The NFL Sunday Ticket package has been the cornerstone of the NFL’s Pay-for-View satellite broadcasting program. For $300 a season a fan could watch any game they chose rather the regional feed of the local TV affiliate. That way a fan of say the San Francisco 49ers, even though they were living in Miami, could watch the 49ers every Sunday. Also in areas that didn’t have a local or regional team like Memphis, Little Rock, or Casper, Wyoming, fans could have viewing access to any game they wanted to watch.
However, with Internet streaming, viewers have found a much cheaper way of watching long distance games. Most streaming sites charge a modest fee and some are even free. The picture quality is not as good as satellite but it isn’t bad and it’s improving. Last season, Sunday Ticket refunded the money of ticket holders complaining about the kneeling protests and wanting to cancel their subscriptions. This and the word about cheaper alternatives has put Sunday Ticket behind the eight ball, so to speak. The NFL has a contract with the Sunday ticket providers through 2022, but they do have an escape clause should they chose to exercise it. The plug could be pulled on Sunday Ticket as soon as 2019 if ticket sales continue to drop. We’ll see how it plays out.
BLM Protests Have Ended at NFL Games
Speaking of the Black Lives Matter protests, at games, particularly football, the kneeling during the National Anthem protests have pretty much ended — mostly because the TV cameras aren’t showing them anymore. Ignoring them is a much more effective way of dealing with them but because Trump and conservatives saw them as an election issue to run against. They were brought to the forefront by Colin Kaepernick, who found himself the object of both hatred and admiration. This year several things have happened. First of all Nike making Kaepernick the face of its advertising campaign took the focus off the issue from the sports venues to the shoe and apparel company. Also the NFL enacted new rules to punish those who didn’t honor the flag on field. Finally, and most importantly, the #MeToo movement has taken center stage in social consciousness with sports and the entertainment industry being the new media focus.
Another Game, Another Loss
Last Sunday at Lucas Oil, the Colts took on the Texans. The Texans had yet to win a game and the Colts were 1-2. The Horseshoe took the opening kickoff and marched down the
field with Luck showing some of his old passing form and passed for a touchdown. The next time the Big Blue got the ball it was on their own two yard line. Luck fumbled the snap in the end zone, a Houston defender fell on it and the score was tied. A little later on Luck was back to pass. J.J. Watt came roaring through and forced Luck to fumble again. Houston recovered and the next play they scored on an eight yard pass. As usual the Colts had no running game and Luck had to run for his life every time he attempted a pass. He did have the longest run from scrimmage for a Colt so far — thirty three yards. Sad when your quarterback is your most effective runner.
In the second half Luck went to work. Ignoring the running game all together Luck threw for three more touchdowns. Rookie running back Nyheim Hines. Hines seems to be most effective coming out of the backfield as a receiver. With a calf injury sending T.Y. Hilton to the locker room, Luck had to make use of his other receivers.
The pass rush was all of Texan Quarterback Deshaun Watson but he still got points on the board for the Texans. The game was tied at the end and went into overtime. The Colts had a chance to tie in overtime but chose go for the win and failed. Next upL Thursday night at Foxborough against THE PATRIOTS! and then nine days off. OBTW. Adam Vinatieri set the record for most career field goals made, passing Morten Andersen. Congratulations Adam, they already have your spot in Canton ready and waiting!
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