But although the NFL has trumpeted these figures, by breaking them down we can see that streaming isn't ready to replace TV broadcasts just yet. The NFL confirmed to CNN that 460 million total minutes of video were viewed, meaning that despite a unique viewership of 15.2 million, the broadcast only had an average viewership per minute of 2.36 million. That number is far in excess of previous streaming records for NFL games — Cheap Jerseys last year's Super Bowl peaked at 1.3 million streamers per minute — but still well below traditional televised games that pull in 10 to 20 million viewers at the same time. In comparison, the last game to be played in London, between the Jets and the Dolphins, had an average of 9.9 million TV viewers per minute.
Yahoo autoplayed the stream on its homepage, its fantasy sites, and Tumblr during the game, a decision that undoubtedly inflated the number of unique viewers, but the company could argue its market share was also eaten into by TV broadcasts of the game in the Buffalo and Jacksonville areas, Wholesale Jerseys and in the UK, where the game was played. Still, the NFL's Hans Schroeder said the league was "thrilled with the results" of Yahoo's experiment, noting that it gave a game between two smaller market teams with losing records a global audience, coming from more than 180 countries. Expect the league to give Yahoo and its competitors more chances to stream games in the future, but as the bidding process for this one shows, expect them not to come cheap.
Monday, October 26, 2015
Who are the under-the-radar stars of the NFL season
The NFL is once again ruled by the likes of Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers. But this season has also presented several breakout stars as well.
One such player is Arizona Cardinals defensive back Tyrann Mathieu, who plays Monday vs. the Baltimore Ravens. Mathieu showcased his playmaking ability against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 3 by hauling in two interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown.
So we asked our NFL staff:
Which under-the-radar star deserves wider recognition for his play this season?
TOM PELISSERO
I’m not sure enough can be said about Arizona Cardinals receiver John Brown. Second-year pro out of Pittsburg State, had 48 catches and five touchdowns as a rookie. He’s already up to 33 catches in six games this season – including 10 for 196 yards in last week’s loss at Pittsburgh (with an "h") despite missing practice time during the week because of injury. Heck of a find by Cardinals GM Steve Keim in the third round. Even with a Wholesale Jerseys bad hammy, he’s one the Ravens will have to slow down tonight.
MICHAEL MIDDLEHURST-SCHWARTZ
I'll give a quick nod to Mathieu, since I brought him up in the question. We already knew from his time in the NFL and LSU that Mathieu had a penchant for the big play. But he's one of the most versatile defenders in the league right now and fascinating to watch.
But the player I really wanted to recognize in this space is Saints cornerback Delvin Breaux. Many fans might know Breaux only for a faux pas in which he lost track of a deep ball and veered off while Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Louis Murphy hauled in a 54-yard catch. GIFs of Breaux's misstep quickly made the rounds on Twitter. But Breaux has been stellar ever since, and he's one of the only players who has been able to keep Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones in check. For a Saints defense still in transition, the former Canadian Football League standout has been the season's most important discovery.
LORENZO REYES
Odell Beckham Jr. gets all the hype, but it’s another LSU receiver from the same class that’s bursting onto the scene this season: Jarvis Landry of the Miami Dolphins. He’s sure handed, gets a lot of targets, electric in the open field and versatile. Since Dan Campbell took over as the interim coach of the Dolphins, Landry has two receiving touchdowns and one rushing score. He has 36 catches for 395 yards and has added 77 rushing yards on just eight attempts this season. The crazy thing is that Landry could still use more touches. The Dolphins should take advantage of any time Landry may have left as an under-the-radar guy, as it may soon be running out.
NATE DAVIS
I’ll go with the Carolina Panthers’ Josh Norman. He’s gone from virtual Cheap Jerseys unknown to all-pro-caliber cover corner in about five minutes. Norman hasn’t pilfered a pass since Week 4 as quarterbacks have learned to avoid him, but his four interceptions remain tied for the league lead – and he’s taken two to the house. According to ProFootballFocus, Norman is tops at his position in 2015, well ahead of big-money corners like Darrelle Revis and Richard Sherman. Quarterbacks are managing a mind-bogglingly low 23.4 passer rating when throwing at Norman. And he timed his emergence well – he’s scheduled to hit free agency in a few months.
One such player is Arizona Cardinals defensive back Tyrann Mathieu, who plays Monday vs. the Baltimore Ravens. Mathieu showcased his playmaking ability against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 3 by hauling in two interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown.
So we asked our NFL staff:
Which under-the-radar star deserves wider recognition for his play this season?
TOM PELISSERO
I’m not sure enough can be said about Arizona Cardinals receiver John Brown. Second-year pro out of Pittsburg State, had 48 catches and five touchdowns as a rookie. He’s already up to 33 catches in six games this season – including 10 for 196 yards in last week’s loss at Pittsburgh (with an "h") despite missing practice time during the week because of injury. Heck of a find by Cardinals GM Steve Keim in the third round. Even with a Wholesale Jerseys bad hammy, he’s one the Ravens will have to slow down tonight.
MICHAEL MIDDLEHURST-SCHWARTZ
I'll give a quick nod to Mathieu, since I brought him up in the question. We already knew from his time in the NFL and LSU that Mathieu had a penchant for the big play. But he's one of the most versatile defenders in the league right now and fascinating to watch.
But the player I really wanted to recognize in this space is Saints cornerback Delvin Breaux. Many fans might know Breaux only for a faux pas in which he lost track of a deep ball and veered off while Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Louis Murphy hauled in a 54-yard catch. GIFs of Breaux's misstep quickly made the rounds on Twitter. But Breaux has been stellar ever since, and he's one of the only players who has been able to keep Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones in check. For a Saints defense still in transition, the former Canadian Football League standout has been the season's most important discovery.
LORENZO REYES
Odell Beckham Jr. gets all the hype, but it’s another LSU receiver from the same class that’s bursting onto the scene this season: Jarvis Landry of the Miami Dolphins. He’s sure handed, gets a lot of targets, electric in the open field and versatile. Since Dan Campbell took over as the interim coach of the Dolphins, Landry has two receiving touchdowns and one rushing score. He has 36 catches for 395 yards and has added 77 rushing yards on just eight attempts this season. The crazy thing is that Landry could still use more touches. The Dolphins should take advantage of any time Landry may have left as an under-the-radar guy, as it may soon be running out.
NATE DAVIS
I’ll go with the Carolina Panthers’ Josh Norman. He’s gone from virtual Cheap Jerseys unknown to all-pro-caliber cover corner in about five minutes. Norman hasn’t pilfered a pass since Week 4 as quarterbacks have learned to avoid him, but his four interceptions remain tied for the league lead – and he’s taken two to the house. According to ProFootballFocus, Norman is tops at his position in 2015, well ahead of big-money corners like Darrelle Revis and Richard Sherman. Quarterbacks are managing a mind-bogglingly low 23.4 passer rating when throwing at Norman. And he timed his emergence well – he’s scheduled to hit free agency in a few months.
Tuesday, August 26, 2014
Goodell needs to get out of punishment business
As the commissioner of the greatest sports league on the planet,
Goodell’s primary focus, every single day, is to keep the train on
tracks. The NFL is one of the greatest brands on the planet. Goodell’s
job is to keep that intact.
The league and its owners make money faster than the Denver mint can print it; Goodell doesn’t need to channel his energies on getting the league into the black. He certainly doesn’t need to overthink the marketing efforts of America’s most-popular game; if anything, the league is already “over-marketed.” And aside from the ever-growing issue of player safety, Goodell doesn’t need to tinker with the game itself, either. Fans already love what it is.
But there are days when it’s tough to decide if Goodell is preserving the greatness of the NFL or doing his damndest to tear it down. Yesterday was one such day.
The following scenario played out all across Denver yesterday: Broncos fan arrives at work. Rather than actually working (it was a Monday), Broncos fan eases into his workspace, turns on his computer and immediately surfs his way to his favorite sports news web site. Anxious to learn more about the recent suspension handed down to Broncos kicker Matt Prater, he scans for clues that help to make sense of it all. It’s a tough one to wrap his arms around because Prater’s violation is confusing, at best.
Broncos fan reads that Prater’s lawyer says his client was busted for drinking a few beers over the summer. A New York Times article he comes across claims that an NFL spokesperson “declined to confirm the suspension.” He learns that the Broncos aren’t commenting on the situation, either.
He finds some apologies and confessions from Prater himself – the standard, politically correct, written-by-a-public-relations-professional, regretful(ish) kind of statements – but still, he can’t make heads or tails of the suspension.
Frustrated, Broncos fan gives up his quest, determining only that Prater has – in some way, at some point in time – violated the NFL’s murky-as-mud substance abuse policy. He begrudgingly gets back to his actual job.
Later in the day, Broncos fan decides to rekindle his search for truth. He again scours the internet. Still, he can’t find much that’s “definitive” regarding Prater – only that his favorite kicker will be sitting out four games.
He does find a statement from Goodell, though. It’s not about Prater, but somehow his search has led him to this: “I would say the one person that has been very responsive and gone through the program is Richie Incognito. We are working with his people and monitoring his progress and it’s gone well.”
Broncos fan learns that Incognito, who was suspended indefinitely last season after a bizarre bullying incident with the Dolphins, may soon be returning to the NFL. Goodell seems supportive for some reason.
By now, Broncos fan can’t help but look at blog sites and fan interaction. He finds that he’s not the only one trying to figure out what’s going on with Prater. He learns, or thinks he learns, that in the NFL, it’s better to be involved in a domestic violence incident than drinking a few beers; that it’s better to intentionally try to hurt another player than consume alcohol in one’s own home; that some drugs, including a few legal ones, are less “bad” than others.
Discouraged, Broncos fan returns to real work.
Sound, or feel, familiar? Can you clearly determine what in the hell happened to Matt Prater? Nobody in Denver will stand up and shout that Prater is an angel, but this seems out of whack.
Maybe it is, maybe it isn’t. Maybe Prater has been flirting with disaster all along – it’s just that nobody knew about it. According to most sources, a penalty of this severity generally follows someone’s third violation of the league’s substance abuse policy. The problem, or at least it would seem, is that most violations are kept under wraps, all part of the confidentiality clauses written into the fine print of the NFL’s lengthy rules that outline the substance abuse or personal conduct policy.
Chances are, Goodell is simply administering punishment based on how the rules have been written and agreed upon by the NFL Players Association.
Ray Rice’s domestic violence incident certainly looked worse than whatever it was that Prater did. Rice’s actions were on full display, and they looked ugly. Fans don’t take into consideration that this particular incident was Rice’s first, or that Prater, allegedly, has had multiple infractions. This is not to say beating one’s girlfriend is “better” than drinking one too many beers – it’s most definitely not – but chances are, and in an odd defense of the commissioner, Goodell is likely following some kind of predetermined protocol.
But the problem is that perception is different from reality; and the real problem is that Goodell is in the perception business. How his league or his jurisdiction is perceived is everything; and right now, people are being turned off by the NFL.
Prater’s lawyer, Harvey Steinberg, planted a seed yesterday that dumped fuel on the fire.
“I wonder if we shouldn’t take a second look at the policy when only a couple beers were consumed at home while he was on vacation,” Steinberg subtly jabbed in a Denver Post article.
Adding to the perception that the league cares more about “a couple of beers” than domestic violence, Steinberg reinforced what every fan is thinking – right or wrong.
The league and its owners make money faster than the Denver mint can print it; Goodell doesn’t need to channel his energies on getting the league into the black. He certainly doesn’t need to overthink the marketing efforts of America’s most-popular game; if anything, the league is already “over-marketed.” And aside from the ever-growing issue of player safety, Goodell doesn’t need to tinker with the game itself, either. Fans already love what it is.
But there are days when it’s tough to decide if Goodell is preserving the greatness of the NFL or doing his damndest to tear it down. Yesterday was one such day.
The following scenario played out all across Denver yesterday: Broncos fan arrives at work. Rather than actually working (it was a Monday), Broncos fan eases into his workspace, turns on his computer and immediately surfs his way to his favorite sports news web site. Anxious to learn more about the recent suspension handed down to Broncos kicker Matt Prater, he scans for clues that help to make sense of it all. It’s a tough one to wrap his arms around because Prater’s violation is confusing, at best.
Broncos fan reads that Prater’s lawyer says his client was busted for drinking a few beers over the summer. A New York Times article he comes across claims that an NFL spokesperson “declined to confirm the suspension.” He learns that the Broncos aren’t commenting on the situation, either.
He finds some apologies and confessions from Prater himself – the standard, politically correct, written-by-a-public-relations-professional, regretful(ish) kind of statements – but still, he can’t make heads or tails of the suspension.
Frustrated, Broncos fan gives up his quest, determining only that Prater has – in some way, at some point in time – violated the NFL’s murky-as-mud substance abuse policy. He begrudgingly gets back to his actual job.
Later in the day, Broncos fan decides to rekindle his search for truth. He again scours the internet. Still, he can’t find much that’s “definitive” regarding Prater – only that his favorite kicker will be sitting out four games.
He does find a statement from Goodell, though. It’s not about Prater, but somehow his search has led him to this: “I would say the one person that has been very responsive and gone through the program is Richie Incognito. We are working with his people and monitoring his progress and it’s gone well.”
Broncos fan learns that Incognito, who was suspended indefinitely last season after a bizarre bullying incident with the Dolphins, may soon be returning to the NFL. Goodell seems supportive for some reason.
By now, Broncos fan can’t help but look at blog sites and fan interaction. He finds that he’s not the only one trying to figure out what’s going on with Prater. He learns, or thinks he learns, that in the NFL, it’s better to be involved in a domestic violence incident than drinking a few beers; that it’s better to intentionally try to hurt another player than consume alcohol in one’s own home; that some drugs, including a few legal ones, are less “bad” than others.
Discouraged, Broncos fan returns to real work.
Sound, or feel, familiar? Can you clearly determine what in the hell happened to Matt Prater? Nobody in Denver will stand up and shout that Prater is an angel, but this seems out of whack.
Maybe it is, maybe it isn’t. Maybe Prater has been flirting with disaster all along – it’s just that nobody knew about it. According to most sources, a penalty of this severity generally follows someone’s third violation of the league’s substance abuse policy. The problem, or at least it would seem, is that most violations are kept under wraps, all part of the confidentiality clauses written into the fine print of the NFL’s lengthy rules that outline the substance abuse or personal conduct policy.
Chances are, Goodell is simply administering punishment based on how the rules have been written and agreed upon by the NFL Players Association.
Ray Rice’s domestic violence incident certainly looked worse than whatever it was that Prater did. Rice’s actions were on full display, and they looked ugly. Fans don’t take into consideration that this particular incident was Rice’s first, or that Prater, allegedly, has had multiple infractions. This is not to say beating one’s girlfriend is “better” than drinking one too many beers – it’s most definitely not – but chances are, and in an odd defense of the commissioner, Goodell is likely following some kind of predetermined protocol.
But the problem is that perception is different from reality; and the real problem is that Goodell is in the perception business. How his league or his jurisdiction is perceived is everything; and right now, people are being turned off by the NFL.
Prater’s lawyer, Harvey Steinberg, planted a seed yesterday that dumped fuel on the fire.
“I wonder if we shouldn’t take a second look at the policy when only a couple beers were consumed at home while he was on vacation,” Steinberg subtly jabbed in a Denver Post article.
Adding to the perception that the league cares more about “a couple of beers” than domestic violence, Steinberg reinforced what every fan is thinking – right or wrong.
Buffalo Bills don't need new stadium to make money, succeed in NFL
The
Buffalo Bills' ownership situation aside, one of the hot topics in
Western New York is whether the team will need a new stadium at some
point in the not-so distant future.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell believes the team will need a new venue to replace Ralph Wilson Stadium. Goodell sees the $130 million renovations to The Ralph as more of a short-term fix. In order to stay in the Buffalo area, Goodell believes the team will need a new stadium.
But is a new stadium necessary? If some of the stadiums around the NFL are any indication, it's not.
Soldier Field, home of the Chicago Bears, underwent renovations in the mid-2000s and is still a great venue for football, even though the stadium has been open for 90 years.
Kansas City's Arrowhead Stadium is another great stadium. Renovations to the stadium were completed a few years ago.
Lambeau Field in Green Bay was also renovated in the mid-2000s and is one of the great venues for football. Sure, it won't host a Super Bowl. But it's one of the most historic stadiums in the NFL.
This is where Goodell is wrong. The Bills don't need a new stadium to guarantee the team's long-term viability in the league. The Bills need good ownership and, let's be honest, a winning team. The Bills have been a losing team for 15 years. The lack of on-field success hurts any team. It's one of the biggest challenges facing the Bills today.
The renovations at Ralph Wilson Stadium should help. The team should also consider a naming rights deal for the stadium. That could be a nice source of revenue for the team.
More renovations may be needed down the road. But the fact of the matter is that Buffalo doesn't need a Super Bowl-caliber stadium. Most NFL cities don't have such a stadium.
A total of 14 current stadiums have either hosted a Super Bowl or will host a Super Bowl in the next few years. That leaves 18 stadiums, including the aforementioned Arrowhead Stadium, Lambeau Field and Soldier Field, that haven't hosted a Super Bowl and probably won't host one.
Yes, the Bills should upgrade their stadium and make significant renovations to improve the fan experience. But building a new stadium isn't necessary.
If a new owner comes in and decides a new stadium is needed and wants to invest at least some of their money into a new home for the Bills, that's their decision. But the NFL suggesting that the Bills need a new stadium to remain viable is wrong.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell believes the team will need a new venue to replace Ralph Wilson Stadium. Goodell sees the $130 million renovations to The Ralph as more of a short-term fix. In order to stay in the Buffalo area, Goodell believes the team will need a new stadium.
But is a new stadium necessary? If some of the stadiums around the NFL are any indication, it's not.
Soldier Field, home of the Chicago Bears, underwent renovations in the mid-2000s and is still a great venue for football, even though the stadium has been open for 90 years.
Kansas City's Arrowhead Stadium is another great stadium. Renovations to the stadium were completed a few years ago.
Lambeau Field in Green Bay was also renovated in the mid-2000s and is one of the great venues for football. Sure, it won't host a Super Bowl. But it's one of the most historic stadiums in the NFL.
This is where Goodell is wrong. The Bills don't need a new stadium to guarantee the team's long-term viability in the league. The Bills need good ownership and, let's be honest, a winning team. The Bills have been a losing team for 15 years. The lack of on-field success hurts any team. It's one of the biggest challenges facing the Bills today.
The renovations at Ralph Wilson Stadium should help. The team should also consider a naming rights deal for the stadium. That could be a nice source of revenue for the team.
More renovations may be needed down the road. But the fact of the matter is that Buffalo doesn't need a Super Bowl-caliber stadium. Most NFL cities don't have such a stadium.
A total of 14 current stadiums have either hosted a Super Bowl or will host a Super Bowl in the next few years. That leaves 18 stadiums, including the aforementioned Arrowhead Stadium, Lambeau Field and Soldier Field, that haven't hosted a Super Bowl and probably won't host one.
Yes, the Bills should upgrade their stadium and make significant renovations to improve the fan experience. But building a new stadium isn't necessary.
If a new owner comes in and decides a new stadium is needed and wants to invest at least some of their money into a new home for the Bills, that's their decision. But the NFL suggesting that the Bills need a new stadium to remain viable is wrong.
Kelly's former players feel at home with the Eagles
Home? Kaddu is an undrafted rookie who
dresses in one of those temporary stalls on wheels set up in the middle
of the room. He went to high school in Vacaville, Calif., which
resembles South Philly not in the least.
But Kaddu attended college at Oregon, the alma mater of no fewer than nine of the 75 remaining Eagles, as they prepare for their preseason finale tomorrow night against the Jets.
"We get jokes from the guys here and there, but nothing too serious," said wide receiver Will Murphy, who walked on at Oregon and says he never had a one-on-one conversation with Chip Kelly - until the coach called Murphy with an NFL invitation, Kelly having moved from the Ducks to the Eagles last year.
But Kaddu attended college at Oregon, the alma mater of no fewer than nine of the 75 remaining Eagles, as they prepare for their preseason finale tomorrow night against the Jets.
"We get jokes from the guys here and there, but nothing too serious," said wide receiver Will Murphy, who walked on at Oregon and says he never had a one-on-one conversation with Chip Kelly - until the coach called Murphy with an NFL invitation, Kelly having moved from the Ducks to the Eagles last year.
Single Digits, Eagles Training Camp Edition
♦ Nick
Foles threw his only two interceptions last season in back-to-back
games. In between (covering a little over five quarters), he was
24-for-39 (61.5%) for 356 yards and one touchdown.
♦ No fewer than four non-QBs listed on the Eagles’ training camp roster played quarterback in high school: WR Josh Huff, T Lane Johnson, LB Marcus Smith II and DB Jaylen Watkins.
♦ Guard Evan Mathis has been on the field for 120 of the Eagles’ last 121 offensive touchdowns.
♦ The Eagles and Panthers (each 7-1) had the best records in the NFL over their final eight games of 2013.♦ No fewer than four non-QBs listed on the Eagles’ training camp roster played quarterback in high school: WR Josh Huff, T Lane Johnson, LB Marcus Smith II and DB Jaylen Watkins.
♦ Guard Evan Mathis has been on the field for 120 of the Eagles’ last 121 offensive touchdowns.
♦ LeSean McCoy’s 217 rushing yards against the Lions last season was a single-game franchise record. Just his 148 rushing yards in the fourth quarter of that game would have tied for the 26th best “game” in team history.
♦ Nick Foles had more rushing yards than the opposing quarterback in 7 of his 10 regular season starts in 2013.
♦ Of the 90 players that attended Andy Reid’s final training camp in 2012, only 25 were around for Chiop Kelly’s second training camp in 2014.
♦ Michael Vick started 40 games at quarterback in his Eagles’ career. The Birds were 20-20 in those games.
♦ Most points in the NFL over the final eight regular season games of 2013: Eagles 266, Patriots 265, Broncos 263.
♦ Only two franchises have gone longer than the Eagles (1960) since their last NFL title: Cardinals (1947) and Lions (1957). (Note: The Vikings won 1969 NFL title before losing in Super Bowl IV, the last one before the merger.)
♦ The 53 plays the Eagles ran in the first half of their first game of the Chip Kelly era was the most they would run in any half all season.
Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/boopstats/Single-Digits-Eagles-Training-Camp-Edition0827.html#wBWD2ooMg1lyGDGc.99
Preseason finale important for those building a resume
THEY HAVE MOVED past tomorrow night's
game already. At least some of them have. Amid a world that is
unwavering in its devotion to the immediate task at hand, a team's final
exhibition game is the NFL equivalent of a Sadie Hawkins dance, a night
in which protocol gives way to practicality.
The Eagles have 75 players on their active roster. At 4:01 Saturday afternoon, they will have 53. Of that total, at least half already have begun to work on the game plan for the Sept. 7 opener against Jacksonville here, which means they will roam the sideline tomorrow night with the intensity of casual fans who were gifted their tickets.
For the rest, though, tomorrow is intensity personified, one last chance to secure a spot on the roster, to convince the coaches of their aptitude or versatility, to add some film that can be used to find work elsewhere.
"That's key," linebacker Emmanuel Acho said after practice yesterday. "You've got to get quality film. Your tape is your resumé. Your tape is who you are. It could be a numbers game why you don't catch on in Philly. But if you have good tape out there, maybe somebody else will find you."
The Eagles have 75 players on their active roster. At 4:01 Saturday afternoon, they will have 53. Of that total, at least half already have begun to work on the game plan for the Sept. 7 opener against Jacksonville here, which means they will roam the sideline tomorrow night with the intensity of casual fans who were gifted their tickets.
For the rest, though, tomorrow is intensity personified, one last chance to secure a spot on the roster, to convince the coaches of their aptitude or versatility, to add some film that can be used to find work elsewhere.
"That's key," linebacker Emmanuel Acho said after practice yesterday. "You've got to get quality film. Your tape is your resumé. Your tape is who you are. It could be a numbers game why you don't catch on in Philly. But if you have good tape out there, maybe somebody else will find you."
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