The game of football has become so complex, it now rivals Windows 8! By keeping the game mysterious, the NFL is missing a huge income producing and promotional opportunity. Having lived abroad for many years, the complexity of the game is a major obstacle to expansion of interest.
To start, the NBC could make “Must See TV” for fans, coaches and aspiring players, by creating a show that teaches the basics of football using animation. One part would show the meaning of terms used like “Cover One”, Cover Two”, etc. in a basic X’s and O’s format while another could concentrate on positional techniques – again using animation instead of ex-players trying to demonstrate. The key would be to use clear animation instead of the interactive videos of old games that are almost impossible for the fan to really understand.
In addition, a book “American Football for Dummies” or the like could be used as a huge promotional tool both domestically and internationally. That would be a cheap yet effective expansion tool, particularly if translated into foreign languages!
Why not do a story on how to expand interest, understanding and income for the teams?