NFL Becoming 'Flag' Football?

[AZ BU Fan]

Getting hard to watch NFL on TV with all the penalty flags raining down.

Seems every pass play now results in either a catch or a pass interference/defensive holding penalty...

Along with all the roughing the passer penalities for just touching the QB, the game is becomming "flag" football





Guess the NFL wants their scores to resemble Aussie Rules Football

[Da Coach]

I agree. Plus, I have never seen so many illegal motion penalties as I have this year. The refs do need to call those when they occur, but for some reason, it seems to be happening more than ever.

[CubbieBear]

Getting hard to watch NFL on TV with all the penalty flags raining down.

Seems every pass play now results in either a catch or a pass interference/defensive holding penalty...

Along with all the roughing the passer penalities for just touching the QB, the game is becomming "flag" football

We were just having the same discussion this past weekend. Basketball has become more physical over the last 40 years at all levels---football LESS physical Several of us who played HS and small college football in the early 70's...we were taught to block below the waist & tackle in ways that are illegal now ( the helmet is there for a reason). The QB was a football player and only wore a red shirt in full contact scrimages...now the officials seem to put a red shirt on him during the game Pass interference was not an inadvertant touch past 5 yards, etc. It is becoming less and less of the contact sport it used to be. We also remember fewer injuries when we played the game and in Pro games when it was played the way it was intended to be played....and a lot of former players and fans (like us) are rapidly losing interest in what used to be our favorite sport.

[amckillip]

We were just having the same discussion this past weekend. Basketball has become more physical over the last 40 years at all levels---football LESS physical Several of us who played HS and small college football in the early 70's...we were taught to block below the waist & tackle in ways that are illegal now ( the helmet is there for a reason). The QB was a football player and only wore a red shirt in full contact scrimages...now the officials seem to put a red shirt on him during the game Pass interference was not an inadvertant touch past 5 yards, etc. It is becoming less and less of the contact sport it used to be. We also remember fewer injuries when we played the game and in Pro games when it was played the way it was intended to be played....and a lot of former players and fans (like us) are rapidly losing interest in what used to be our favorite sport.

Yet interest is at an all time high... I don't like seeing flags all the time, but it leads to more scoring, which is what people want to see.

[CubbieBear]

True...and soccer has become almost as physical (without helmets & much protective gear) as "the "watered down" version of football

And as you say..."people want to see more scoring" which is one of the reasons soccer has not generated a lot of interest around here

[FlyingSpaghettiMonster]

And as you say..."people want to see more scoring" which is one of the reasons soccer has not generated a lot of interest around here

I don't think that's the only reason. I've tried to get into soccer but just can't. I have zero interest in the sport but definitely see the appeal of the Euro leagues.

Some of the penalties are likely due to the lack of off-season workouts. There is definitely not a fan mass-exodus from football. The NFL is the undisputed king in the US with college football likely 2nd.

[CubbieBear]

I don't think that's the only reason. I've tried to get into soccer but just can't. .
There is definitely not a fan mass-exodus from football. The NFL is the undisputed king in the US with college football likely 2nd.

I didn't say "it is the only reason"...I said it is ONE of the reasons. Most of my friends (like me) also have zero interest in soccer. I have tried to follow (BU) soccer--and cannot do it So for entertainment---we are going to the WIU-ISU football game tomorrow. And there is not a fan exodus from the NFL---as amckillip said--interest does seem to be at an all time high. I was simply suggesting that many "old school" fans (like me) are very disappointed in many rule changes that have made the game less and less of the contact sport that it used to be--thus causing disappointment and declining interest for us

[FlyingSpaghettiMonster]

I didn't say "it is the only reason"...I said it is ONE of the reasons. Most of my friends (like me) also have zero interest in soccer. I have tried to follow (BU) soccer--and cannot do it So for entertainment---we are going to the WIU-ISU football game tomorrow. And there is not a fan exodus from the NFL---as amckillip said--interest does seem to be at an all time high. I was simply suggesting that many "old school" fans (like me) are very disappointed in many rule changes that have made the game less and less of the contact sport that it used to be--thus causing disappointment and declining interest for us

Falling down and pretending to be hurt as an accepted strategy in soccer is what really kills me. The lack of scoring isn't near as bad. Hockey is more popular than soccer in the US without much more scoring. I wonder how pretending to be hurt would go over in the NHL.

I am aware of the Giants vs Rams this year. It doesn't need to be discussed again.

[Da Coach]

Falling down and pretending to be hurt as an accepted strategy in soccer is what really kills me. The lack of scoring isn't near as bad. Hockey is more popular than soccer in the US without much more scoring. I wonder how pretending to be hurt would go over in the NHL.

The NHL penalizes players for "flopping". There was a penalty called on the Blackhawks last night for "unsportsmanlke conduct- flopping". Soccer needs to do more of that.

[jrish12]

The NHL penalizes players for "flopping". There was a penalty called on the Blackhawks last night for "unsportsmanlke conduct- flopping". Soccer needs to do more of that.

Technically a flop is supposed to draw a yellow card in soccer. I have actually seen a ref pull a red card because the player was over dramatic about the dive. It is hard to tell sometimes when it is a flop and when it is legit. Same thing goes for hockey, football, basketball, etc. If a hand comes near your face it is really easy to fake like you got hit in the eye or the mouth.

[AZ BU Fan]

Another incredibile call in the Eagles v Cardinals game...

Textbook block on 48 yd punt return mid fourth quarter ended up being flagged for "unnecessary" roughness because the blocker came in from the defender's back left side in an open field when he blocked him. The blocker was clearly infront of the defender when contact made to the defender's mid section.

Next there will be NO BLOCKING in the NFL, it will turn into the NRL (National Rugby League)..