We oftentimes mistakenly believe that the lifeblood of the NFL rests in TV revenues. And I suppose to some extent that is true. Those revenues set the spending budgets for the league that propels player personnel management which in turn drives the league’s competitive balance through the guiding hand of the salary cap.
But at the core of all this when reduced to its most essential form, isn’t the money. The real catalyst rests in the collective passion of fans. Without fan interest, without TV ratings, without full stadiums, without Christmas trees surrounded by NFL team gear, none of the success happens for the NFL.