NFL: ***2026 NFL Season***

Wish Denver was the running team Payton thinks they are.

Also, I think the returner stepped out in the middle of that return.
 
The thing that the NFL does better than any other league is cycle through teams at the top (and bottom). Sure, you have your little dynasties, but it's a pretty regular thing to see teams that were just awful for years and years suddenly become relevant again.
The entire league is based on the idea of parody, the worst teams get the highest draft slots to in theory get the best players in the draft. The schedule is based at least part on how you finish, you win your division, then the next year you play other teams that won their division. Finish in last place, you play other last place teams the next year. You have a hard salary cap, which forces teams that are at the top to trade or release some of their better players, thereby spreading the talent around the league. The margin between the average teams and the really good teams is generally a player or two. All TV revenue is shared, so even if you are the Raiders and clueless, you still rake in million in profits every year. There are no Dodgers or Yankees that can use their wealth to win every year. It's why it's the best league in the all of professional sports.
 
The thing that the NFL does better than any other league is cycle through teams at the top (and bottom). Sure, you have your little dynasties, but it's a pretty regular thing to see teams that were just awful for years and years suddenly become relevant again.
Agree.

Unfortunately, it's the opposite at the college level. And with the elimination of the rules intended to keep the playing field level, it's only gonna get worse.
 
The entire league is based on the idea of parody, the worst teams get the highest draft slots to in theory get the best players in the draft. The schedule is based at least part on how you finish, you win your division, then the next year you play other teams that won their division. Finish in last place, you play other last place teams the next year. You have a hard salary cap, which forces teams that are at the top to trade or release some of their better players, thereby spreading the talent around the league. The margin between the average teams and the really good teams is generally a player or two. All TV revenue is shared, so even if you are the Raiders and clueless, you still rake in million in profits every year. There are no Dodgers or Yankees that can use their wealth to win every year. It's why it's the best league in the all of professional sports.
This dynamic has led to the NFL not only becoming the top sporting league in America, but the top form of American entertainment.

Rather than isolating interest into one region (like CFB with the SE and MW) or big cities (like MLB with NY/LA/Boston), they have secured actual interest across the ENTIRE country because no matter where you live you have a team within your proximity that can become relevant (theoretically).

It’s why the NBA is pursuing this strategy, and now currently has the second-largest media rights package in sports.
 
This dynamic has led to the NFL not only becoming the top sporting league in America, but the top form of American entertainment.

Rather than isolating interest into one region (like CFB with the SE and MW) or big cities (like MLB with NY/LA/Boston), they have secured actual interest across the ENTIRE country because no matter where you live you have a team within your proximity that can become relevant (theoretically).

It’s why the NBA is pursuing this strategy, and now currently has the second-largest media rights package in sports.
One wonders if there's ANY possibility of getting remotely close to this in college football.