If American Football wasn't called "football", would it be more popular...

[QUOTE=AngelEyes]Wow. Another moron who has no knowledge of the sport spouting off.[/QUOTE]


I think most of people who are "spouting off" obviously dont understand what they are looking at..

because if you know what is happening and you know who the players are and their strengths and weaknesses? then it isnt boring at all.

[QUOTE=Andrew Wiggins]once again you're missing the point.

no one's disputing the sport having a low participation level. but that doesn't necessarily equate to NFL players being "marginal athletes". the way people in this thread, americans i assume, are defining athleticism is by some of measurable abilities i mentioned earlier. if you define how good of an athlete someone is by those measurables, then many nfl players would likely be top notch "athletes"[/QUOTE]

No shit. That's essentially saying that NFL players are the best NFL athletes in the world. That's saying nothing.

[QUOTE=Rasheed1]I think most of people who are "spouting off" obviously dont understand what they are looking at..

because if you know what is happening and you know who the players are and their strengths and weaknesses? then it isnt boring at all.[/QUOTE]

Exactly. And to claim that the sport requires no skill, that's just pure ignorance. Every position requires an immense amount of skill, quarter backs being the most obvious one.

[QUOTE=LJJ]No shit. That's essentially saying that NFL players are the best NFL athletes in the world. That's saying nothing.[/QUOTE]

lol :facepalm

[QUOTE=AngelEyes]Exactly. And to claim that the sport requires no skill, that's just pure ignorance. Every position requires an immense amount of skill, quarter backs being the most obvious one.[/QUOTE]


:cheers: ya cant argue about a sport if you have no idea what you are talking about... thats what makes some of these comments hilarious..

If I sit down (totally ignorant of the ins and outs of the sport) and try to watch it?

yeah it will probably seem like people just running into each other/boring..

but it takes some real brass ones to come in the thread make silly arguments to people who do know what they are talking about

*cough LJJ cough*

I read that touch football was the fastest growing sport in my country last year, went from like 500 to 3300 registered players. I live in a small country.

LJJ digging a hole :lol

You're coming off as an idiot. Maybe you don't respect the sport, but using the word marginal to describe the athletes just makes you come off as another idiot flinging turds.

We KNOW the athletes are superior to many sports in certain aspects because that is what the sport demands. You can look at physical numbers from the combine if you need further proof that they are top athletes regardless of where they are in the world.

You also overlook a huge factor in your 'logic.' The money. The NFL makes tons of money. Professional athletes tend to go where there is money. The sport doesn't have to be played all over the world if it's the biggest sport in one of the largest markets.

[QUOTE=AngelEyes]Exactly. And to claim that the sport requires no skill, that's just pure ignorance. Every position requires an immense amount of skill, quarter backs being the most obvious one.[/QUOTE]
And what skills would that be?

[QUOTE=Blue&Orange]And what skills would that be?[/QUOTE]

The fact you even have to ask this question shows you won't accept a logical answer. Being accurate with a football is most definitely a skill.

What I don't understand is why people are discussing topics they have minimal knowledge on. Like I wouldn't argue to death any opinions about soccer because I don't watch enough soccer to know what I'm talking about.

Sometimes it's better to sit back and watch a conversation unfold so you don't look like an idiot.

[QUOTE=Blue&Orange]And what skills would that be?[/QUOTE]

Seriously? How about... arm strength, accuracy, footwork, field vision, ability to know and execute routes, body control, pass catching, blocking, tackling, punting, kicking, etc.

What a stupid fu[I]c[/I]king question.

[QUOTE=AngelEyes]Seriously? How about... arm strength, accuracy, footwork, field vision, ability to know and execute routes, body control, pass catching, blocking, tackling, punting, kicking, etc.

What a stupid fu[I]c[/I]king question.[/QUOTE]
Yes yes, you forgot to mention, time management, teamwork, leadership, self motivation, being able to talk, peripheral vision, having two feet.

My question to you is how ****ing retarded are you? Yes keep spouting generic stuff that all sports require. You raelly gonna win this argument.


Arm strength, really? a skill?
Body control? not suffering from Parkinson is a skill?
blocking, tackling? herp derp i can throw myself in front of someone herp derp
footwork, what footwork? Are you joking or being serious can't tell.
ability to know and execute routes? fancy word for run forward, lol, yeah not being brain dead and know to run forward where there is less people, amazing skill.
accuracy, pass catching? wow catching a ball, amazing stuff right there, for 12 year old girls with butter fingers.
The only thing that resembles a skill is the throwing of the ball, and that is like kindergarten stuff.


Find me a sport less skillful than this crap, i dare you. Ping pong > NFL

Even baseball needs more skill, batting a ball >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> anything on american football.


i remember when i was a kidd, our teacher sometimes would make us play "human footbal" basically nfl without a ball, we had to cross over the field without being touch by anybody, and everyone would whine, because it was SO BORING. You would love it, great display of "footwork, field vision, ability to know and execute routes, body control", it was all we had.

[QUOTE=The Macho Man]Football isn't boring. It's just boring compared to basketball.[/QUOTE]
It's all preference. I love football, but if it's not your thing I get that. Same with baseball. I played for 15 years so when I watch a game I'm sort of instinctively analyzing every pitch and what is going to happen next. A ton of stuff happens on the baseball and football field that a casual observer won't understand, and in turn that could very well lead them to be disinterested with the sport. And I understand and respect that. I'm the same way with soccer. I know only the rudimentary points, and I'm sure if I committed myself to learning more I might start to enjoy it, but I just don't really want to. Thusly it's boring to me.

I liken it to rodeo, because it's a fringe sport and a great number of people who watch don't really understand it. A lot of people will watch a bareback ride and all they will see is a guy hanging on and wonder how one can possibly be any different than another, or why "hanging on" is so impressive. But the more you watch, the more you realize how huge the difference between hanging on and a 90-point ride is for these guys. If you don't understand it, you won't appreciate it. And we're seeing a lot of it in this thread.

[QUOTE=Blue&Orange]Yes yes, you forgot to mention, time management, teamwork, leadership, self motivation, being able to talk, peripheral vision, having two feet.

My question to you is how ****ing retarded are you? Yes keep spouting generic stuff that all sports require. You raelly gonna win this argument.


Arm strength, really? a skill?
Body control? not suffering from Parkinson is a skill?
blocking, tackling? herp derp i can throw myself in front of someone herp derp
footwork, what footwork? Are you joking or being serious can't tell.
ability to know and execute routes? fancy word for run forward, lol, yeah not being brain dead and know to run forward where there is less people, amazing skill.
accuracy, pass catching? wow catching a ball, amazing stuff right there, for 12 year old girls with butter fingers.
The only thing that resembles a skill is the throwing of the ball, and that is like kindergarten stuff.


Find me a sport less skillful than this crap, i dare you. Ping pong > NFL

Even baseball needs more skill, batting a ball >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> anything on american football.[/QUOTE]
How old are you? Because your gross oversimplification of everything in this post is so logic-defying that I can't believe a grown man would actually say it.

[QUOTE=Blue&Orange]Yes yes, you forgot to mention, time management, teamwork, leadership, self motivation, being able to talk, peripheral vision, having two feet.

My question to you is how ****ing retarded are you? Yes keep spouting generic stuff that all sports require. You raelly gonna win this argument.


Arm strength, really? a skill?
Body control? not suffering from Parkinson is a skill?
blocking, tackling? herp derp i can throw myself in front of someone herp derp
footwork, what footwork? Are you joking or being serious can't tell.
ability to know and execute routes? fancy word for run forward, lol, yeah not being brain dead and know to run forward where there is less people, amazing skill.
accuracy, pass catching?[B] wow catching a ball, amazing stuff right there, fo[/B]r 12 year old girls with butter fingers.
The only thing that resembles a skill is the throwing of the ball, and that is like kindergarten stuff.


Find me a sport less skillful than this crap, i dare you. Ping pong > NFL

Even baseball needs more skill, batting a ball >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> anything on american football.[/QUOTE]

There's no talking to retards like you. A toddler can put forth a better argument than your dumb ass.

You make fun of the ability to catch a ball when soccer takes what skill.... ? Kicking a [I]fu[/I]cking ball. My god that is just so much more impressive. At this point you better be trolling, otherwise you may want to get a brain scan, perhaps too many concussions. Well, congratulations for separating yourself from the dumbasses.

[QUOTE=johndeeregreen]How old are you? Because your gross oversimplification of everything in this post is so logic-defying that I can't believe a grown man would actually say it.[/QUOTE]

I really hope he's a trolling 10 year old because his arguments are scary.

This idiot makes posters like Kennethgriffin and Nick Young look like some of the great thinkers of our time.

how can you see a receiver stop and go, keep his hands down til the last possible moment, then catch the ball and drag both of his feet to stay in bounds and sarcastically say wow?

I mean you obviously have to be athletic to play any sport, but soccer i just a lot more skill based than based on athleticism. Football easily has the greatest athletes out of any sport. It's not even close. You have guys who are 6'3, 220 pounds, run a 4.4 40 yard dash, with 35 inch verticals, bench pressing 225 pounds 20 times.

Those who talk about how boring it is you probably just haven't watched enough to appreciate the drama and strategy behind the game. Every play seems incredibly important regardless of what happens.

All the NFL fanboys have just taken over this thread.

Why is it so hard to comprehend that people have their own opinions on things? Many of us watch a lot of NFL (more than the average American) and we still believe its not the most physically demanding sport.

How is this an issue? Stop being so butthurt about someone else's opinion, how does it really affect you?

By the way I hate him but Christian Ronaldo is arguably the best athlete in the world.

[QUOTE=B-Easy8]All the NFL fanboys have just taken over this thread.

Why is it so hard to comprehend that people have their own opinions on things? Many of us watch a lot of NFL (more than the average American) and we still believe its not the most physically demanding sport.

How is this an issue? Stop being so butthurt about someone else's opinion, how does it really affect you?[/quote]
Do you hear that whoosh? That would be the point of this thread screaming over your head at mach speed.

[QUOTE=B-Easy8]All the NFL fanboys have just taken over this thread.

Why is it so hard to comprehend that people have their own opinions on things? Many of us watch a lot of NFL (more than the average American) and we still believe its not the most physically demanding sport.

How is this an issue? Stop being so butthurt about someone else's opinion, how does it really affect you?

By the way I hate him but Christian Ronaldo is arguably the best athlete in the world.[/QUOTE]

Christian Ronaldo? :roll:

The reason that af isn't more popular overseas is that it is boring game that has roughly 15mins of action for ever 45mins of commercials.

Also smh at the toughness argument. Do af players get routinely stomped, bitten, punched, spat on, elbowed/forearmed, scrotum grabbed, headbutted or eye-gouged? No? Than stfu.

[QUOTE=Blue&Orange]Yes yes, you forgot to mention, time management, teamwork, leadership, self motivation, being able to talk, peripheral vision, having two feet.

My question to you is how ****ing retarded are you? Yes keep spouting generic stuff that all sports require. You raelly gonna win this argument.


Arm strength, really? a skill?
Body control? not suffering from Parkinson is a skill?
blocking, tackling? herp derp i can throw myself in front of someone herp derp
footwork, what footwork? Are you joking or being serious can't tell.
ability to know and execute routes? fancy word for run forward, lol, yeah not being brain dead and know to run forward where there is less people, amazing skill.
accuracy, pass catching? wow catching a ball, amazing stuff right there, for 12 year old girls with butter fingers.
The only thing that resembles a skill is the throwing of the ball, and that is like kindergarten stuff.


Find me a sport less skillful than this crap, i dare you. Ping pong > NFL

Even baseball needs more skill, batting a ball >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> anything on american football.


i remember when i was a kidd, our teacher sometimes would make us play "human footbal" basically nfl without a ball, we had to cross over the field without being touch by anybody, and everyone would whine, because it was SO BORING. You would love it, great display of "footwork, field vision, ability to know and execute routes, body control", it was all we had.[/QUOTE]

[URL="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hfYJsQAhl0"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hfYJsQAhl0[/URL]

[QUOTE=Andrew Wiggins]Christian Ronaldo? :roll:[/QUOTE]

Clearly I missed the O.

Christiano.

You happy now Mr Wiggins?

[QUOTE=HarryCallahan]The reason that af isn't more popular overseas is that it is boring game that has roughly 15mins of action for ever 45mins of commercials.

[B]Also smh at the toughness argument. Do af players get routinely stomped, bitten, punched, spat on, elbowed/forearmed, scrotum grabbed, headbutted or eye-gouged?[/B] No? Than stfu.[/QUOTE]

Yes, to all of that. To a lesser extent these days, ever since Goodell was put in charge and the concussion lawsuits started coming in. The NFL is a barbaric game and it used to be even more barbaric.

[QUOTE=HarryCallahan]The reason that af isn't more popular overseas is that it is boring game that has roughly 15mins of action for ever 45mins of commercials.

Also smh at the toughness argument. Do af players get routinely stomped, bitten, punched, spat on, elbowed/forearmed, scrotum grabbed, headbutted or eye-gouged? No? Than stfu.[/QUOTE]

Actually yeah dude. My friend played high school football and told me some horrific stories about being in human piles on a football field. People grabbing his balls, biting him, elbows, the whole 9. I think rugby is a tough ass sport though, if I lived in Europe or Australia you wouldn't catch me on a Rugby field, just like you don't catch me on a football field here in the US :D

[QUOTE=B-Easy8]Clearly I missed the O.

Christiano.

You happy now Mr Wiggins?[/QUOTE]

clearly you missed more than that, because there's no athlete i've ever heard of named "christiano ronaldo"

[QUOTE=HarryCallahan]The reason that af isn't more popular overseas is that it is boring game that has roughly 15mins of action for ever 45mins of commercials.

Also smh at the toughness argument. Do af players get routinely stomped, bitten, punched, spat on, elbowed/forearmed, scrotum grabbed, headbutted or eye-gouged? No? Than stfu.[/QUOTE]

They get concussions, broken bones and torn ligaments. Pretty sure most studies show that American football generates more season-ending type injuries than Rugby which is mostly cuts, bruises, etc.

[QUOTE=PHX_Phan]They get concussions, broken bones and torn ligaments. Pretty sure most studies show that American football generates more season-ending type injuries than Rugby which is mostly cuts, bruises, etc.[/QUOTE]

A lot of injuries could be avoided if:

a) A running clock was instituted; players getting so much rest inbetween plays allows them to perform at a higher level, conversely allowing them to get tired would decrease the strength of hit/tackles.

b) Banning helmets etc; Might seem counter-intuitive, but banning pads would mean players taking responsibility for their own protection, not leading with their heads.

[QUOTE=joe]Actually yeah dude. My friend played high school football and told me some horrific stories about being in human piles on a football field. People grabbing his balls, biting him, elbows, the whole 9. I think rugby is a tough ass sport though, if I lived in Europe or Australia you wouldn't catch me on a Rugby field, just like you don't catch me on a football field here in the US :D[/QUOTE]

Did not know that. I though that cups (boxes, protectors w/e) would've atleast stopped scrotum-grabbing.

In any case the number of times per game someone has this happen to them in Rugby is far higher than amfootball.

In my playing days I didn't play a single game where I wasn't stomped on atleast once. Not to mention eye-gouging.

[QUOTE=HarryCallahan]A lot of injuries could be avoided if:

a) A running clock was instituted; players getting so much rest inbetween plays allows them to perform at a higher level, conversely allowing them to get tired would decrease the strength of hit/tackles.

b) Banning helmets etc; Might seem counter-intuitive, but banning pads would mean players taking responsibility for their own protection, not leading with their heads.[/QUOTE]

They probably could be, but that's not how the game is played.

And, do you really think the same thing that happens in scrums doesn't happen in football pile-ups? Not even just in pile-ups, the NFL recently went through a huge ordeal with teams setting up bounties to inflict injury on particular players to take them out of games. Plenty of dirty stuff happens in American football.

[QUOTE=Just2McFly]how can you see a receiver stop and go, keep his hands down til the last possible moment, then catch the ball and drag both of his feet to stay in bounds and sarcastically say wow?[/QUOTE]

Cause it simply isn't impressive skillwise. Athletically though? Stunning. NFL might have the best athletes in sports because that's basically what the game is. If you are more athletic than the other guy, you will have an extreme advantage in football. It's a body sport. Not many finesse skills are involved for the majority of the players...at least not to the extent that they are in other sports.

For instance, in basketball, you can be one of the best players in the league or THE BEST, but not be one of the most athletic (ie Bird, Dirk, Nash, Durant, oldman Kobe etc etc etc). Not as true for Football (though, in fairness, I have less knowledge of it). However, I do agree that the quarterback must have more than just athleticism. Meanwhile, soccer is a game that is almost entirely finesse and skillbased. To say they are less skilled is simply ridiculous.

[QUOTE=B-Easy8]All the NFL fanboys have just taken over this thread.

Why is it so hard to comprehend that people have their own opinions on things? Many of us watch a lot of NFL (more than the average American) and [B]we still believe its not the most physically demanding sport.[/B]

How is this an issue? Stop being so butthurt about someone else's opinion, how does it really affect you?

By the way I hate him but Christian Ronaldo is arguably the best athlete in the world.[/QUOTE]
Stop it, no one has even said that and you're the retard who asked this question "Also why do they have so much protection? Watch Australian football or rugby, they are just as rough, if not more and they wear nothing." Only someone ignorant to the sport would ask such a retarded question. And you are a disgrace to human intelligence calling CR7 the best athlete in the world nor do you even know what the definition of "athleticism" even means

People in this thread who DONT have any idea what NFL football is about are trying to find different ways to undermine it :oldlol:

it takes extreme agility (not to mention timing with the QB) to run a 15 yd out without ever looking back for the football and then catch it at the last second and drag both feet to stay in bounds and complete the catch

its takes extremely good timing accuracy and trust to drop back in the pocket when you are 6 foot 200 lbs and guys coming at you from all angles are 6-3, 6-4, 6-5 270+ lbs.. a Qb has to drop back (with perfect timing) and throw a perfect pass to a receiver cutting across (or running a go route down the field) the field right on the numbers.

if he holds the ball too long? he gets crushed.... not just tackled.. but crushed


It takes extreme agility and speed and timing to simply return a kickoff for a touch down


there so many different aspects that occur on the field that require perfect timing and trust in your teammates and supreme athleticism... its totally ridiculous to see people try to act like its something easy or mundane... it isnt at all


Im not even going to get into coaching... coaching is 50Xs as important in the NFL than it is in a sport like the NBA ... In basketball there are only 5 players on a the court for a team at 1 time.. A guy like lebron can take over the whole game and change a the course of a franchise BY HIMSELF..

football isnt like that.. Its called the ultimate team sport for a for reason.. you have 11 guys working in concert on both sides of the field and if 1 guy makes a mistake or there is some kind of breakdown? it can cost you points.. and few breakdowns here and there can cost you the game...and there are only 16 games in a season... everything matters soo much more than most other sports... there is no 7 game series in football.. its 1 game in the playoffs...

Its the real definition of WIN OR GO HOME... you dont get a game 2 or 3

people need to actually understand what they are talking about before they come on argue with people who actually watch and understand football..

stop...

[QUOTE=B-Easy8]Clearly I missed the O.

Christiano.

You happy now Mr Wiggins?[/QUOTE]



:roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll:

It is largely just what you grow up with. I don't think the name has anything to do with it. American football is just not that interesting to the casual observer. But if you grow up with it or put time into learning the sport then I'm sure it'd be more popular. But then that is true for any sport.

[QUOTE=PHX_Phan]They probably could be, but that's not how the game is played.

And, do you really think the same thing that happens in scrums doesn't happen in football pile-ups? Not even just in pile-ups, the NFL recently went through a huge ordeal with teams setting up bounties to inflict injury on particular players to take them out of games. Plenty of dirty stuff happens in American football.[/QUOTE]

I'm not saying dirty stuff doesn't happen, just not as much as other sports. American Football isn't even the toughest north American sport.

And c'mon man I've heard about "bountygate," whatchoo hink I live under a rock?

[QUOTE=HarryCallahan]Did not know that. I though that cups (boxes, protectors w/e) would've atleast stopped scrotum-grabbing.

In any case the number of times per game someone has this happen to them in Rugby is far higher than amfootball.

In my playing days I didn't play a single game where I wasn't stomped on atleast once. Not to mention eye-gouging.[/QUOTE]

I thought the same thing about the cups, but he told me a lot of players didn't wear them because they'd chaffe your legs up, or were restrictive and uncomfortable. He also told me when there would be a human pile and a fumble, sometimes players would stick their thumbs into the guys butt who has the ball to make him drop it. hahahahha. ****ing animals man.

I've never really watched Rugby, only once or twice. Seems like a pretty cool sport though. They have some badass uniforms, that's the main thing I took away because the strategy of it was completely foreign to me, lmao

[QUOTE=B-Easy8]All the NFL fanboys have just taken over this thread.

Why is it so hard to comprehend that people have their own opinions on things? Many of us watch a lot of NFL (more than the average American) and we still believe its not the most physically demanding sport.

How is this an issue? Stop being so butthurt about someone else's opinion, how does it really affect you?

[B]By the way I hate him but Christian Ronaldo is arguably the best athlete in the world.[/B][/QUOTE]

He's slower than Adrian Peterson, weaker, less agile, not as big, can't jump as high or as far, and can't take as much punishment.

How is he the best athlete in the world lmao.