There were a few interesting articles about the NFL during their mid-season ratings decline. A lot of the conversation focused on the fact that it has become much cheaper/higher reward to sign a lot of young players. If they turn out good, you pay them, if not, you cut them and someone else will take a flyer, no big deal. Owners are greatly preferring this strategy instead of paying top dollar for proven veteran players. So you have an influx of 20 year olds that should be seniors in college out there running around. The days of the really exciting wily veterans is dwindling. Its a young mans league even more so than it ever was, so the play has suffered a good bit. You also can't have success anymore without a proficient QB and so few teams have one, which just means the bad teams stay bad and further dilutes the league. There doesn't seem to be real rivalries anymore either, you see all the opposing players after games smack each-others assess. They are all getting paid, they are all represented by the same agents and unions, winning and losing does'nt have any consequence on their paychecks. Stay healthy, stay young, collect your paycheck. The teams all throw a ton, the defense is constantly punished. The NFL is basically the NBA.
