The ratings were down big time last years, at least early in the season. Many attributed that to the election season but I didnt buy it. This situation along with the reports coming out about the athletes having brain damage from the repeated hits is causing many to turn away from the NFL.
It will be interesting to see what the ratings are after the first two months this years.
For a multitude of reasons, you might be right...we could be seeing the end of the NFL as we know it.
Yes I think it may be on the way down for sure. And I completely disagree with commentators and reporters who defend the actions of the players as nothing to do with the anthem because they are doing this during and stop after so it is about the anthem and thinking the nation is unjust. This could snowball into more Anti-Americanism in the future generations because if you start to say with a loud voice the nation is unjust then of course it's founding is unjust so let's tear up the constitution.
It is always hypocritical for athletes who are making millions of dollars to protest a country as being unjust when they are making more in a year than the average person makes in a lifetime. Yes I know the argument they are adding a voice to the voiceless but it showing to irritate people. Many tune into sports to get away from the politics and problems with the country. People who want that can turn on MSNBC or Foxnews and see that debated. However, when it enters sports, people will stop tuning in as the rating show. ESPN is suffering because people on there want to make it political.