Bleacher Report - Articles by Dustin McDaniel

Today's NFL: A Cure for Insomnia?

Dustin McDaniel — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 05:52:02 -0500

I have been an NFL fan my entire life.

Despite growing up in the heart of SEC country, I have always widely preferred the NFL to the college game. Since the age of five, Sundays have always been my favorite day of the week during football season.

That is why I am having trouble coming to grips with what happened yesterday, and seems to be reoccurring over and over as I try to maintain my enthusiasm for America's favorite sport.

I am becoming apathetic.

My favorite team has always been the Dallas Cowboys. Despite our ups and downs, my interest in the Cowboys never waned even during the down years.

Until recently.

I began my NFL day by watching the Tennessee Titans and Houston Texans game. Being from Tennessee, we get to see the Titans play every week. That's okay with me because if I was forced to pick a second favorite team, it would be the Titans. However, I only saw about half the game because by 12:30, I was sound asleep.

This is the fourth or fifth time that has happened to me this season, which is unheard of for me. Granted I am getting older, but this used to never happen when watching the NFL.

Sadly I had to admit part of the problem is because the Titans, despite having a better than expected season, are a pretty boring team to watch.

I skipped the televised Panthers and Broncos game to do other things—also unheard of at one point in my life—in anticipation for the huge Cowboys-Giants game later in the evening.

Sadly, as the game approached an hour away, I found myself only slightly excited. This was also unheard of.

I did manage to make it to kickoff and watched most of the first quarter, when once again I dozed off and managed to see about the last ten minutes of the game. I was shocked when I realized I had managed to sleep for two straight hours with my beloved Cowboys playing.

Then it hit me: I simply do not care as much as I used to.

The truth is there were a ton of close games yesterday with last second finishes, yet I felt little pleasure. Even after the Cowboys won, I can't help but think I no longer felt an emotional attachment to my team. Had they lost the game, I don't know that I would have felt much different than I did after the victory.

Am I the only one who feels this way? As I began to search for an answer, it hit me. The reason apathy has overtaken me isn't because I am getting older—it is because the NFL is becoming stagnant.

Even the close games just simply aren't as much fun as they used to be for fans. Therefore, the question is why has the NFL become so boring and can it be saved?

The following are my thoughts on what is wrong with the pro game and what can be done about it:

1) The Commercials. Part of the problem with watching an NFL game these days is the seemingly endless commercials. The networks even have to throw in a commercial after almost every kickoff. This causes a problem for the viewer at home because the game often feels disjointed. Every time I find myself getting excited, the flow of the game and the drama quickly disappears because there is too much of a lull in the action.

If I were the NFL, I would consider adding three minutes back to halftime like the old days. NFL games now only last three hours on average, give or take a few minutes.

Adding three minutes to halftime will not lengthen the game very much. The additional three minutes could be used strictly for commercials meaning less stoppages during actual game play. It also would allow teams to book better, longer halftime entertainment which would make it more fun for fans at the stadium.

2) Revamp replay. I am in favor of replay but it absolutely destroys the flow of the game. Too many calls are now being challenged when it is obvious the referees got it right. I don't know exactly how to fix this, but something needs to be done.

3) Allow emotion back into the game. The NFL has gotten ridiculous on its celebration rule. There is a difference between taunting and having a little fun. We claim football is a team game, yet the team is not allowed to celebrate together.

Though I am a Patriots hater, recall when Randy Moss scored a record setting touchdown last season. His teammates had the audacity to celebrate with him and were fined.

What exactly did Titans running back Chris Johnson do wrong when he celebrated by briefly banging on some drums against Kansas City this season? Johnson was fined for having a little fun that did not show up the Chiefs.

How about allowing teams 10-15 seconds for celebration, as long as it isn't obviously taunting? In far too many NFL games, I don't see any emotion. Just a bunch players being forced to act like robots.

4) Start playing real football again. Don't get me started on all these domed stadiums and retractable roofs. Football should always be played in the elements—but that one is out of my control.

The problem with today's game is the protection rules for the quarterbacks and receivers. You can't hit anyone anymore. The league needs to wake up and allow the defensive player some leeway.

Yes, a shot to the knees or vicious blow to the head should be flagged but when a lineman is going full speed at a quarterback, you can't expect him to make no contact with a quarterback after the ball is released. It is not football!

5) Start letting fans have fun at games again. I love the NFL's new fan conduct rule and think it is good for most fans. However, the league has totally missed the boat on making the game fun for fans.

The problem is there are way too many dull NFL games that fans are paying top price for. With the insane amount of money the league charges, the day and age of the true fan is over. Instead you get a corporate crowd, that are there to be seen but not heard. Many don't even dress in their favorite team colors and forgot about asking them to participate in a team chant.

While I don't condone this behavior on a regular basis (which is a problem I have with the college game), wouldn't it be cool to just once see NFL fans care enough about a big win to tear down the goalposts?

6) Do something about the boring piped-in music. I don't know why this annoys me so much, but it does. Every NFL stadium plays the same tired songs over and over again. Don't get me wrong, I love "Crazy Train" as much as the next guy, but do I have to hear that at every game at every stadium?

You can't tell one stadium from the next. Why shouldn't Nashville focus on the Nashville music scene? Why shouldn't the Saints have their own unique brand of music? I have to admit there is something special about hearing school bands at a college game.

I realize the NFL can't exactly do that, but perhaps having a team band or at least some variety among the stadiums would be nice.

7) Require every stadium to have a family section with discounted tickets. Is it asking too much for the league to start getting some real fans back to their games? Why not require all teams to designate 5,000 seats for families to sit together at discounted prices?

8) Require all teams to have cheerleaders. Most teams do have cheerleaders and while it is easy to forget about them when watching a game on television sometimes, they do make a difference. Why does a team like the Detroit Lions, which plays in a dome, not have cheerleaders?

The fans are bored enough watching their team play, so would it be too much to at least give them something to rally behind?

9) Re-examine the television rules. Nothing annoys me more than watching the ending of an exciting game only for it to be cut off because of regional rules. For instance, let's say they have switched to the ending of the Colts-Chargers and the game is in overtime. If the Titans are set to play next, the league will switch it off of the overtime thriller and immediately go to the Titans game because they are the regional team in my area.

Would it not make more sense to finish showing the overtime game? I have no problems missing the opening quarter of a game to see an exciting finish.

10) Have a salary cap for rookies. Part of the problem with today's players is they seem to think they should have some sense of entitlement. The league needs a strong rookie cap. How can the highest paid players be the ones who have never paid their dues on an NFL field.

Fans enjoy guys who bust their tail every play; many players today simply do not because they already have their millions.

11) Allow everyone on the roster to play. One of the reasons why so many games are boring is because teams have no depth. Get rid of the practice squad and allow all 53 players to play.

12) Do something about overtime. The NFL overtime system needs to be revamped. Today's kickers are so good, you don't have to move the ball very far to get in field goal range. Either allow both teams a possession or simply require the first team to score six points wins the game.

13) Start getting tough on players. The truth is all the owners need to take a stand and stop giving players tons of chances to grow up. If you or I had done half of what someone like Pacman Jones had done, we would have been fired from our jobs and forced to look for another one.

I am all for giving someone a second chance, but when it keeps happening, let them get a real job.

Why The Injury To Tony Romo Might Save the Cowboys Season

Dustin McDaniel — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 08:35:31 -0400

I had a bad feeling going into the Dallas/Arizona game. As a lifelong Cowboys fan, I have almost developed a sixth sense when it comes to the Cowboys. After beginning the season with a bang, for the last few weeks I have slowly watched a team quickly lose its fire.

There are many reasons for the Cowboys rapid decline. First, the secondary has been mediocre at best. Injuries have definitely played a factor, but the truth is Dallas simply is not aggressive. Far too many times this season, I have watched the Cowboys get picked apart because of soft coverage.

However, the secondary isn't the only problem Dallas has on defense. With the exception of yesterday's game against an immobile Kurt Warner, the Dallas pass rush has been basically non-existent. Any team that cannot cover receivers or manage a pass rush probably is going to have trouble stopping people.

There have been other problems as well. Jason Garrett, who is considered one of the finest coordinators in the league, made the decision to only allow Marion Barber eight carries in the game against Washington and I would be remiss without mentioning Adam "Don't Call me Pacman" Jones. I could comment further on Mr. Jones, but the truth is he should have never been signed to begin with.

That brings to an area that few people seem to want to address, the quarterback position. Let me begin by saying I love Tony Romo. There is no question he is one of the most exciting players in the league. With guys like Brett Favre pushing 40 years old, the NFL needed another charismatic quarterback who happens to also be a gunslinger.

Make no bones about it, Romo is good and he will continue to get better. Even though Romo, has only started roughly two full season of games, he already holds the Cowboys record for the most career three hundred yard games. Romo's style of play always makes for great television and always leaves Cowboys fans hopeful that we can come from behind at any moment. His style of play also is part of the reason why the Cowboys are struggling.

The fact is Tony Romo turns the ball over way too much. Until yesterday's game with Arizona, Romo had been intercepted in eight straight games. Even in Dallas wins, his gunslinger mentality often put the Cowboys in jeopardy. Far too many times, we allowed teams to hang around because Tony just can't seem to help himself. Another problem, Romo has is with protecting the ball.

Besides throwing too many interceptions, it seems like he fumbles every week. That is not always his fault. Against the Cardinals, Romo was hammered all day eventually leading to Tony breaking his finger, which would explain why he threw so poorly in overtime. When your pass protection is not very good and you have a quarterback who refuses to throw the ball away when under pressure, you tend to have a lot of turnovers.

I also can't help but notice T.O. is growing increasingly frustrated which means a major blowup is coming and coming soon. Despite claiming "that's my quarterback" at the end of last season, I somehow suspect T.O. is beginning to think about a divorce. All of this is why I contend the Cowboys may be better off with Brad Johnson for a few weeks.

I must admit I have never found Brad Johnson to be a particularly exciting player. His short and intermediate passes just don't have the same flair as a Romo to T.O. bomb, but maybe his style is what Dallas needs in the short run. Johnson has never made a lot of mistakes and he understands the game of football. Unlike Romo, he never tries to win a game with his arm and his demeanor rarely changes whether he is winning or losing.

When you look at the Cowboys roster, there is no question that Dallas is one of the most talented teams in the league. Once the secondary gets healthy again and the Cowboys start rushing the passer, the defense should be fine.

Anytime you have receivers like Owens, Patrick Crayton, and an improving Miles Austin, you have a solid receiving core. Not to mention the fact, Jason Witten and Marion Barber are two of the most explosive players in the league.

In other words, there is no reason to think the Cowboys cannot fix what is ailing them. The only real concern I have is leadership. Romo is a fun guy and I think he has a bright future ahead of him, but right now he is not what the Cowboys need in the short term.

Perhaps sitting and watching Brad Johnson play for a few weeks, will show Tony Romo and the rest of the Cowboys someone needs to step up and become a leader on this team. The Cowboys are simply too good to let this season slip away.

Gus Frerotte, Reggie Bush, Matt Millen and Random Thoughts for Week Four

Dustin McDaniel — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 10:19:03 -0400

I have always loved pro football, but without a doubt this is the most interesting season I have witnessed in a long time. We are less than a month into the season and already I have noticed a ton of trends and surprises. The following are some simple random thoughts I have flowing through my NFL-loving brain.

1. Switching quarterbacks after only two or three games seldom works in the long run. There is a reason why Gus Frerotte has played for seemingly every team in the league. He is a solid backup who is capable of winning a game or two for your franchise, but you don't want him under center every week. That being said, I knew Jackson was a poor pick when the Vikings drafted him.

2. Reggie Bush is finally learning the NFL game. College fans and even some NFL fans underestimate how much more difficult it is to run the ball in the pros.

3. Matt Millen definitely needed to be fired by the Lions. However, the timing of the move seems strange. Considering the fact that he should have lost his job literally years ago, why make such a big move one month into the season?

It is going to be another long season for the underachieving Lions, so they should have made this move before the season or they should wait until the season is over. Detroit seriously needs to add cheerleaders so Lions fans will have some sort of distraction.

4. The Colts may have to make a decision before the season is over. I have always respected Marvin Harrison and he is still a good player. However, his knee injury has obviously slowed him. The team needs to move him to the No. 3 receiver position and move Gonzalez up to two. That guy has star written all over him.

5. Brett Favre made a huge mistake going to New York (yes, all of us saw this coming). His years with Green Bay were magical. Growing up in a small town, Green Bay was always the perfect environment for him.

New York has an entirely different breed of fans. The Jets do not have a lot of talent and haven't for years. Favre is likely to win only five or six games this year.

If the team ever reaches 2-6 or something like 3-8, they would be better off sitting Favre and getting Clemens some more experience (though I am not sure he is the answer either).

6. I have always liked Jon Gruden and his passion. However, with the exception of winning a Super Bowl with Tony Dungy's players, how much success has he had? Tampa Bay's offense has been mediocre for most of his tenure.

7. I knew Michael Turner was going to be a good pickup for the Falcons, but I predict Atlanta is about to start a long losing streak.

8. I am curious about the Titans' backup, Chris Simms. If Kerry Collins falters, would Fisher be tempted to give Simms a chance? If so and Simms did well, would that mean the end of Vince Young? Simms is certainly still young enough to lead a franchise for years to come.

9. Speaking of the Titans, is there a more underrated coach in the league than Jeff Fisher? Fisher's teams always play hard for him.

10. Eli Manning looks different this season. I see a confidence in him I have never seen before. Two years ago, no one would claim that he measured up at all to his brother Peyton. Now, I am starting to wonder if someday he can be as good, if not better.

11. My beloved Cowboys are 3-0 and I am relatively pleased with what I have seen so far. However, I can't help but think the team still needs another receiver and the defense is still bothering me. The pass rush is virtually non-existent.

12. There were a couple of exciting overtime games this past week. That being said, am I the only one that still gets annoyed by the overtime rule?

13. The Bengals played well on Sunday, but with the talent they have at receiver and quarterback (I still like Palmer), how does this team not throw for 300 yards every week?

14. While I like Michael Strahan as a broadcaster, there are too many people in the Fox NFL studio.

15. I know it is early, but how much better do the 49ers look with J.T. O'Sullivan at quarterback? I wonder if the Lions regret letting him get away, though I think Kitna is decent.

16. The game has truly passed Al Davis by and did years ago.

17. A friend of mine and I were talking about this. There was a time in the NFL when every team had a decent quarterback even if the team wasn't winning. Can you honestly name 10 quarterbacks in the league that you would consider solid as opposed to mediocre?

18. Is it me or are there too many NFL stadiums that don't really have a great atmosphere anymore? Where are all the team chants?

19. As much as I enjoyed watching the Patriots finally get defeated in an NFL regular season game, let's not read too much into it yet. I suspect the Patriots will regroup and go on another winning streak.

20. David Garrard is overrated.

21. The Denver Broncos have been a fun team to watch this year and Jay Cutler is starting to look like he has the right stuff. However, until the Broncos learn how to tackle someone the team will go nowhere in the playoffs.

22. Am I the only one that thinks Matt Hasselbeck's career will continue to decline? I know he has a ton of injuries which have affected him, but I have a feeling even when he heals up his career is on the downside.

23. If anyone deserves to win something big, it is Drew Brees. That guy is the epitome of class.

24. Kyle Orton is not any better than Rex Grossman. I think you could alternate plays and wouldn't be able to tell the difference over the course of a season.

25. Felix Jones has star written all over him.

What Happened to Professional Wrestling?

Dustin McDaniel — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 04:16:01 -0400

I have always been a walking contradiction. While I consider myself relatively well-educated, being from a small West Tennessee rural county, I occasionally feel the need for unadulterated entertainment. One moment I may be reading Shakespeare and the next moment finding out when the next tractor pull is coming to the area.

In the '70s and '80s, there were few things bigger than Professional Wrestling in the West Tennessee area. As a small child and teen, I grew up watching local professional wrestling based out of Memphis (which is less than an hour from where I live).

Each Saturday morning, I would look forward to watching the likes of WWE announcer Jerry "The King" Lawler, Jimmy Hart, and others staging choregraphed fights that packed the Mid-South Coliseum. In fact, Lawler sold out the Coliseum more often that the other king, Elvis Presley.

Many big name wrestlers began their careers in Memphis or came through the territory to feud with Lawler. The likes of Randy Savage, Hulk Hogan, and countless others all fell to the feet of the "King."

In fact, at one point TV 5 studio wrestling was the highest rated program in the area. It was estimated that 40% of all televisions in the area where turned to wrestling.

As a child I absolutely loved it. In fact, it was a tradition that my mom would take me to the Coliseum on my birthday to see all of the matches.

As time went on, crowds began to dwindle in Memphis and since that time several organizations have came and went and so has my enthusiasm for wrestling. By the early 1990's, well-known wrestling promoter Vince McMahon had put most of the smaller organizations out of business by acquiring most of their top stars for his organization.

It was at this time that wrestling, or rasslin' as we refer to it Tennessee, changed.

As a child, I was always impressed with the storylines of our local wrestling scene. Many of the stunts and angles came across as "real." In fact, it was more than a decade later that most of us learned that Jerry Lawler had not really injured comedian Andy Kaufman during an infamous feud.

What made wrestling work during that time was the ability to "suspend" belief. Even though wrestling has always been more entertainment than actual sport, most of the storylines involved real life scenarios that made a small part of me wanting to believe what I was seeing was real. There was also a clear line between the faces (good guys) and the heels (the bad guys).

Today the landscape of professional wrestling has clearly changed. While no one can deny that Vince McMahon has taken a carnival type of "sport" and turned it into a multi-billion dollar industry, some of the fun and mystery is gone from rasslin'.

Wrestlers will openly admit on talk shows that what they do is strictly entertainment and some of the storylines are so outlandish that even when I was a small child, I would find them hard to believe.

While I will confess that I occasionally flip the channel onto Monday Raw when football season is over, it is just not the same. The emphasis is placed on things that could not possibly happen and there is very little "wrestling" that actually takes place.

Whatever happened to the days of a 20-minute match between two guys who actually seemed to know the difference between a wristlock and a wristwatch?

My Fearless NFL Picks for the '08-'09 Season

Dustin McDaniel — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 12:22:01 -0400

There is no sport that peaks my interest more than the NFL. The following are my picks for the 2008-2009 season. Please note these picks are for the regular season only.

AFC EAST

1) New England—They won't go 16-0, but expect another great season.

2) Buffalo—The Bills are slowly getting better. If Trent Edwards can show progress this team is probably good enough for second place, but I doubt they will make the playoffs.

3) New York Jets—I love Brett Favre and he will definitely help them, but I don't see the Jets winning more than six or seven games even with Favre.

4) Miami—The Fins have a new coach in Tony Sparrano and the Tuna will be watching this team closely. They will be improved but I don't see them winning more than four games.

AFC NORTH

1) Pittsburgh—If the Steelers were in the NFL, they would be Superbowl Contenders. Their schedule is too hard to make it this season but they will take the division easily.

2) Cleveland—This team has a chance at a wild card, but I could also see them taking a step back. Derek Anderson needs to have another big season and Jamal Lewis needs to repeat last year's season.

3) Cincinnati—Marvin Lewis needs to win this year. Carson Palmer is one of the league's best QBs, but the defense has to get better. This team could overtake Cleveland if their new defensive scheme under Mike Zimmer gets the job done.

4) Baltimore—Joe Flacco is starting at quarterback and the defense is aging. This team will be out of the race quickly.

AFC SOUTH

1) Indianapolis—As long as Manning and the offense stay healthy, this team scores too many points not to win the division.

2) Tennessee—The Titans still need an offense, but Jeff Fisher is the league's most underrated coach. The defense is solid. If Vince Young and the offense can score a little more often this season, the Titans will take second.

3) Jacksonville—The Jags could surprise but I see them taking a step back. I am not sold on David Garrard.

4) Houston—They are getting better but this division is too tough.

AFC WEST

1) San Diego—this is my dark horse for the Superbowl. They may actually be better than the Colts and almost as good as the Patriots.

2) Denver—The Broncos need to improve against the run, but this is a weak division. They will come in second. Is the Shahanan era coming to an end?

3) Kansas City—The Chiefs need a quarterback and a lot of other things.

4) Oakland—The Raiders will be improved and I am anxious to see with Darren McFadden can do, but the Raiders are a year or two away.

NFC East

1) Dallas—The Cowboys will take the division and have the talent to represent the NFC in the Superbowl. However, Romo has to prove he can win a playoff game first.

2) Philadelphia—McNabb must stay healthy and they need to learn how to win a close game.

3) New York Giants—This team will take a step back. They have some talent but this is a solid division.

4) Washington—I am not sold on Jason Campbell at quarterback. Jim Zorn was an interesting pick as head coach. Washington is no longer an easy coaching job.

NFC NORTH

1) Minnesota—Once again I am not sold on the starting quarterback. Tavaris Jackson is the key the key to this team. Defenses are going to start cracking down on Adrian Peterson so the Vikings need to throw the football. This is another weak division and ten or eleven wins is possible.

2) Green Bay—The Packers overachieved last season and Aaron Rodgers is basically untested. However, the talent is there and a wild card is not out of the question. If Rodgers has a big season the Packers could steal the division.

3) Chicago—Last year, the Bears had a ton of injuries. Unfortunately the Bears do not have a quality quarterback and the team needs more consistency running the ball. I don't think the Bears are going to be great, but there isn't a lot of difference between the Bears, Packers, and Vikings so they could surprise.

4) Detroit—How does Matt Millen keep his job? This team has some weapons on offense but one of the league's worse defenses. The Lions may outscore a few people but this team will be at the bottom of the cellar as usual.

NFC SOUTH

1) Tampa Bay—The Bucs need another receiver to scare anyone on offense. Jon Gruden is a likable coach but he really needs to win a few more games. This team still plays great defense.

2) Carolina—The Panthers could be the surprise of the league. If Jake Delhomme stays healthy and Deangelo Williams proves he can handle the bulk of the carries this team could take the division. They have a weak schedule.

3) New Orleans—The Saints will be better this season but I am not sold on Reggie Bush. The Saints cannot defend the pass which means they get into too many high scoring affairs.

4) Atlanta—Matt Ryan is the starting quarterback which means the Falcons are at least a year away from competing for the division. This team needs help in a lot of areas.

NFC WEST

1) Seattle—The Seahawks released Shawn Alexander, so they will use the dual running back system. The Seahawks need more speed at the receiver position but they are still the class of this division.

2) Arizona—I am glad the Cardinals are starting Kurt Warner over Matt Leinart. The Cards are slowly getting better. If the defense steps up, this could be the year the Cards actually win nine games.

3) San Francisco—This is probably the final season of head coach Mike Nolan, a classy guy who is in over his head. JT O'Sullivan has won the starting job at quarterback and Issac Bruce who was released by the Rams is the teams top receiver. That should tell you all you need to know.

4) St.Louis—The Rams had a ton of bad luck last season. This team is getting older and has no depth and a limited amount of talent in most positions. This team is probably lacking at four or five wins.

Top Ten Reasons the NFL Is Better than College Football

Dustin McDaniel — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 15:31:21 -0400

There is a misconception that all southerners prefer college football to the NFL. While I will not deny, that college football is king in the south, some of us prefer the pro game. Recently I read an article listing ten reasons why college football is better than the NFL.

I respectfully disagree. The truth is there is no right or wrong answer, it is a matter of preference and they both have good and bad things about thing. The following is my list of ten reasons why the pro game is better than college in my humble opinion.

10. Free Agency. While I know some of you hate the player movement and at times I do as well, free agency literally makes it possible for your favorite team to have a shot at going from last place one season to the championship the next.

Since most NFL teams are fairly even, the difference in two or three key players can make all the difference in the world. Can you honestly say 90 percent of college football teams can turn it around in a year?

9. Every team has a chance. This is sort of a continuation of number ten. The NFL requires you pay close attention year around. A good draft, trade, etc. gives every team a fighting chance.

In college football, the powers normally stay the powers and the lesser teams normally stay at the bottom of the standings. My alma mater is the University of Memphis and I love the Tigers but we compete in SEC country and play in a relatively poor conference.

There really is no reason to get overly excited because we have basically no chance at ever playing in anything but a small, meaningless bowl.

8. The NFL Network. How can you not grow to respect the NFL if you have this station? It literally keeps football on your mind 24/7.

7. Motivation. I laughed the other day when I saw one poster say NFL players are passionate except for Brett Favre. Peyton Manning isn't passionate? The New York Giants didn't show passion last season? Come on.

The difference is these are grown men that have to know how to keep their emotions in check during a long season, but most players play their rearends off and it is those special moments when you see a smile on Eli Manning's face that you realize how much this means to them.

In college, you see emotion yes, but going nuts over a five yard run is more a lack of maturity than anything. You have to pick your spots. Some of you claim it is all about money. Money is definitely a factor because there is a business side, but the NCAA is probably an even bigger business that exploits players.

The guys you rooted for in college are the same guys you rooted for in the pros. If they act up in the NFL, guess what? They probably weren't any better people when you rooted for them in college. I can't help but notice people like Peyton Manning who was a strong student in college and friendly to the fans, is still the same way today.

6. Sundays are special. I realize some people sit around and watch college football on Saturday, but some of us do the same thing on Sunday. Sunday is the day of rest. After church, I love sitting on my couch watching the NFL all day.

On Saturday, after a hard week of work, the last thing I want to do is sit in front of the television all day. I would rather be doing yard work or running errands.

5. Less emphasis on losing a big game. I know some people enjoy "how every game means something" in college football. I personally don't. Several of my friends are UT Vols fans have already thrown in the towel for the season.

Why? Because the likelihood of them competing for the national championship is already over. I don't like that. In the NFL, it is important to win most of your games for playoff positioning, etc. However, if your team lays an egg, your hope for a big season is not diminished yet. That keeps me far more interested.

4. Closeness of games. In the NFL, almost every game is decided late in the fourth quarter. The teams are so close in talent, more often than not you are going to get a close game. In college, if it is a non conference game, most of the time you are going to get a 60-7 blowout. Is that fun? Not for me it is not.

3. Upsets. There is a misconception that college has more upsets. Well, not really. It may seem like there are more upsets because there are a lot more teams. In the NFL, there are usually three to five upsets EVERY week but because the teams are so good, the average fan doesn't always realize that.

2. The quality of play. Look, there are some great players in college but in the NFL most, if not all are GREAT players. The college game can be very sloppy at times. I prefer the pace of the NFL game. The college game tends to drag sometimes pushing four hours. In the NFL, great catches and plays occur every week.

1. The NFL Playoffs. In the NFL and most other sports leagues, the champion is decided on the field. In college football at the I-A level, it is not. To me, it sort of makes the regular season not legitimate.

You bust your tail all year and then more or less polls and a computer decide who is going to play for the championship?

That means that a team like my U of M Tigers never have much of a chance to play for anything meaningful because they have the audacity not to be in a big conference with major bowl tie-ins.

Bonus: I would be remiss if I didn't mention the atmosphere at games. I will admit there are some fun atmospheres in college football, but there are also some great places like Arrowhead Stadium or Lambeau in the NFL.

I am not going to deny it is fun at a college game, but if I am watching it on television, give the on the field greatness of the NFL over college any day. As far as fanatical college fans go, that is overrated to a degree. If you are an alumni of a school or have family members who go there, I get it.

However, that is not the case for many people. Most of my buddies are UT Vol fans, though most never attended the University. The fact is they are fans because everyone else seems to be and the Vols win all the time.

A buddy of mine who attended the University of Memphis with me, once said he would never root for the Tigers in football (though he loves them in basketball) because they don't win enough for his liking.

Through the years, I have heard him constantly badmouth his beloved Vols when they lose to Florida. So is he a true fan if the Vols are a front runner? I am just saying.

For those of you who enjoy college football, this article is not a slam against you. I just personally prefer football at its highest level.

Top Ten Ways To Improve the NFL

Dustin McDaniel — Tue, 13 May 2008 05:02:45 -0400

Ways To Make the NFL Better

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I have been a fan of pro football since, basically, the time I could walk. While other kids played with tinker toys or Lincoln logs, I was playing with my electronic NFL football game (you know the one where you could barely control the players or throw the ball, lol) or wearing something related to my beloved Dallas Cowboys. I would wake up on Sunday mornings fired up about the week's games. It was more than just a game, it was a passion.

However, let's flash forward to more recent times. As I get older, my passion for sports seems to have diminished in some ways. I don't know if it's due to the hectic nature of my current life or the behavior of today's athlete, but I find myself caring less and less.

At one time, I not only followed the NFL, but most other sports as well (that also included fake sports like wrestling and even the roller derby—stop laughing). After the last baseball strike, I quit watching altogether.

The NBA bores me silly except during playoff time, I don't get NASCAR, and the BCS in college football is an insult to my intelligence.

That leaves only two sports I still care about, golf and the NFL.

However, in the last few years, something strange has overtaken me concerning the NFL. I have started to find many of the games, uh, boring. Don't get me wrong, I still follow the NFL closely, but my enthusiasm is no longer as strong as it once was.

Is it me or is the game just not as fun these days? I think the game needs a bit of an overhaul and here is the way it can be fixed.

1) Widen the field—Today's athlete is bigger, faster and stronger than ever. I mean look at the speed that even the big guys play with today.

The field should be widen to match that of the CFL. If there was more room to run around, you would see more exciting plays, and the superior athlete would have the advantage.

That is why Michael Vick was so exciting to watch. However, can you think of another athlete in the NFL that is that exciting?

That is because the field is too small, and there is limited room for the receivers and running backs to go.

2) Eliminate the fair catch on punts—I know what you are thinking. Some players would get killed, but if you widen the field like I suggested, there will be fewer injuries than you think. Nothing is more exciting than a great punt return.

3) Change the overtime rule—I am sorry, but this is one area where college football rules over the NFL.

The NFL rule is not exciting and unfair. It is pathetic that you can win the game without the other team touching the ball. Kickers today are more than capable of making a 50-yard kick, so the offense doesn't have far to go. Let's allow each team at least one possession, or play to six points.

4) Limit substitutions—One of the problems with today's football is that everything is package oriented. Limit the amount of substitutions teams can have. It is becoming increasingly difficult to wear teams down these days due to all of the substitutions.

There are other ways to improve the experience for the fan as well. Here is how I see it.

5) Extend halftime—In the old days, halftime was fifteen minutes. Did any of you even realize that years ago halftime was reduced to twelve minutes. This is a problem because it is impossible to go to the restroom and get refreshments.

I realize it is only three minutes but every little bit helps and gives more time for highlights which I think we all enjoy.

It also would allow the league to show a few more commericials.

6) Get rid of the boring piped in music—It seems like every stadium plays the same songs.It takes away from the atmosphere.

One thing that is good about the colleges is the team bands. I realize that is harder in pro football, but Baltimore has one and so does Washington.

Why can't the whole league? How about more team colors in the stands, team chants, and live music. It helps.

7) Cut out commercials after the kickoff—I realize you have to air commercials, but let's distribute them better. Excessive commercials after a kickoff ruin the flow of the game.

8) Make the big game seem big—The problem in the NFL is the regular season doesn't seem to have a "bigness" to it anymore. Some of the announcing crews are terrible.

9) Put some emotion back into the game—I realize you don't show an opponent up, but was there anything wrong with the old fun bunch in Washington?

Was there anything wrong with the Icky Shuffle?

Was there anything wrong with the Rams' Bob 'N Weave?

These things fire fans up.

Instead we have gotten ridiculous about taking the personality out of the game. Where are the characters that were so fun to watch? These guys are not fun.

10) Pay players on ability not potential—It is beyond ridiculous that any rookie can potentially make more money than, say Peyton Manning or countless others. Limit rookie contracts to three or four years and cap the amount they can make.

If they produce on the field, then the sky is the limit, but for every Manning there is a Heath Shuler or others. It ruins the team's cap space and forces them to get rid of older veterans. This in turn makes the teams mediocre.

The NFL is the greatest sport in the world, let's keep it that way.