Fantasy football is killing the game.
I know, I know, this may not make a lot of sense. The more people play fantasy football, the more people watch NFL games. The more people play fantasy football, the more people read blogs, websites, and injury reports.
The more people play fantasy football, the more fantasy football becomes a priority over reality football.
How much time do you spend playing fantasy football? How much time do you spend watching football?
I am not only a critic, I am a member. I have four fantasy football teams and when Tom Brady went down in the season-opener, the first thing I did was see who had him in all my leagues. I had no interest in what it meant for The Golden Boy's career, I just wanted to know how long he'd be out and if Matt Cassel would be a good pickup.
Even the national media took the fantasy route. The "experts" predicted who would suffer and who would be a good waiver wire pickup because of Brady's injury.
Is that what we have all evolved into? A bunch of fantasy fiends?
I spend more time researching the upcoming games than I do watching the games. When Sunday morning comes around, I open up my laptop, turn on the TV, and watch the games; not for the most intriguing matchup, but rather what games my players are playing.
And I think I have finally reached the tipping point. Maybe.
True football fans should play fantasy football, but it shouldn't come first regardless of how much money is involved.
I shouldn't curse Hines Ward for making a touchdown catch because it didn't go to Santonio Holmes, nor should I cheer for anyone on the Cowboys, Giants, or Redskins as an Eagles fan.
But that's what I do.
I compromise my whole moral compass for the game. Do I care? No. Like Al Davis, just win, baby!
So when LaDainian Tomlinson goes down with a toe, and Ryan Grant goes missing because of a hamstring, don't look for me to turn their games on. I've got bigger fish to fry.
Can Ben Roethlisberger recover from a dislocated shoulder to lead my team to a championship? Can the Eagles go undefeated?
It's the dichotomy of the fantasy football fan. Hate fantasy football one week, love it the next.
Like Peyton Manning, I was over Tom Brady. I was disappointed most people cared more about how his injury affected fantasy football rather than if he'd become the next Daunte Culpepper. At the same time, I was glad I didn't have him.
I'm just glad I drafted T.J. Hou...Houszz....Whosyourmama...Championship!
September 22, 2008
Peter:
I’m gad that somebody finally said something because I suffered from this “sickness” My god back and forth between web sites and Directtv Red Zone channel. When I found myself cheering for my fantasy RB to score against the team that I’d grown up cheering for it was too much. (He did score costing my “real” team the game but giving my fantasy team the win “we” needed) It’s a sickness I tell ‘ya.