Distractions have become an all too frequent occurrence in today’s National Football League. It seems as if every week, another situation pops up and we are reminded ad nauseum of the disastrous effects it will have when the guilty party takes the field on game day.
Even worse, these lapses in judgment can take a toll on more than just the product on the field. These regretful instances have a deep impact on not only a teams’ morale and camaraderie, but the individual fan bases and society’s view of the league as a whole. Players who constantly get into trouble and bring unwanted attention to their franchise pose a threat to not only their teams’ on-field success but their off-field sanity.
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A team’s morale and cohesiveness can be shattered by one too many off-field incidents reflecting poor judgment. Far too often, we have seen distractions lead to trust issues in the locker room and in between the white lines on game day.
A hot-headed player who constantly gets into legal trouble like Adam “Pac-Man” Jones sooner or later deteriorates his relationship with his own teammates, who end up thinking that if he cannot do the right things with his freedom at stake there is no way they can trust him to do the right thing on a football field. The end result tends to be a one-way ticket out of town.
Distractions and discourse can also become a headache for any fan base, but especially one starving for a championship and a shot at respectability. The last thing a fan wants to see when their team is on the precipice of success is for one of their players to do something stupid or thoughtless that derails all the teams momentum.
We have also seen situations all too often with the Detroit Lions and Cincinnati Bengals where it seems they just cannot get out of their own way, and they end up leaving those in the stands disheartened and disgusted. It does not take long before those fans decide they have had enough of their home team’s ineptitude and antics and choose to spend their money elsewhere. Attendance is directly tied to the level of product on the field, and if distractions cause the product to decline, people are not going to show up.
Finally and most important if it’s not the individual fan bases, it’s society as whole. The professional athlete is already a polarizing figure on its own, and illogical and often times immature decision making does nothing but bolster the preconceived notion that they are all spoiled, self-absorbed, and overpaid crybabies. It is incredibly hard to garner any sympathy about your contract not matching your talent or production when you make a public spectacle of yourself and embarrass your franchise.
It is no coincidence that in a time where social media is king and athletes are more accessible than ever that off-field distractions are becoming more and more frequent. Recent incidents involving the New York Giants wide receiving corps and Pittsburgh Steelers star receiver Antonio Brown are clear-cut examples of how being too concerned with likes and views can have a detrimental effect on your teams’ success.
With the constant bombardment of bad behavior put front and center, it is no wonder the league has lost its appeal to some fans. Ratings are at an all-time low as it seems apparent that folks have grown tired of a terrible product held back by constant shenanigans.