Boutte

When I was young the NFL was the Greatest Show on Earth and we used to walk to school barefoot through the snow.

Well the first part of that sentence is true. And yeah I'm an old fart. But the game we're watching today is a poor imitation of what it was in 60's and 70's. It started when free agency was introduced in the early 80's. I understand that it had to happen. For the first time the players began to control their own careers, it was only fair. Before you know it the idea of parity began to take hold and there's a lot of positives to the idea that any team no matter how bad could turn it around quickly by signing the best players away from the more powerful teams.

The big draw back to that is that there are no great teams anymore. Yeah there are franchises who are great in that they manage to put a superior product on the field year after year but the teams themselves aren't great. If you never got to see the Lombardi Packers, Knoll's Steelers or Shula's Dolphin I'm sure it's hard for you really agree with what I'm saying. I think probably the last great team was the Cowboys team that featured Aikman and Emmit Smith. Parity has led to mediocrity.

As if that isn't bad enough the NFL has decided that what we want to see is run away scoring and unstoppable offense. Defense has become a dirty word. Even mediocre QBs are throwing for 35-40k on a regular basis. The rules have turned every defense in the League into the Washington Generals. A good hit is just as likely to draw a 15 yard penalty as a high five and heaven forbid a DB should break up a pass with by thumping a WR. (Oddly enough RBs are still fair game)

It's barely even football any more.