I'm not here to debate the Commish and the exisiting NFL blackout policy. Already fans in Jacksonville, Detroit and Oakland have suffered through Sunday blackouts, and other franchises have narrowly escaped the darkness. One result? Good ole-fashioned begging around the League.Take notice of a few teams whose home page communications are clearly being driven by fear of blackouts:
Arizona: The Cardinals home page message is pretty clear: Buy tickets. Now. The Cards averted a week two blackout for their Sunday night affair against the Colts and are using their bye week to to (among other things) ensure they stave it off again for their Oct. 11 home tilt with the Texans. "Tickets are still available!" Note the use of the exclamation point, always a thinly-veiled shout of desparation! The secondary message: "We do this together." I guess we'll see about that.
Cincinnati: The Bengals just knocked of the Steelers and have a chance to set up a divisional showdown next week if they can knock of the Brownies in Cleveland this Sunday. It doesn't mean they're not worried about selling out. Check out Cedric Benson's appearance on their home page with a simple call to the fans: "Bengals fans, let's sell out our game against the Houston Texans...together we'll make the jungle roar."
Jacksonville: The Jags could be looking at a season-long streak of blackouts. Enter company pitch man, Maurice Jones-Drew.
"Football...is family...and you're a huge part of that family...and family backs each other up....Now it's time to show your Jaguars
pride...It's Jaguars-Titans and we need you here..."
Houston: I've heard of Blue Steel, but Deep Steel?
Detroit: The "All You Can Eat Seat." That's one way of approaching it. Thrown in beer, and you're onto something.
Cleveland: Hmmm...the Brownies may not have blackout issues, but, nonetheless, a Ford Taurus promotion and promise of a Josh Cribbs poster? If that won't get me off my ass to go watch an 0-3 team, I don't know what will.
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