The NFL opt-out: Mourn what could have been with hilarious memes
The return of American sports amidst the COVID-19 pandemic has been no blessing in disguise – it’s been an expectation from bored, anxious sports fans across the U.S. and some of the world.
The promise of the NFL’s return on September 10 sits under a wave of scrutiny and unease, with questions raised about player safety and participation still up in the air. In a stance of understanding, the NFL issued an “opt-out deadline” for its players, and nearly seventy have taken advantage of this measure.
As some of the NFL’s biggest teams have already been weakened, we think it’s safe to assume this season will be like no other – so far, it’s not a very hopeful outlook. If you’re mourning the imminent loss of another traditional sport’s season, enjoy what could’ve been with these hilarious football memes.
Enjoying all those commercials?
American football is more than a game – it’s a whole lifestyle, ranging from its fan culture to its commercial breaks which turn a sixty-minute game into a full fledged production. Who doesn’t love celebrating a touchdown with a TV ad for shampoo?
With the struggling economy, lack of attendance, and worrisome league profits, expect to have a 2020 season filled with adverts – if it happens at all. Restless fans might hate all the interruptions, but we’d rather deal with inflated sponsorship if it means even getting a single game of football this year.
Those cheating Patriots
Every football fan was looking forward to another year of those “cheating” Patriots vying for another Super Bowl. From “#deflategate” to owning the referees, how else does one of the league’s best teams succeed? If there’s one sentiment uniting NFL fans across the country, it’s blaming the Pats – what will they try this season?
Winning pairs
The NFL is filled with iconic duos, from inseparable teammates to high yielding quarterback-receiver partnerships, strong connections win games. Then there are the partnerships behind the scenes we love to blame – mainly any team beating ours, because they must be paying the refs; at least that’s what we’ll be screaming from our couches.
Only one guarantee
If the season makes it to the end – and that’s a big “if” – we’re excited for every moment leading us on a nerve-racking journey with our teams to the postseason. If you’ve been staying updated on opt-outs, you may be one of the mourning fans already prepared for a disappointing season. We all know the only group guaranteed to finish on top (wink).
Delayed disappointment
We fully understand some of you may be less inclined to mourn the loss of an NFL season – especially if it involves suffering through another year with a losing record. If 2020 falls through the cracks, maybe it’ll allow some of the struggling teams the chance to rebuild – like ones who’ve never appeared in a single Super Bowl.
The one-man show
Fingers crossed our favorite team’s best players haven’t already opted-out of this season – you know, the ones that seem to single-handedly carry our squad as far as they are destined to ever go (cough, cough). Getting to watch the one great player work their magic can be the highlight of some entire seasons, and we’re not ready to give that up.
Weep for the antics
Football fans know the best of every season lies in just how unpredictable the NFL can be. From the absurd to the hilarious, events on the field rarely go overlooked. With the planned absence of fans already in place, we’re going to need some serious antics to boost the viewing atmosphere – somebody tell Mike Tomlin to be on his worst behavior.
Someone to blame
Dedicated fans know a win on the field is a win for life. A Sunday loss means a horrible Monday in the office. When things aren’t going well we need someone to blame – like blind defensive players who ruined your week by missing every tackle and dropping every interception. How will we blow off steam if we can’t berate our TVs each week?
Someone to root against
As annoying as fans can be of, well, any team but your own, the idea of losing out on a season means losing out on passionate arguments and the old-fashioned banter we expect with each new season. At the very least we were excited for some rowdy jeering down at the bars – shouting six feet through our masks for safety, of course.
Missing that feeling
You know the one – whether it’s been a week or a month, you jump out of bed, thrown on a jersey, and prepare for the highlight of your day. All the promise of a new season came to a grinding halt when the 2020 preseason was cancelled, and concerned players dropping like flies have added little excitement to this year’s buildup.
Fans should be ready to accept the fact there will be bumps in the road, and mourning the loss expectations has become the norm in 2020. As long as we have a chance to watch even one week of football, we’ll be ready with the energy of this NFL meme. So prepare the beer and chicken wings, and pray your team doesn’t lose on opening day.
