The NFL is becoming dead to me. And it doesn't even bother me.

[Southern Steeler]

If we were good, this wouldn't be an issue.

Incorrect.

The root of the problem for me would still exist. Hell, I didn't even get upset when we lost to Green Bay in the SB. That realization was a real watershed moment for me. Like was mentioned by someone above, I never missed a Steeler game unless it was something I just couldn't possibly get out of. I missed last week's game to attend a church function that was completely optional.

That is a complete 180 from 10 years ago. Last night's flag party just re-enforced why I feel the way I do.

On the plus side, my indifference to the NFL is making my wife very happy. I should get more nookie as a result.

 

[Steelr4evr]

Good or not the NFL product sucks balls

 

[Yinzerlyn]

It's sad when after EVERY play we are looking for flags and shocked when one isn't thrown. I wasn't even mad at the game last night- normally I would be a screaming raving mess at a performance like that. We cancelled our Sunday Ticket subscription this year. At first, I was pissed off, but after seeing how bad the league is now, I am OK with it. I hate what the game has become....I'm happier at a HS football game or watching college games.

 

[Hollywood Bags]

I saw Chancellor make the exact same hit Troy got flagged for twice last week with no penalties.

That's because Goodell hates the Steelers, you know. There's a big conspiracy against them.

 

[Southern Steeler]

To be clear, I am completely in favor of eliminating headshots. Neither Troy's hit or Mike's hit or the hit on Ben was a headshot.

Thats what pisses me off

 

[TDX27]

Sorry but I have to disagree with the hit on Ben. That dude took an unabated shot at Ben. He launched himself with the crown of his helmet in an attempt to take Ben out. That was a text book and easy call for the penalty. He will get fined by Rog this week if Rog comes out of his Ray Rice stupor.

 

[thumbring]

I think this will be the last year I have Sunday Ticket. I almost called and cancelled just now, but decided not to for some reason. I'm not sure if they'll even let you cancel at this point.

I just have to agree with everyone here. The game isn't the same game. It's super frustrating to watch. When Ben got hit early, my first reaction was, "that's not a penalty!" Then, the two personal fouls on Troy and Mitchell just reiterated what I've been thinking for the past few years. This isn't fun for me any more . I grew up watching a hard hitting game. As a Steeler fan and fan of defensive football, I can't stomach the rules today. And yeah, the team is bad, so that just makes it easier to not really care any more.

I was listening to Ross Tucker on Sirius NFL Radio this morning and he was saying all the same things we are. He said the penalties on Troy and Mitchell were ridiculous. He couldn't believe that Mike Carey said they were the right calls. So, we aren't the only ones. The NFL is going to be losing fans. It may not all happen at once, but in dribs and drabs people will turn away from the game.

Thanks, Roger. What a bang-up job you've done.

 

[oneforthebus]

He couldn't believe that Mike Carey said they were the right calls.

Unbelievable. Almost threw something at the the TV watching the replay of Troy's textbook clean hit and Nantz and Simms simultaneously agreeing with the moron Carey that there was no question it was a a good call.

I could handle the rule changes if they were called correctly and consistently. The rule seems to be "if it looks like a really hard hit we're throwing a flag". The refs basically gave the Ravens a TD on those two calls. I don't think we would have won this game anyway, but at least we would have had more of a shot.

 

[antdrewjosh]

Sorry but I have to disagree with the hit on Ben. That dude took an unabated shot at Ben. He launched himself with the crown of his helmet in an attempt to take Ben out. That was a text book and easy call for the penalty. He will get fined by Rog this week if Rog comes out of his Ray Rice stupor.

Its called football. Just cause its against us doesnt make it a penalty. He hit him in the chest. It was just a hard football hit. **** Roger and his bullshit. Just let them play the game they make millions to play. Dont want to play go do something else. None of the hits last nite were dirty to me.

 

[freak]

I watched until half time and went to bed. I have never done that before but I feel pretty awesome, so - I will be doing that for any night game at this point.

me too i recorded the second half , it was the first time in my life .. the godell tomlin combo has killed my steelers emotions

 

[TDX27]

Its called football. Just cause its against us doesnt make it a penalty. He hit him in the chest. It was just a hard football hit. **** Roger and his bullshit. Just let them play the game they make millions to play. Dont want to play go do something else. None of the hits last nite were dirty to me.

I know he hit him in the chest. Watch the replay, though. The rules state you can't launch yourself and you can't lead with the crown of the helmet. He did both. I don't agree with a lot of the penalties that get called either but this one I think was as obvious as they come.

My biggest question came on Troy's hit. Troy's options were to tackle the WR or make some kind of move (not sure how he could have not hit the guy) to basically not tackle the WR and let him run down the field for a TD. Those were the options based on the replays. If Troy doesn't tackle him, he scores an easy TD. And, Troy didn't use his helmet or hit the guy in the head or neck.

 

[antdrewjosh]

Thats that Roger bullshit. He hit him period. He didnt hit him in the head. Play ball. My thing is there is no consistency. What was the difference on Browns hit. Call it everytime(which i would hate) or not at all( which i would love). This **** is the equilavent of Nascar setting speed limits

 

[Superman]

He had caught the ball and was running, helmet to helmet no longer applies there.

you really believe that bullshit?

 

[antdrewjosh]

you really believe that bullshit?

Heath's play and Mitchell's play almost the same. Its bullshit. Make it reviewable. Because real time everything looks like a hit to the head. Who cares if it slows the game down more commercials for greedy ********

 

[Ron Burgundy]

I was at work and listening on the radio and Bill Hillgrove was losing his mind over the back to back penalties on Troy and Mitchell.
"Just get the flags out now and call it flag football. Touch football. Geezus...."

 

[SteelChip]

Football (NFL football ) is coming dangerously close to following what happened to baseball when it became the "empty stadium" game. Ten years ago, they packed up the bats and balls and went home for the winter, wiping out the World Series and alienating millions. Only now after a massive effort has baseball come back to a profitable venture. Soon football may get it's turn in the barrel thanks to the politicization and pussification of the game.

 

[LeXX75]

That's because Goodell hates the Steelers, you know. There's a big conspiracy against them.

stir...stir...stir

 

[strat68]

I spoke to one of the refs from last night at work this morning. I was kidding him that it looked like they were waving Terrible Towels I saw so much yellow. He thought the call on Mitchell was iffy and he would not of called it. He confirmed this by watching it later.

The problem, he alluded to, was that the league emphasizes "err on the side of safetly", to de-emphasizing it, call only what you are sure of. Last night the refs were still erring on the side of safety. The hit on Ben was definitely a penalty and the non-call on Brown's hit was definitely not a penalty according to how he explained it.

You get a different view of the game when hearing it from someone on the field. Things are happening so fast without the benefit of slo-mo replay you just have to use your best judgement.

 

[Troglodyte]

The NFL has done away with two things that made it entertaining; big hits and kickoff returns. Was there even one kickoff return last night? I can't even cheer after a big hit now, I'm holding my breath expecting a flag. Fantasy football now dictates the NFL game, the game as we new it, and especially Steeler football is indeed sadly dead.

 

[pittbull]

Where was the flag when Heath got nailed helmet to helmet and fumbled while in the grasp of another player, ie "defenseless"?

That hit was way worse than the one that gave them a first down at the 1.

I was wondering the same thing. Of ALL the personal foul penalties, it was the only one that actually had helmet to helmet. The others was just "abouve the neck" and barely...except the the hit on Ben...that was insane. Plus, Heath's arms were being held to his side by the other defender. That's pretty defenseless.

I agree with the OP. I was fed up last year too, but the the offseason cures allot of what ales us.

We're being punished for Harrison's tweets about Godell.

I think they should do away with the personal foul penalty for those hits, but jack up the fines. There is no way to call those consistently and accurately in the blink of an eye. Let the game go on, but take a good look at the file to make accurate decisions.

 

[steelgumby]

He had caught the ball and was running, helmet to helmet no longer applies there.

The quote after Mitchells hits was "they will call that everytime, play safety is paramount". If that is true, then the hit on Heath and AB should have been called. Having said that, i wish NONE of them were called. I hate that my boy and I can't hop around celebrating after a play as we almost always wait to see where the flag is. Sad really

 

[Coryea]

Heath was hit helmet to helmet, and if Brown wasn't hit in the head, why was he checked for a concussion? His head didn't hit the ground, I thought they were all good hard hits, but how do you flag troy and mitchell, but not the hits to heath and brown?

 

[steelgumby]

I actually heard this on sirius nfl this morning. Papa said it use to be any hit to the head or neck would draw the flag, now it is any hit near the head or neck. Ross tucker starts singing "head bone connected to neck bone, neck bone connected to the back bone, ...." was funny.

 

[OhioSteel]

These ticky tack personal foul calls are killing it slowly for me. I have just about had it. Not just the ones on Troy and Mitchell, either. The roughing call when they hit Ben was crap, too.

The players from 10+ years ago must be laughing at the blatant pussiness.

I am almost done with watching this stuff. Seriously. I have no passion for this game anymore, win or lose.

Rant over.

Well stated. Couldn't agree more. I used to be a raving lunatic during games. Now I just watch the activity and expect us to get flagged for ANY big hit. As far as I am concerned, Roger lobotomized the game we used to love.

 

[Punxsutawney]

I am not thrilled about the increasing regulation toward physicality in the game either, but it has not yet prompted me to hold the level of detestation toward the league that others here have expressed. I'm not saying it won't eventually; it just hasn't yet.

I understand the legal reasons the league has taken these steps. The owners need to be able to plausibly claim that they did what they could to reduce head trauma when the likely epidemic of brain issues from former players emerges in the next 10-20 years.

Concussions have trended down, while viewership continues to soar.

If you're dissatisfied with the product, the solution is simple: stop watching. The bitching and moaning rings hollow if you continue to tune in each week. The league could not care less how emotionally vested you are or aren't, as that has no bearing on the numbers.