You have to understand the growing demographics of the NFL fan. For example, the fans that seem to be upset about some kneeling protest are limited to a small percentage of white, conservative, mostly southern Americans. Fans in other countries have no issue with it. Ethnic Americans and domestic foreigners have no issue with it. Blacks fans have no issue with it. Liberal fans have no issue with it. The vast majority of moderate fans have no issue with it. Native Americans and other North American indigenous people have no issue with it.

The NFL fanbase is absolutely the most diverse fanbase of any sport in the world. It is the perfect model for economic success. If every fan that is so sensitive that something like that bothers them to the point of giving up great entertainment gallantly decides to, and actually does not watch another NFL game for the rest of their lives it will not be a blip on the NFL's bottom line.

That is a fact. The only thing that can affect the NFL bottom line is a global pandemic, another world war, or perhaps end times.

But back to domestic abuse, rape and murder. There is no more occurrences of any of these things in the NFL than in any other sector of public life. Perhaps even less per capita, to be honest. When it does rarely happen it is more visible than the couple down the street, or what happened in the park near your home last night, or what happens multiple times in every decent sized city on a daily basis.

I think you're making assumptions about fans around the world and their opinions of players...

You argue it's less prevalent in the NFL than public life but how do you know? All we do know is the NFL lies to protect it's image and therefore less cases come to light. Besides, multi-million dollar athletes committing crime isn't an apples-to-apples comparison with John Q Public. They make more in a week than most make in a year. So they should be held to a higher standard. Their gifts are physical and although admired, don't make them any better than you and me.

I wasn't referring to protests but since you brought it up, viewership did decline around the protests. Neither of us can say for certain it was solely due to protests but it's likely. You can google the data.

However, you've accurately pointed out protests didn't stop most fans (including me) from tuning in and spending money. Personally, I thought the issue was overblown.

But here's what I think you're missing:

The NFL has knowingly covered up:
- Rape
- Murder
- Domestic Abuse
- Critical Health Safety & Science
- Concussion Data
- "Pay for Performance" Hoaxes (I threw that on in because I'm still salty)

Life has a funny way of being cyclical and the NFL is not immune to history. One day, it will lose it's luster and my money is on fans finding something more entertaining to watch.

I don't need to google the data. I have went over it in detail the past decade. The nominal declines also coincided with the introduction of streaming services, Red Zone Channel, the popularity of central viewing points such as sports bars and such which do not count in the numbers, etc. This decline started BEFORE any of the protests started. Those on both sides of the political spectrum want to claim it is because of them. Wrong. Technology. Sorry.

I can't debate you on the impact of expanded technology but I will say as a parent of two young boys there's a list of sports I'll let them play before they ever play football (if at all). And thanks to the revelations about CTE, I'm not alone.

The growing awareness of the dangers of football is causing parents to push more kids away from football and ultimately away from being future fans.

I played baseball growing up. My older son was a swimmer. Neither of us ever played football. Yet, we are both die-hard NFL fans. Playing a sport has nothing to do with being a fan of the sport. At all. In fact, I have heard people say that they played football their entire lives and they have no desire to watch it.

You're talking about the past, I'm talking about the futre.

Yes. The future is bright for the NFL. They are just beginning to tap into the global market. A small percentage of American thinking about tuning out for one reason or another isn't going to register a blip moving forward.

I can't debate you on the impact of expanded technology but I will say as a parent of two young boys there's a list of sports I'll let them play before they ever play football (if at all). And thanks to the revelations about CTE, I'm not alone.

The growing awareness of the dangers of football is causing parents to push more kids away from football and ultimately away from being future fans.

While I was on my morning walk I was thinking about this. I have heard this argument before about the safety concerns for the NFL players and how it affects how people feel about the game. It is even more relevant considering COVID-19. I have always thought it interesting, this concern. Do people not realize there are dozens of professions FAR more dangerous than that of a professional football player? Should firefighters stop fighting fires? Should soldiers stop defending their country? Should construction workers stop building bridges? Should farmers stop growing crops? Should fisherman stop supplying fish? Should truck drivers stop delivering goods? Should we eliminate auto racing and MMA? How about movies stunts? What about trash collection? One of the ten most dangerous jobs in the world. How about mining? My dad's family were coal miners. Extremely dangerous. What about logging workers? Per capita the most dangerous job in the world.

There is definitely a risk playing football ... in any environment. But, they are well compensated so why should we be concerned over their welfare any more than they are themselves? They know the risks far better than us.

Adults choosing to earn their living in a hazardous field is nowhere near the same as trotting out your 5 year old to get his or her undeveloped brains banged around for years.

Adults choose, children don't.