OK, I’m your part-time football fan. I follow it, but I do not live and breathe football. Knowing that, can you explain what’s the point of posting these larger than life Flacco posters at the Bronco’s stadium? Does that make sense to anyone? And, why specifically Denver? I guess it eludes me.
The intent appears to be to hype a rematch of last year’s playoff game in the official NFL season opener a week from tomorrow. Not really sure that game needs any additional hype. It’s the first NFL game of the year, it will be on national television in prime time, and both teams are expected to be contenders again this year. Also don’t think Denver has any problem selling tickets to fill their stadium. In a way, it’s pro-wrestling style promotion.
No real downside for the NFL, though. Pissed off Denver fans are still talking about the game, and the controversy generates free publicity for the league.
Under normal circumstances, the Super Bowl winner would be at home for the season opening Thursday night game, but due to a scheduling conflict with the Orioles, who share a parking lot with the Ravens, Baltiore can’t be used that day for football.
The banners are the NFL’s way, short of declaring the Ravens as the home team, of honoring the champs for opening night.
My three thoughts:
- Fuck baseball
- Not a great idea with the banners
- Fuck baseball
It ensures the NFL’s status as the no-fun-league, by indifferently or thoughtlessly sticking their collective finger in the eye of Denver’s loyal fans. The NFL’s “tradition” of opening the season on Thursday night and having the reigning champion open at home only goes back a couple of years so big-whoop about having Baltimore have to open on the road. If they were playing on Sunday (the way it was intended) they wouldn’t have had that problem.
There is no excuse for the league’s baiting of Denver’s fans by putting a big poster of the enemy’s QB up. Say what you want about baseball, but at least they never put up a bigger than life poster of Bucky F****** Dent at Fenway Park.