As the NFL continues to grow its international slate of games, Mike Francesa is urging the league to prioritize its fans in America first.
After kicking off the season with the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers in Melbourne, Australia, the NFL is getting set for the Dallas Cowboys to play a home game against the Baltimore Ravens in Rio de Janeiro this week. Additionally, there are matchups scheduled in Paris, Madrid, Munich, Mexico City, and three games in London this season, which has Francesa wondering when they might start thinking about a game in outer space.
“You know how big an opponent I have been of these international games from the outset,” Francesa ranted on his podcast. “I think they are nothing more than a greedy reach. They don’t need them. This sport in this country is so successful, it’s more successful than just about any other product fed to the American public in the entire country. And rather than caring about making the game affordable, at least on television where you’re trying to gouge people now with these streaming nonsense… instead, they’re playing games all over the world.”
“We’re gonna get to the point where we’re going to be talking about the NFL trying to want to play a game in outer space. You know what?” Francesa continued. “I hope I’m around for that just so I can scream about it because it’ll happen…that’s what’s next.”
Francesa called it a “farce” that the Cowboys and Ravens are playing in Brazil instead of Dallas this week, especially in the wake of concerns about field quality. He similarly ripped the NFL for forcing the Rams and 49ers to play in Melbourne despite the [teams not wanting to make the trip](https://awfulannouncing.com/nfl/sean-mcvay-dumbass-travel-plans-australia-game.html).
“When does the NFL stop with these greedy reaches?” he asked. “Instead, worry about taking care of your fanbase here in America who supports you and puts so much money in your pocket.”
No American NFL fan gets hyped for any of these international spectacles, certainly not more than they do for games in home stadiums. But what does taking care of the fans in America really mean? How much better will the NFL be for fans in America if this game were being played in Dallas instead of Brazil?
Even if you don’t like the international series, you can understand why the NFL views it as an opportunity to grow its brand. The American fans are already showing up every Sunday regardless of where the games are played. The idea that the NFL would take care of American fans if they weren’t playing games abroad is laughable. The NFL doesn’t even take care of its own players.
The only way the NFL will consider slowing its push to grow the league by adding more games, teams, stadiums, and markets is if starting quarterbacks keep getting injured at the rate we’re seeing through two weeks this season. If teams are forced to play backup quarterbacks at an alarming rate, the NFL could rethink its growth strategy. Backup quarterbacks might be the only thing that starts to turn some fans off from watching a primetime game. Outside of that, get ready for the eventual NFL game on the moon.