That was God awful. I will never be able unsee that.

Ratings declined across all of "measured" viewing, not only NFL or other sports, and have since the advent of all the other sources of viewing the same content on other platforms. I have seen numbers as high as 20% of NFL fans that have moved to, or at least used at times, other means of watching their games. Many claim but cannot stop watching the game they still love.I would venture to guess that the actual percentage of those that have totally given up watching the NFL because of any sort of protest is under 1%.

Another major factor is the emergence of sports bars and restaurants. These establishment have exploded over the past few years and they just count as a single viewer even if the place is packed with 200 people. Another factor is The Red Zone that has become extremely popular among fantasy players and gamblers. It is not counted toward the viewership of individual games which is what the ratings you have mentioned are based upon.

I accept and respect your feelings and attitude, but the NFL is FAR bigger than this tiny objection from a vocal minority.

Oh, and I'll put up $20 that this year's ratings will set records if the season takes place because it is the only game in town. That is easy money for me. Take that bet, Danno, my friend?

Sure, I get what you are saying. I was also a season ticket holder for over 12 years (family season tickets since day 1). The last game I saw the saints play live was in London. Only then because that trip was already booked for sometime. Did not renew my season tickets and have not stepped foot in the superdome since. I don't watch my kids throw their tantrums so why would I buy a ticket and $9.00 beers to watch rich spoiled kids throw one?

Fantasy Football/gambling has made the NFL as popular as it is now and will continue for the future, until it doesn't. The end of the NFL could come from injuries, a general decline in talent or more than likely the greed of the owners and players. I don't care which one finished the job.

The NFL should outlive us all. And I would have bought those season ticket rights from you. We've been on the waiting list for over 15 years. I don't care what players do before games or off the field. I love the game for what it is ... entertainment. Life is too important to let anything to do with the fringe activities ruin my good time. Sure, I get bummed by a loss or a horrible call, but I let everything else roll off my back and even those don't stick with me for long.

Lol, the game won't outlive us all. Perhaps a more accurate statement would be the game *should have* outlived us all. If it were not run by a cavalcade of morons it would have a long life yet, but unless they reverse course quickly it will hit a peak and then start to plummet in the next few years. I'm not even factoring in all of the political bs, this is strictly based off of the neverending rule changes that are eroding the very essence of the game, and the terrible leadership of the owners and their puppet Goodell. The political stuff will lead to a faster end as well. Rest assured, now that the league has bent the knee (no pun intended) to BLM, more and more of these fringe groups will come demanding that the NFL bow to them as well. Next in line will be the LGBTHIJKLMNOP+ people. They tried a few years ago with the whole Michael Sam thing but the timing wasn't quite right. They'll be back in full force, the league will cave, alienate even more fans, then the next group will come along..lather, rinse, repeat. You're probably correct in your continual insistence that there aren't that many people upset enough about the kneeling to quit watching (though I'm equally as certain that you underestimate how many people are already at that point) but it will get there soon enough. Get whatever enjoyment you can from it while you still can, by all means. But you're kidding yourself if you honestly think the league isn't in serious trouble.

I didn't watch a single game two years ago, I won't again this year. It wasn't so bad, I watched college football. (and I'll stop even watching that if I have to)

There's a difference between sports and entertainment, by the way. One promises fair, unbiased contests in which the outcome is dictated by skill and preparation.

The other promises only the appearance of those ideals, but ultimately, operate only for maximum drama and profit.

So what does winning even matter if there's nothing real at stake?

I personally don't find it entertaining or enjoyable to be lectured about what I should be doing and what a piece of trash my country is and how I need to apologize for something somebody who looks like me did to do to someone who looks like him.

People can do what they want, but I can see how one would have to keep telling themselves it's only entertainment to chase away their own objections like a chaser after a teaspoon of harsh medicine.

You, my friend, are the one kidding himself. You are projecting your personal wishes toward the outcome of the league, but in actuality, the economic future of the league is in great hands. The NFL is far and away the most financially stable league in the entire world and the case of raw ass from a tiny percentage of Americans is not going to affect that status one iota. Bring on the LGBTQ and such. The vast majority of the world (which is now a quickly growing segment of the league's stakeholders) do not have an issue with that at all.

And to hell with the "essence of the game" argument. The game I started watching almost 60 years ago was different than the game I was watching 40 years ago. And that game was different than the game I was watching 20 years ago. And the game I will be watching 20 years from now will be different and I don't care. It's entertainment. Nothing more and nothing less. There is nothing sacred about it. The league has continued to grow through all the changes and will continue to do the same long past when you have met your maker.

The best thing you can do is accept that fact and just enjoy it for what it is ... entertainment. If you can't then you have been in it for the wrong reason all along and won't be missed. Sorry, but that is the brutal fact.

By the way ...

19-0 Baby!