Everyone has a theory about why the NFL’s television ratings are down this season. In fact, your theory about that actually says a lot about who you are and your experience with the NFL. So guess what Drew Brees’ theory for the ratings drop is?
Drew Brees thinks the NFL’s ratings are down because people don’t trust the league office
Hmmm, wonder why Brees would think that?
Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
The Saints quarterback puts the blame on mistrust in Roger Goodell and the league office.
“I know the players don’t have any faith in the way that things are conducted within the front office in the NFL -- certainly when it comes to any type of investigation, when it comes to any type of commissioner discipline,” Brees told ESPN on Monday. “It’s really kind of a joke at this point, unfortunately. And it shouldn’t be like that.”
Brees speaks from experience. The Saints were hit hard with a round of suspensions in 2012 over Bountygate. Goodell and the league handled the investigation and punishments so poorly that former commissioner Paul Tagliabue vacated all of the player suspensions on appeal at the end of the year.
The year before Bountygate, Brees was one of several players representing the NFLPA at the bargaining table over months and months of contentious negotiations on the collective bargaining agreement and the lockout that year.
Offensive tackle Zach Strief echoed Brees’ comments.
“It feels like there’s this constant assault on the players, like we’re two entities. It’s like they don’t think they need us to do this,” Streif said. “And I think over time, as it’s constantly in the media and it’s constantly a public issue, I think the fans start to feel a similar way.”
He’s not necessarily wrong. Goodell has all the charisma and public appeal of a deposed tyrant ... except he’s still making decisions behind the curtain on Park Ave. On the other hand, it’s just one more reason offered for the slipping ratings we see week after week, none of which can actually be definitively identified as a reason for it.
But that’s what makes the ratings issue a blank canvas. Nobody knows what’s driving it, so we can all put our own spin on the reasons for it.
Don’t like the anthem protests? Blame Kaepernick. Coaches think it’s a declining quality of play, so they blame the cutbacks in practice time, an issue they always come back to. And on and on.
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