Andre Johnson And Cortland Finnegan Get Ejected

[purple.n.black]

[quote name='theFRANCHISE' timestamp='1291213389' post='556070']
My argument, though, is that the NFL draws a ridiculous amount of viewers even when there's no featured stars. In a game with the star power of a Michael Vick during his magical run alone, the game will win the ratings battle tomorrow night. Even without the stars, however, the NFL consistently brings in enough viewers; case-in-point, this past Monday night's game with the 49ers and Cardinals, where Larry Fitzgerald was the only real draw and he's only really been a household name since their Super Bowl season. The game was a clunker of epic proportions and lots of prognosticators figured as such, and the game still drew ratings and held them rather consistently by the quarter-hour (save for the fourth quarter) despite the game being out of reach. Why? Because the NFL has turned into must-see TV, regardless of the teams playing and the quality of play.

Again, while I agree that ratings might have had [i]some[/i] influence, I think it was a miniscule part of the decision compared to Johnson's clean reputation.
[/quote]
Good points there sir and you very well may be right.
Did last MNF really have good ratings? Was it good for MNF standards or compared to other prime-time tv? Just wondering because that was the MNF game that I have been least excited about to this point. Actually the MNF games have been pretty awful for th most part of this year. Going in it is either a matchup you don't care much about, or it ends up never being close. Sunday night games have been much better. And it is too bad because MNF have the only prime-time games with good/entertaining commentators.

[theFRANCHISE]

[quote name='purple.n.black' timestamp='1291240092' post='556510']
Good points there sir and you very well may be right.
Did last MNF really have good ratings? Was it good for MNF standards or compared to other prime-time tv? Just wondering because that was the MNF game that I have been least excited about to this point. Actually the MNF games have been pretty awful for th most part of this year. Going in it is either a matchup you don't care much about, or it ends up never being close. Sunday night games have been much better. And it is too bad because MNF have the only prime-time games with good/entertaining commentators.
[/quote]
From what I read yesterday, while CBS led all broadcast networks in ratings, MNF won the overall viewership for the night and that primetime block. Compared to MNF standards, though, I don't think it did anything beyond the median for the year and was definitely down from last week. I wish I had the final quarter-hour breakdown, but the viewership patterns match what we all suspected: people tuned in and viewership was at its highest around halftime and the start of the 3rd quarter, but then dropped once it reached the 4th quarter and the game became an exercise in tedium.

[PuRock]

Maybe the NFL would like to get fights more involved because it has done well in hockey.

[theFRANCHISE]

[quote name='PuRock' timestamp='1291305433' post='557321']
Maybe the NFL would like to get fights more involved because it has done well in hockey.
[/quote]
I was almost thinking the same thing shortly after I saw the Johnson-Finnegan fight the first time. Then, I thought about it, and I realized, the NHL only allows it out of necessity for the league's survival. Even though I like hockey, I can see why the sport's popularity is waning in the United States, especially the NHL brand.

The NHL isn't able to market itself the way the other sports leagues do, despite having enough marketable stars in the league. Part of that has to do with the owners not putting enough financial backing into the NHL in advertising and not presenting enticing enough packages for networks to [i]want[/i] to broadcast their games. They practically have to beg NBC to air their playoff games every year, and Versus only signed an agreement because they were desperate for a recognizable league to consider them their flagship station during the network's rebranding.

The NFL is not in a position where it has to reach for brand recognition and exposure like the NHL currently does. The NFL is a worldwide phenomenon despite the league and the sport being based centrally in one country. MLB at least draws international players and fans and participates in international games much like the NBA does. American football, for having such a limited scope, has a large appeal that the NHL ironically doesn't have with their larger international scope.

The NFL does not need to reach for ratings like the NHL does, which is why on-field fights probably won't be allowed anytime soon.

[MsMarvel73]

[quote name='Nobi' timestamp='1291144167' post='555257']
Bottom line I think both players should have been suspended for 1 game. You have to take your rare opportunity to make an example if you are the commissioner... and considering his punishments in the past for lesser infractions I expected a lot more than a $25,000 fine.
[/quote]


I agree totally...but from what I've been hearing and reading, the NFL chose to let Johnson play the Thursday night game so they have a draw for it. And of course, if you don't suspend Johnson you don't suspend Finnegan either.

Bad decision, NFL. Very bad decision. I saw the highlights and thought I was watching hockey for a moment.

[theFRANCHISE]

[quote name='PARavensgirl' timestamp='1291307707' post='557346']
I agree totally...but from what I've been hearing and reading, the NFL chose to let Johnson play the Thursday night game so they have a draw for it. And of course, if you don't suspend Johnson you don't suspend Finnegan either.

Bad decision, NFL. Very bad decision. I saw the highlights and thought I was watching hockey for a moment.
[/quote]
The NFL could've had a logical case for suspending Finnegan and not Johnson by simply arguing that Finnegan is a repeat offender, thereby warranting a suspension on top of the ejection and fine, while Johnson is a first-time offender and just the ejection and suspension was enough. I doubt many people would argue against that type of logic, even if they don't agree with a selective suspension.

As I think more about it, I think the reason why the NFL chose not to suspend either man is because a suspension on top of a fine would equate to the amount of the fine plus their game check for that suspension, so they'd be losing out on more money than just the fine AND would miss out on playing time. I think that's where the player's union would have an argument for excessive punishment if a suspension were to be issued to either man.

[Purple Punishment]

[img]http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u181/fatplanet07/cortlandinnegan.jpg[/img]

[1/28/01]

Ha, that's great!!

[Purple Punishment]

indeed it is