NFL mistakes as of early 2014

The NFL does not need stunts and gimmicks to prop up its product.

The NFL is wrought with rampant hypocrisy.

Last decade, the NFL started its own network and began playing Thursday night games in November and December.

For the 2012 season, the NFL began playing its NFL Network Thursday night games in September.

For the 2014 season, CBS will begin carrying Thursday night games while the NFL Network will continue to broadcast its Thursday night schedule.

The NFL is adding more Thursday night games. If these games were played by teams who came off a bye week, the extended rest, that would be fine. But that's not the case. Nearly all the games are played by teams who played on Sunday. 3-day rest. The game is brutal enough, but to play after only 3 days rest is a health hazard.

The NFL hypocrisy comes in when the league de-emphasized the kick return beginning in the 2011 or 2012 season by moving the kickoff up five yards, which increased the number of touchbacks. The NFL is trying to eliminate one of the exciting plays in the league. The league made this change to decrease player injuries, especially concussions. The kickoff/kick return has been called a demolition derby. This rule change was made in the name of player safety. Okay, fine.

Nearly every offseason in recent years, the league has tinkered with the rules to diminish the hard hits on quarterbacks and receivers. These new rules and penalties are meant to improve player safety.

During this current offseason, the NFL has considered eliminating the extra point in the name of player safety. The PAT is considered a meaningless play because the kick for extra point play is rarely fouled up. So the league considers the PAT as one more opportunity for a player to get hurt. The league considered eliminating the PAT in the name of player safety.

: increasing the number of Thursday games after only 3 days rest while