Toucher & Rich: Mark Cuban Predicts NFL Downfall
BOSTON (CBS) - The outspoken Dallas Mavericks owner thinks the NFL is getting too greedy and it will result in its downfall within the next decade.
"I think the NFL is 10 years away from an implosion. I'm just telling you, pigs get fat, hogs get slaughtered. And they're getting hoggy. Just watch. Pigs get fat, hogs get slaughtered. When you try to take it too far, people turn the other way. I'm just telling you, when you've got a good thing and you get greedy, it always, always, always, always, always turns on you. That's rule number one of business."
In recent years, fans have been averse to a number of different things by the league, including (but not limited to) the handling of the lockout, replacement referees, talk of expansion to London, increased number of Thursday night games, inconsistent officiating and the over-protection of the quarterbacks.
Fred, Rich and Jon Wallach discussed Cuban's comments Monday morning and the possibility of his prediction coming to fruition.
The discussion began around the new TV package for Thursday night games, which Fred believes has the potential to do more harm than good.
"The more that they keep putting the product out there the less special it becomes and the lower ratings it will get," Fred Toucher said Monday morning.
"It's the same point we made about the Winter Classic. The NHL stumbled onto something great and it was the highest rated event that they had, so they said, 'Oh, this works. Let's do another one! Oh, that worked, let's do 10 more.' Then it becomes something that's not special and ultimately it hurts the product."
Jon Wallach makes the point that it's not just the NFL spreading itself too thin during the regular season . . . it's also the offseason that's becoming a problem.
"It's expanding the draft to three days, it's expanding the legal tampering period and free agency. The NFL is trying to lengthen out its calendar so much. What makes the NFL special is the break. You get five days to concentrate on the next game in front of you, or you get two months before training camp starts," said Wallach.
"You anticipate, you look forward to what's ahead of you. If it's constantly being rammed down your throat it's not something you want to see much."
Fred thinks the game is also being over-covered by the media, and guys like himself are forced to repeat the same storylines over and over, day after day because that's how the league lends itself.
For Rich, the Thursday night games water down the product because of the extra stress and physical toll it has on the players.
But having said that, he thinks the ratings this year will be huge because they'll now be broadcast on CBS with Phil Simms and Jim Nantz calling the games.
Listen below for the full discussion:
Mark Cuban Predicts NFL Downfall
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