Niner Noise
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NFL: The Improbable Decline of America’s No. 1 Sport

By Peter Panacy

Apr 28, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; NFL commissioner Roger Goodell (left) and Connie Payton announce the number eight overall pick in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft to the Chicago Bears at Auditorium Theatre. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 28, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; NFL commissioner Roger Goodell (left) and Connie Payton announce the number eight overall pick in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft to the Chicago Bears at Auditorium Theatre. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 24, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick in the AFC Championship football game against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 24, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick in the AFC Championship football game against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

Few Polarizing Teams

Well, the New England Patriots may still fall into this boat. Maybe the Seattle Seahawks for 49ers fans.

But any story or entity of this type needs a hero and a villain. I suppose Goodell is one, but that doesn’t help matters much.

Let’s go back to the NBA for a second. Love them or hate them, the Golden State Warriors are a team you’ll want to watch (and yes, I’m a GSW fan and have been long before the days of Mike Dunleavy and Troy Murphy).

Teams like these increase ratings and draw interest.

Think of the 1970s Pittsburgh Steelers, the 1980s 49ers, the 1990s Dallas Cowboys or the 2000 Patriots. You couldn’t help but take a side, regardless of your fan allegiance.

Few teams exist like that now. And while the parity is good, who are the heroes and villains?

There aren’t any, in reality.

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In truth, football is still king. And it’s highly unlikely the NFL will shrink its television presence simply because it’s the most profitable thing networks can air at the time.

And the controversies and confusion still won’t deter the vast majority of the fan base who still crave Sunday action. Thursday, Monday and even some Saturdays too.

Next: Carlos Hyde Fine Shows What's Wrong with the NFL

But if there’s one takeaway from all this, it’s the NFL is not quite the untouchable giant it once was. Not to say this is an unshakable trend. Things change, the league can change.

Yet such a shift seems the furthest from happening.