Trade Big Ben?

[deliverance]

It's definitely not a good draft for quarterbacks. Bradford has the tools, but you have to be really concerned about his injury history. I don't care if he had that shoulder fixed or not. He looked very injury prone last year. McCoy will be a decent NFL quarterback, but he lacks a big arm and he struggles to throw the ball away when he's pressured. Tebow should look for a new position. Clausen? I'm not impressed. I think Bradford and McCoy have the most potential, but they both have major concerns. I wouldn't want to be looking for a quarterback in this draft.

[retro1530]

I personally think Dan LeFevour comes out of this class as the top quarterback. Let him sit behind a Brett Favre or Donovan McNabb before taking the reigns.

[abpk2903]

I agree complete TAE. That is why I might have watched 4 NFL games in entirety last year. I'm sorry but Goodell has ruined the league. THIS IS ENTERTAINMENT. If a player scores a touchdown, I want him to go jump in stands and celebrate. I am officially done with ESPN. They are the tabloids of sports. Why do people care about this stuff? Why is there a 5+ page thread about this? Do people have that little to do in life that they worry more about what someone else is doing more then themselves? This is why I personally am a fan of the NHL and NASCAR. Say what you want but those leagues care about the fans more than any other league by far. Over the last few years, probably well over 50% of the press time has gone to the following:

1) Mike Vick
2) Brett Favre
3) Plexico (sp?) Burress
4) TO
5) Ben Roethlisberger

The NFL has officially lost me as a fan simply because they don't care about their fans. Forget about Ben or the Steelers or the NFL for a second. Is it fair to we the sports fan to have one of the best performers (entertainers) in the league to have a guy suspended for things he was not convicted of? Do you here of stupid **** like this in any other professional sports league?

NFL = Days of Our Lives of sports
ESPN = National Enquirer of sports

[TheAnalyst]

If I'm not mistaken, neither the NHL or NASCAR have a personal conduct policy. The NFL does, so each player has to live by those rules. Whether he is guilty or not, his conduct was not what the NFL considers appropriate. Would you find it appropriate if that was your daughter? Especially in these kind of cases, it is very hard to get a conviction. That doesn't mean he didn't do something criminal.

The last thing NASCAR is concerned with is the fans and that is why they are losing them. They have completely abandoned the original intent of NASCAR and I and most of my friends rarely watch it anymore when we used to be diehard fans.

[The Ancient Enemy]

Its a shame there's only legitimate 1 pro football league. I dont think I'd want to work for an employer who takes the word of a drunk sorority girl, who dropped the charges I might add, over my own.

That conduct policy is a joke, Analyst. It basically says "You are technically allowed to leave your house after practice, but if you DO, and something does MAYBE SUPPOSEDLY ALLEGEDLY happen, we're definitely not taking your side, so good luck."

Besides, the NFL is on every dang TV 24-hrs a day regardless of what month it is, so I wouldnt be too concerned about them "losing fans". But I do know 1 they've already lost!

[abpk2903]

I'm not going to get into a debate with you about NASCAR. But lets look at some rules that have been added to hockey in the last 5 years just for the FAN.

-Took away the 2 line pass
-Enforced penalties much more to create more offense
-Added a shootout to rid ties
-Reduced the size of goaltender pads
-Eliminated icing on penalty kills to speed up the game
-Added the trapezoid

What has the NFL done for the fans?

Screw it lets look at NASCAR

Just this year these are some rules they implemented for the fans specifically
-Double File Restarts
-Wave around for lapped cars
-Set start times of either 7:30 (Saturday Night) or 1 or 3 (depending East or West coast)
-Up to 3 Green White Checkered Finishes so the races finishes under green
-Got ride of rear wing and went back to a rear spoiler
-Encouraged the drivers to "go at it" and "let there personalities come out" without fear of suspension

The reason fans are leaving NASCAR is because Jimmie Johnson has won 4 straight championships with 0 personality. At least NASCAR is implementing rules for the fans and doesn't suspend drivers for allegations.

[deliverance]

The NFL doesn't have to do anything for the fans because they already are making insane money. The NHL and NASCAR can't say the same. That's why they are forced to make changes and the NFL isn't forced to do the same thing.

[Crimsoncrush67]

Why did they change the overtime format then?

[TheAnalyst]

No matter if you think the policy is a joke or not, it exists. At the very least it gives them an excuse to do what they want. How hard is it to stay out of trouble and not put yourself in that position, esp. when you are a public figure and know you are putting millions of dollars at stake?

Show of hands - who here has followed a girl into a bathroom at a club? Anyone? Didn't think so. Something happened in that bathroom. That is pretty clear. Ben has admitted to something that the NFL feels is punishable. But even if you don't like the NFL, I think most would feel the Rooney's do try to run a respectable organization. If they are trying to shop him around knowing his ability as a player that may bring them a couple more Super Bowls and $$$$$$, then something tells me there is more to the story than what the rest of us know. Just my opinion. Now, do I think they should get rid of him? No. But one more incident and he'll be gone for sure.

I agree about the NHL. But they really need to build the fan base.

NASCAR has a big fan base. They aren't losing it because of JJ. The rules used to be that the cars they raced had to be American made, rear wheel drive, V8 models, with at least 500 motors produced for public sale in a production model car. People used to root (and still do) for certain makes of cars. But the rules all changed when they left Toyota in. It's getting harder and harder to tell one make of car from another on the track. The COT may be safer, but the cars all look the same for the most part. They didn't get rid of the wing because the fans didn't like it. Have you seen what happens to the cars when they get turned around? It really does turn into a wing. How NASCAR missed that I'll never know. But I really think the biggest problem with NASCAR is that it is totally controlled by 1 family. As their whims go, so go the rules.

[deliverance]

Why did they change the overtime format then?

They made that change because it made sense. It's not because they were winning or losing fans. Seriously, the NFL dominates all sports when it comes to the bottom line. They can do whatever they want. How convenient is it that they moved the New Orleans vs. Pittsburgh game to after Benny Boy's suspension was over? It was suppose to be the first game of the season. Also, they made sure no Steelers games were nationally televised until after week 6. That's why they make money.