The NFL’s Biggest Liar

Roger Goodell would sell his grandmother’s walker if he thought it might make money for the NFL owners and indirectly, himself. He’s as disingenuous as they come. He uses words like integrity, safety, fan experience and fairness to give the impression that the NFL has the best interests of the players and fans in mind when the only thing – the only thing he cares about, is lining the coffers of the league’s treasure chest. Every single thing he does is about money, and more of it.

Safety?

He forces teams to travel across the country for a Thursday Night game. He campaigns for an 18-game schedule.

Fan experience?

Have you seen ticket prices? And what about the apps fans are forced to buy? And while you’re in those apps, you can’t jump from one channel to the next without exiting the app. And by the way, how many times did the app freeze during last night’s broadcast of the Vikings at Rams? (more on that in a moment) Oh, and how often is the enjoyment of a game in the Goodell Era, completely obliterated by penalty after penalty after penalty.

Fairness?

Give me a flippin’ break! How often does Patrick Mahomes get the Golden Child treatment? And now he’s using it to his advantage. When it appears that he is going to run out of bounds, players pull up and avoid the big hit and the 15-yard flag, opting instead for a gentle shove to end the play. Now Mahomes is deeking defenders, pretending to go out of bounds only to turn up field to add yardage to his scramble.

Patrick Mahomes was like, “I’m gonna go out of bounds… nah, never mind.”

This is awesome. pic.twitter.com/ko17cTOAbF

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) October 20, 2024

I don’t blame Mahomes. Smart play on his part. I blame the league and its incompetent officiating and lying commissioner for enabling plays like this.

Integrity?

Shut the front door! Are you serious? Integrity? Watch this play from last night’s game in Los Angeles. The Vikings were down 28-20 – a one possession game, with 1:42 to go. Then this happened.

Everyone in the world saw it except in this situation, the men who mattered most. #Vikings #Rams pic.twitter.com/4eNzgUddSX

— Tony Lombardi (@RSRLombardi) October 25, 2024

No flag.

Two points for the Rams.

Game over!

What might have happened if instead of Sam Darnold’s head, it was the noggin of Mahomes that spun around like The Exorcist? We all know the answer. Penalty flags would have fallen from the sky like a hailstorm in Colorado.

Despite the pathological liar who couples as the NFL commissioner, we keep coming back for more. We tolerate it all because we love the game, one that when at its best, apart from the bullshit above, is a great, great sport.

Lately though, despite the game’s greatness, it has become increasingly difficult for many to separate the bullshit. Some even give up on the game, opting instead for a fall drive in the countryside or reruns of Seinfeld. But no worries, there’s legal gambling and fantasy football to keep fans with skin in the games engaged.

And let’s not forget the new fans coming in from the periphery – the teenaged girls looking to catch a glimpse of Taylor Swift and all her glorious phoniness.

Welcome to today’s NFL.

The Taylor Swift effect was real for this year’s recording-breaking Super Bowl:

• Female viewership ages 12-17 up +11%
• Female viewership ages 18-24 up +24%

Women also represented 47.5% of the total audience for this year’s Super Bowl — an all-time high.

(h/t @paulsen_smw) pic.twitter.com/koBzRiao5n

— Joe Pompliano (@JoePompliano) February 14, 2024

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Source: https://russellstreetreport.com/2024/10/25/lombardis-way/goodell-is-a-liar/