NFL killing the Golden Goose

There is really only one organization or entity big and strong enough to topple the NFL from it’s perch as the big dog in sports, as well in general as a business.

Yes, the only organization, maybe on the planet that can stop the National Football League is itself. And the league truly is trying to do just that.

The death of the NFL as the top dog is upon us.

The Kansas City Chiefs are not innocent bystanders in this ongoing path of self destruction. I’ll explain that in a minute.

I will start simply by saying this. There has been more negative press and information printed in various forums about the NFL then any other league. Yet, despite that, the turnstiles are still turning and televisions are tuning it at record numbers. So, how do I sit here on this warming June day claiming the league is on it’s death march while garnering record numbers? It’s simple, and we’ll follow in a few short steps.

First, the league – and this is where I’ll reference the Chiefs – has completely pushed the fans to the backburner to the point of largely irrelevant. Information is just too important to share with anyone. Call it paranoia. Call it fear, call it whatever you like. No longer do fans hear from their favorite players, past the occasional interview full of cliches.

Rookies have openly spoke to the point of being coached about what to say and what not to say to the media. The Chiefs are not unique in their approach, they are like every other team in the league. The Buffalo Bills informed media during OTA’s they basically are prohibited from reporting what is going on, what they are seeing.

There have been great stories involving the NFL the past couple years, and maybe none better then Eric Berry. Yet, in-depth interviews or feature stories (unless I’ve missed them) have not been done. Bizarre.

The league continues its effort to field a team in London (it’s coming) and taking games to Mexico, while fans that pay the taxes and parking and all the other ridiculousness involved with holding an NFL team in their town get the opportunity to watch their teams games elsewhere. Hello Chiefs in 2015 against Detroit in London.

We also can remember the Scott Pioli era in Kansas City, when fans and media were just not smart enough to understand information and knowledge, so nothing was given. Nothing was known.

Second, the controlling of information can lead to a negative side effect. Negative news. If the teams are going to control and limit the flow of information, the only news that media reports is the information available, and yep, police reports and other personal issues that become public knowledge. Because fans and media are unaware of the good in the league, we only see and hear about the bad.

Concussions, and I won’t go into detail or discussion over the controversy, but will simply put it this way. As more and more becomes known, fewer and fewer kids will play football. Many will turn to baseball and basketball, maybe some will turn to sports like golf or lacrosse, and some will turn to academic pursuits.

As fewer kids play football at the junior levels, fewer will play high school, thus fewer will play college, etc etc. Also, as fewer kids grow up playing the sport, fewer will have the adoration and love for football as some of us do. As they do that, money will flow elsewhere, and that’s especially true in place like Kansas City. Why, simple…

The Royals have captured the hearts, minds, souls and wallets of the local sports fan. Go into a sporting goods store anywhere in town, and it’s almost obnoxious the level that blue is going floor to ceiling. The Royals are the team. Fans feel a connection with the team.

A connection that appears permanently gone from the Chiefs, as there no longer is a sense of connection or community with the organization. Again, this is not a problem unique to the Chiefs, it’s an issue with the NFL.

The National Football League is the top dog, and it believes it is not going anywhere. It is calling our bluff that we won’t find other activities or other events to spend our time and money on. The league believes we will continue to turn the television on every Sunday to watch the game.

And while it may not happen this year or in the next five, understand this, the end of the NFL as the top dog has begun.