Will said:
I'm all for everybody seeing this game, but why are the politicians getting involved? It's not as if they're locking the stadium and banning fans and media. The game is being broadcast. If one wants to watch it, CALL COMCAST AND ORDER THE CHANNEL. It's not ideal, but it's not difficult either.
I think that this is being done out of desperation. No, I certainly don't agree with getting politicians involved - but a lot of folks are pretty frustrated by this.
Also, it's not a matter of calling Comcast and "ordering the channel." You have to call Comcast and order the "Sports package" paying for several limited-appeal channels as well. I think that there would be a lot less controversy involved with this had Comcast made it possible to order this one channel. But no, you have to order (and pay for) 5 others with it in a bundle.
All in all, the NFL wants to make extra money and Comcast wants their cut. The one in the middle is the consumer who, for forty years, has gotten these games for free or at least at a nominal cost. Now, he's over a barrel. I will not pay for a bunch of FSN regional networks just to see one game on NFLN and shouldn't have to. It is a ripoff and I don't blame people for not doing so. It's the principle of the thing. I hope that very few people pay Comcrap extra for this channel and I further hope for its failure.
In addition, the possibility of the Pats going 16-0 is not something that only interests '1972 Dolphins fans' (and I've never met anyone admitting to be this). It represents a record that many thought would never be matched in today's NFL. Most REAL football fans have interest in this. If they pull it off, the achievement makes pro football history.
Also, this business of the Pats giving the starters a rest is silly. The team has home field advantage and a week off following this game. Plenty of time to rest. They play to win at all times, which is why they are bidding for a 16-0 record. If they took that advice, they'd be 14-2 and we wouldn't care as much about this game.