I have a deep hatred of the Cowboys (back to Hail Mary play vs. Vikes) but it makes compelling football to root against them. Oddly - I like Dak and Zeke.......not sure how that will play out for me over the next few seasons. I am a fan of good football - probably the funnest guy to watch this year is Tyreek "the Streak" Hill from KC - that dude is un-real. Good games will get me to watch - there have not been alot of them this year.
Why the NFL numbers are down....
- Thread starter GretnaShawn
- Start date
Did Dallas kill the draft last year or what? Can anyone think of a better draft in the last 10-15 years for one team?
I think there are a few factors into the perception of "good dudes versus not so good dudes" is exposure, season duration, and logistics.
Exposure
NFL: 22 players on the field at a time, only two-platoon systems, players wear headgear. So you aren't as familiar with the players on an individual level near as much other than the stars who get big endorsements.
NBA: 10 players on the court at a time, everyone plays both ways, much smaller area/fans are closer, and you can see the players' faces.
Season Duration
NFL: There are a few players each year who get in trouble right before training camp (late July/early August), then no one pays attention to the preseason (save for fantasy impacts due to injuries and roster decisions), then the regular season and playoffs span early/mid-Sep to early-Feb (5 months).
NBA: They are only not playing mid-June to late-October. The regular season lasts 8 months.
Logistics
NFL: Successful teams need regimented study and practice together before and during the season. And at most you're only traveling once a week and it's usually on a strict schedule.
NBA: Superstars on a given team can rely on spectacular individual performances, and I'm not sure how much time is spent in the film room (at least for younger players who haven't had to do that much in the past due to being head and shoulders better at earlier competition levels). I know veteran stars spend plenty of time studying to find an edge. But for the younger players, having the confidence to rely on their talent leads to more free time not in the film room. Also, they are playing multiple games each week. Also, there's a lot more travel, meaning more opportunities to F up outside a place you're familiar with. I looked at Boston's schedule (just because they were the first team listed on the page I went to). The Celtics have at minimum 21 different road trips for their 41 away games (might be more if they return to Boston between consecutive road games).
Maybe I'm oversimplifying or looking at non-factors, but figured I'd throw this out there.
I don't think you're over simplifying it, I think you're making it more difficult that it needs to be. I am drawing on memory, but IIRC, for every 100 guys in either league, the NFL had way more violent offense arrests and or convictions. Wasn't even close. Being able to see somebody's face while their playing had nothing to do with the report. I know this much, before I heard it, I never would have guessed it, but the NFL has way more bad dudes compared to the NBA. Maybe it's changed since, it's now been a while since he left and things can be cyclical. Having said all that, I am not an NBA fan, at all. I'll watch games 5 and beyond in the finals, but that's about it, and even then only if LeBron is in it. So I'm not sticking up for something I care about.
I agree with this 100%. Throw in the lack of "every down backs" that we used to see (name 5) and it's simply an unfamiliar product these days. I think that'll change as these young stars emerge.
Just one thing...NFL games are not too long. They do a nice job of keeping the games to a little over 3 hours. College games are the ones that are tediously long.
I think we're talking about two different things. I believe that the actual numbers show more "thugs" in the NFL than in the NBA. What I was talking about was the perception (and then rambled) and what factors into it (mainly the exposure).
Of course there are more thugs in the NFL than the NBA. The NFL has 5-6 times more players than the NBA.