with his height and weight, made him look small compared to top pass rushers. However, his measurements improved at his pro day in March, and he was widely regarded as a third-round pick.
While Sam’s open-gay status may pose a distraction to his teammates, the media has done a good job of reporting on Sam’s announcement. While some media outlets have polled fans, few have suggested that Sam’s sexuality is a distraction. The players and coaches of the Dallas Cowboys were more likely to sign an openly gay player than a straight one.
The decision to come out early, however, was made because of the pressure to impress opposing teams. Sam’s team wanted to come out as far ahead of the NFL draft as possible, so the teams could get used to the idea of an openly gay athlete before the draft. The timing was not ideal, however, since the NFL’s selection process took time to get used to the idea of a gay player. It wasn’t a good idea to spring the news on NFL teams at Radio City Music Hall. Some experts said this could have a negative impact on Sam’s chances.
Manti Te’o
It is not clear whether the Philadelphia Eagles are asking about Manti Te’o’s sexual orientation. The Philadelphia Eagles have not publicly responded to the question, but Mike Florio, a well-connected sports reporter, said the team wouldn’t be doing this if it weren’t a violation of federal law. He did, however, say the team’s “business” isn’t to speculate about the player’s sexual orientation.
Many NFL players have faced the public backlash of openly gay players. The former Notre Dame star has been embroiled in a hoax girlfriend saga that has caused him to become an embarrassing distraction. Those comments are only a small part of the problem. It’s also the fault of the NFL and the coaches, including former Super Bowl champion Tony Dungy, who’s opposed to marriage equality.
One NFL executive said Manti Te’o’s sexuality could be a distraction. It might be a distraction, but it’s not likely to change the culture of a locker room. That’s not to say that openly gay players won’t be allowed on the field, either. But they could cause a distraction, at least at the start of the season.
Carl Nassib’s public coming out
The Las Vegas Raiders’ defensive end, Carl Nassib, came out in the public on Monday. As the first openly gay active player in the NFL, Nassib’s announcement is a milestone. While several athletes have come out after retirement, Nassib’s public coming out is a first. The team also announced that Nassib will donate $100,000 to the Trevor Project, an organization dedicated to supporting LGBTQ youth.
For years, the NFL has been stigmatizing openly gay players as distractions, but Nassib’s coming out is a milestone and is a great example of how a public outing can empower an athlete. Nassib’s story is a celebration of the LGBT community and a message to bullied children that their dreams are just as important as their mates’.
While the announcement is a significant step toward inclusion for LGBTQ athletes in the NFL, the decision to publicly come out isn’t without its downsides. It could potentially scare off prospective coaches, which may deter them from signing Nassib. On the bright side, it doesn’t mean the NFL should ban openly gay players, and Nassib himself is a great example of a brave decision to come out.
Michael Sam’s distraction potential
Many people in the NFL are concerned with Michael Sam’s potential to distract from his team’s game. He’s a top defensive end from the University of Missouri and a former All-American. But a few days before the NFL scouting combine, he came out as gay. Some people were supportive, while others weren’t so sure. And when people began to comment, many used the word “distraction,” which came from former players, anonymous general managers, and NFL insiders quoted in a Sports Illustrated article.
Although some NFL teams aren’t betting on Sam’s potential, others believe that he’s good enough to get drafted. Some teams might consider Sam as a pass-first pick, but Sam’s ability as a pass-rusher and special-teams player could help them in the long run. But his openness may also make him a distraction to opponents. And because of this, his draft stock dropped overnight.
The NFL doesn’t allow players to be publicly gay and still play football. While it’s possible that a distraction may be appropriate, NFL teams have rules and regulations regarding media time with high-demand players. But the distraction element was generated by Bragman, who chose media outlets and crafted a message that appealed to the media. There’s a definite “distraction” angle that Sam’s public disclosure has triggered, and it’s one that’s unlikely to be easily beaten out.
Gruden’s anti-gay stances
Jon Gruden’s homophobic and sexist emails may be a distraction to his team. Despite his claims that he is gay, his anti-gay stances in the NFL are not unique. The Washington Football Team has been under investigation for a while due to a culture clash and several women have come forward detailing their experiences with sexual harassment and abuse.
In 2009, Gruden referred to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell as a “clueless anti-gay p—y.” He also criticized former teammate Carl Nassib, the first active player to come out. However, he did not apologize. Goodell’s apology came after Nassib’s statement. And this is where the issue starts.
Jon Gruden’s anti-gay emails were a distraction for the team and the NFL. They exposed how he handled the sexuality of players in the past. Some players were outraged and left the team. The Raiders have said that they will never hire a gay coach, but the anti-gay remarks in Gruden’s emails could cause distractions.