Around the NFL: A Spectrum of Headlines and Criticisms

The National Football League continues to headline sports and hold our attention despite criticism. Both football lovers and adversaries can probably find themselves reading or watching something regarding the NFL over the last few weeks. Football lovers have plenty to talk about regarding the NFL standings and story lines. Yet, football adversaries are getting plenty of NFL news on their feed thanks to recent protests and controversy regarding the United States government.

Sports are an escape for many people from everyday events such as politics and religion. However, the separation between sports and other serious manners are thinner than ever.

NFL’s only Muslim owner spills the beans on his colleagues: ’85-year-old guys who don’t think they’re racist’ https://t.co/ShJa2uvSq8

— Raw Story (@RawStory) October 13, 2017

Surprising Storylines

The NFL is in an all-out slugfest right now between keeping the game about football instead of outside issues. Ironically, the season so far has had plenty of surprising headlines.

The Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles are dominating in extraordinary fashion. The Los Angeles Rams and Jacksonville Jaguars are drastically improving. The New York Giants, Cleveland Browns, and San Francisco 49ers have yet to win a game. Ben Roethlisberger made more headlines about his bad performance last week than Jay Cutler did. Even the Buffalo Bills and New York Jets are ahead of the New England Patriots in the AFC East!

However, the divide between people in the United States and in the league is overshadowing these few great examples. It can be argued that this controversy is making the NFL better to watch than ever before. At the same time, we are getting another week of almost unbearable coverage of what NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell or the owners will do next.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell's wife used a fake Twitter account to defend her husband from critics in the media https://t.co/Xn5SnJnBU3 pic.twitter.com/vmC1xgb27W

— CNN (@CNN) October 13, 2017

Records, Records Everywhere

There is so much going on in the NFL that you may not know what is going on. Here is an update of all the potential stories you may not know about heading into the weekend.

• The New Orleans Saints have the opportunity to make NFL history by having a turnover free game this weekend against the Detroit Lions. New Orleans could be the first team to go five games to start the season without a turnover.
• The NFL is investigating a situation where a Carolina Panthers fan punched an Eagles fan in the higher decks of their Thursday night game yesterday.
• Ezekiel Elliot’s Texas case is over, but his New York case can now proceed. The domestic violence case is dealing with the question of if his right to appeal can further delay his six game suspension.
• The NFL is to present a plan next week that does not involve mandating players to stand for the national anthem.
• Ten teams in the league have a 3-2 record going into week six. Seven other teams are 2-3.