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The NFL Fan Poll Sports Illustrated

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The NFL Fan Poll Sports Illustrated If your son wanted to . So says a poll conducted last weekend by tle field-side cannons fired play tackle football, SPORTS ILLUSTRATED through Marketing & confetti, and commissioner would you let him? Roger Goodell stood tall in (Those without kids Research Resources, Inc. The responses his blue suit as he presented were asked to respond (collected from more than 500 NFL fans, with the Lombardi Trophy to theoretically.) a margin of error of plus/minus 4.33 percentage New York owner John Mara. NFL I raced onto the field to in- E FA Said H N points) reflect changing views about the game— terview the victors as one T No P including the author’s own | BY TIM LAYDEN of coach Tom Coughlin’s O L grandchildren made snow L On the third night of February in 2008, little- angels in a pile of pastel-colored paper. Writing Said Yes used Giants receiver David Tyree plucked a foot- until dawn, I closed my game story for Sports ball from high in the air, pinned it to his helmet Illustrated with that cuddly image: a little 91% of those who had played tackle and crashed to the ground. Millions gasped in kid in the confetti. Then I fell asleep like much football themselves disbelief. It was not only the signature moment of America had done a few hours earlier—wasted said yes. of the 42nd Super Bowl, not only one of the most yet entertained; exhausted yet naively fulfilled by remarkable plays in the history of the NFL, but a silly game. It had been a good night for football. it was also, in the unreal vacuum of that instant, But in truth the sport was already changing fantastical and life-affirming in the way that beneath my feet. I will never embrace a football sports can be. We caught the ball with Tyree and game in quite the same way I did that night. think he we fought to yank it loose like Patriots safety As you read this, we are nearing the end of one should go Rodney Harrison. We let our eyes grow wide of the worst months in modern football history, What effect have recent and mouthed a silent Wow, like back judge Scott a month that could someday be remembered studies and news stories Helverson, who signaled that Tyree’s catch was as the period in which the most popular sport about the long-term health good. We all marveled together. in America began sliding from its peak. First It was scarcely different for me. The hours came the Ray Rice video from inside the eleva- risks of head injuries to are football players had on your unsure following the game were a riot of energy. The tor, delivering the reality of domestic violence to Giants had finished off their 17–14 upset of New televisions and laptops in a way that is seldom interest in the NFL? England, which was attempting to complete the seen outside a prosecutor’s office while making first perfect season since the 1972 Dolphins. Lit- a mockery of the running back’s initial pun- Fans were asked: Over the past two years, are you spending more, less or the same amount of time watching NFL games Of fans who are following the latest news surrounding Roger Goodell think the compared with what you did before that? NFL commissioner should keep his job based on the events of the past few weeks . No Less Not aware More time effect interested of these watching studies / NFL games stories FROM SETH LEFT: WENIG/AP; MARK J. REBILAS/USA SPORTS; TODAY MATTHEW EMMONS/USA Only 38% of Following Very Closely About the of female fans were familiar 50% same amount fans say they with the degenerative of time brain disease CTE— How closely have watched chronic traumatic 40% SPORTS;TODAY PIKE/CSM; EVAN TOM DIPACE; MARCIO JOSE SANCHEZ/AP fans have Less time the NFL more encephalopathy. followed 30% watching often in the each issue, NFL games past two and how it 20% years than has affected 10% they did their opinion NFL interest level: Up or 32% 9% 59% before that. of the NFL: down versus last season? Increased Decreased Same JONATHAN DWYER ADRIAN PETERSON GREG HARDY RAY RICE RAY MCDONALD Allegations of Allegations of Appealing domestic Admission of Allegations of domestic violence child abuse violence conviction domestic violence domestic violence * Of those who follow the story 48% 51% 52% 55% 50% very/somewhat closely Worsened opinion Worsened opinion Worsened opinion Worsened opinion Worsened opinion ILLUSTRATED BECK/SPORTS ROBERT Which of the ishment, a two-game suspension. Then came behavior by NFL players. On Sept. 17, Cardinals OR A long time the game raced forward The reality of brain damage has spilled into Fans think an following ways will outrage over the fact that two defensive linemen running back Jonathan Dwyer was deactivated because so many Americans love it. I’m locker rooms across the country. After playing average of you watch NFL games were still in uniform: the Panthers’ Greg Hardy, after also being charged with domestic violence. one of those Americans. Some of my just one game this season, Connecticut quarter­ this season? who had been found guilty of assault on a female This was a new chapter in football’s decline, F fondest memories center on playing back Casey Cochran retired, citing repeated and communicating threats, and the 49ers’ Ray but it wasn’t new to the larger narrative. Thir- catch in the backyard with my father after concussions. Cochran is the son of a zealous McDonald, who had been arrested for suspicion teen months before the Giants’ victory in Glen- watching NFL and college games together. I was high school coach, a child raised with a football of felony domestic violence. (Carolina later placed dale, Ariz., Alan Schwarz of The New York Times the quarterback on a successful small-town high in his hand. Yet he told reporters, “People have 100 Hardy on a paid leave of absence.) reported that neuropathologists had tied the school team, and while I wasn’t good enough to start realizing how much health means. As Even as the league scrambled to formulate suicide of former NFL safety Andre Waters to to make the varsity at Division III Williams, I much as I love football, as many memories as of all active NFL Shield-saving, damage-control responses to brain damage caused by playing football. The played on the freshman team for a memorable I’ve gotten out of it, your health is more impor- players use PEDs. three domestic abuse cases, the news broke on story was significant and chilling, and it played coach and remain friends with grown men who tant. It’s just a game.” A week after Cochran’s 22% of all fans 50 running back Adrian Peterson: charges of reck- like the first wave of an ocean storm, lapping still revel in that experience. There are millions decision, Texas quarterback David Ash, who say they are less less or negligent injury on a child. Again, there ashore far ahead of dangerous winds. like me, with warm feelings about a sport now passed for 2,699 yards and 19 touchdowns in interested in the NFL was startling visual evidence, and this time the Eight years and much journalism later, there’s proved dangerous and possibly corrupt. When 2012, also quit because of repeated concussions. because of this. perpetrator was one of the game’s biggest stars, no questioning the connection between football I became a journalist, the fairy tales dissolved, If the pervasiveness of concussion research a Sunday-afternoon superhero who whipped and brain damage, only its scope. In what’s left and I no longer cared who won or lost. But I’ve and bad publicity renders these decisions Do you think an his four-year-old son with a tree limb stripped after domestic violence in the NFL and traumatic written more stories about football than any unsurprising, it’s important to consider how NFL player should of leaves. Peterson was deactivated, reactivated brain injury at all levels of the game, I find little other sport, and for a long time it was the one shocking they would have been less than a be suspended if and then put on paid leave by the Vikings, the worthy of embrace. I can’t help but wonder if the game that best connected my soul and my brain. decade ago, when football players still rou- he tests positive latest action coming shortly after megasponsor two are connected, and if the violence between the Now that passion brings me embarrassment tinely played through all forms of pain. Last for any of the Anheuser-Busch publicly harrumphed over bad white lines can’t help but spill into everyday life. NYCRETOUCHER/GETTY IMAGES (MONEY); REBECCA COOK/REUTERS (SUH) because we know so many more truths. week Matt Suarez, a 5' 7", 145-pound freshman following drugs? 54% 16% In the past two years, which 18% 14% 13% 8% 63% Marijuana Played Bet on a game Participated in Participated Bet on a game through None NFL activities have you fantasy with a close a Super Bowl in a pick ’em or a bookie, sports book or of participated in for money? football associate boxes pool survivor pool gambling website these 85% Unprescribed amphetamines, 94% said they will such as Adderall watch most often on TV. Just 5% will choose to watch most often At what point do you believe an NFL player should be Asked whether they think NFL players are better or 85% on mobile devices or on a computer.
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