Has NFL Become A Mediocre League?

After watching this season, well the last few seasons there is only one team that has been consistently good, the New England Patriots. Other than that the league is wide open, the way the hierarchy intended. I don't know whether the talent is diluted due to the size of the league, the salary cap and free agency, or a combination. The play at times seems sloppy with bad technique blocking, tackling, and especially pass catching. I believe that's why one player makes such a difference.

I don't see the caliber of play, I'm not talking intensity, that I saw thru the mid 70's. The execution isn't the same. Any thoughts?

[Lindyhopper49]

As a giants fan I have to disagree about the patriots being "consistently good"... their secondary was horrid by then end of the year, they ended up basically signing people off the street (that is what happens when you fill your team with old men).
But yes there is a lack of basic tackling skills (leading to unfortunate injuries and increased hits to the head), perhaps because everyone is trying to get on the highlight reel.

Another factor contributing to the "mediocre" nfl is the "win now!" attitude where teams and coaches aren't given enough time to get good! Everyone wants to get the next Tom Brady out of the draft and have him be amazing right out of the blocks, Tom Brady wasnt even Tom Brady to start with (he rode the bench for a few years learning!). I think we all need to calm down! Matt Ryan is the exception rather than the rule.

Could the fantasy football phenomenon have anything to do with it? Fans to a certain extent have no one "team" anymore, rather a collection of players whom they want to be good. Thus with out the extensive dedicated fan base teams and players need to be good NOW! leaving little time to develop and properly train players to be well rounded and amazing in the future.

...at least Football is better than Soccer...

[Electric Coach]

There are two reasons I think the game may appear to have lost its luster is speed and schemes. During the 70’s, speed varied among the different teams. In most cases, the wide receivers, running backs, and defensive backs were the fastest men on the field. The linemen both defensive and offensive were always the slowest. The linebackers were somewhat fast.

Today, every player on the field is explosive. Running backs can’t just out run the defense anymore. Quarterbacks have to run for their lives more often now. That takes away from the passing game. The QB that can’t run as well as he throws is at risk of being sacked more often or poorly throwing the ball. Gone are the days of the true pocket QB.

Teams have gotten better at scheming. During practice, teams talk about the tendencies of their opponents. Teams have learned to react to situations. An example would be the cornerback covering a receiver using the sideline as a 12th man. There are situations when a covering corner can look at the QB while allowing a receiver to run up the sideline because he has help from his safeties over top.

Back in the 70’s and earlier, the defense just went straight at the offense. The cornerback would just beat up the receiver with his back to the QB and the safeties would come up and hit people.

Execution is reduced when both teams are scheming and speeding all over the field. You get a good football game when the teams involved find that balance of speed and scheme.

Maurice

The Electric Coach

[rjackson]

....for it to be the most watched sport known to mankind right now that is a bold statement. I agree with Electric Coach. Not only the schemes it is the money that is being shelled out for unproven players. If they get a cap on Rookie money, and give the rest of the money to proven veterans, then the Rookies will have to start earning their money, instead of it being giving to them in guaranteed money before they have even played a down in the NFL.

[detroitchild]

I don't know if you can call the NFL mediocre or not but I do long for the teams from the '70's. I agree with Maurice in that players are bigger, faster, stronger than yester-year but it seems like the brand of football was more exciting back then. In my opinion today's players lack fundamentals and proper technique but they try to compensate with speed and brute strength. The game is no longer a chess match (not that it's suppose to as it is football...a violent game), coach v. coach, QB v. the secondary, and the contrast in styles. That brings me to the lack of REAL rivalries in today's game. Back then you had Cowboys v. Redskins (trust me...it's not the same today), Steelers v. Cowboys, Vikings v. Rams, and my favorite...Raiders v. Steelers (a regular blood bath).

The quality of play/games is just not the same to me and with the money involved it will never be the same again.

I don't think it is mediocre. I think there is to much money in it. The game has become to protecetive of its star players. The 70's brought a physical brand of football. Teams won superbowls behind a running game and a strong defense. Now I think it is more of a chess game. Teams have to scheme against these attacking defenses. P. Manning has demonstrated the chess match on the field. I like the type of play teams like the ravens, steelers, and at times the vikings ( please get a qb) bring to the game.

[jimmie]

I think that what you are seeing is that the NFL has become so much of a business that many players are just earning a check!!I think they are going the motions of playing some care and play hard most dont!!Crusader right in what he seeing miss tackles lack luster play go back and look at the Jets game they had no heart look at the cowboys no heart lions 0-16 Rams 2-14 bengals, Chiefs, Browns,San Fransico,Green bay, chicago,I mean they all stunk!!Yet the players were still paid thier millions!!Also their is nothing to compare the NFL with other than College its the only game in town!!But I think the play is watered down u know!!

[Orleanian In Exile]

All I can say about is what I see, and for what I see, college football has more intensity and more risk-taking than what I've caught in an NFL game most times these past few years. I have now long preferred it over the pro game. I think part of the problem is that in the NFL, the players aren't players anymore as much as they are multimillion dollar assets, and that tends to make the current NFL philosophy very conservative, as no owner or coach who's interested in keeping his job is going to want to risk the long-term viability of such an investment.

It also doesn't help that the playoff structure has now expanded to twelve teams and you've got a situation in which a mediocre 8-8 team can qualify for the postseason. Unnecessary, as you've now got four evenly organised divisions in both conferences. Do away with the wildcards and simply have the division winners going at it; playoffs should be an exclusive club in which only the best of the season get invited to join, and there's no real reason to have a postseason which extends into February.