I’m not saying another sport will surpass the NFL anytime soon in popularity, but I am seeing chinks in the armor of what is supposed to be the most dominant sport in America.

It seems to me the NFL has lost touch with its fans. From not being able to pay to watch my team out of state unless I have DirecTV to the outrageous blackout rule – I don’t see the NFL valuing the common fan. Access to the sport is crucial to keep a fan base satisfied, even those of us that won’t spend 10k a piece on seat licenses.

I find it interesting that in Pittsburgh, one of the most fervent football towns on the planet, the Pittsburgh Penguins are the favorite team for many < 30. I’m not saying that Heinz Field is going to close anytime soon, but I think the NFL needs to make more fan friendly decisions. Instead of shutting fans out the Penguins have people camp outside the arena and watch the games on large projectors. Even after becoming popular they continue to offer the student rush program where college students get in an hour before game time at $20.

With the potential of playing a year without the salary cap and tv executives looking for more creative ways to pay for their billion dollar investments, I think we’ll see an end of the ALL NFL era.

Something to remember when being on top – there is always someone waiting in the wings with better ideas and a more aggressive stance to acquire your customers.