The biggest problem that I have with the penalties this season, and I have really only felt this way this season, is that I feel my emotional response to each play has to be delayed until I wait and see if there is a penalty on the play. When I do finally determine that the play DIDN'T actually result in a flag (shocking at this point), I'm not as involved with the game. This is nothing specific to being a Pats fan, but just a fan of football in general.
I think that this is the real dangerous area the NFL is trending into - that they are messing with and muting the emotional response of fans. Instead of being directly and passionately engaged, the flags are making us take a step back and be more emotionally cynical and reserved, and this is exactly what will ruin the NFL's product if it continues or gets worse. Fans HAVE to be able to emotionally connect, and to be honest flags are ruining that for me.
The NBA has happened to already go down this path, and I just don't watch the NBA anymore because I can't stomach the last three minutes of each game dissolving into a wild drive down the lane resulting in a bail out call and foul shots. I grew up as a child in the 80's and wish that the NBA were still watchable, but it isn't, and the very reason is that you can't celebrate or cheer without first waiting to see if there is a foul, and that is exactly where the NFL is trending if it continues.
