Watching the RedZone might be better than being at the game: NFL Insider

Stat of the week

Cowboys tight end Jason Witten established a club record on Oct. 28 when he caught 18 passes in a 29-24 loss to the New York Giants. He had 13 catches in a losing effort against the Bears on Oct. 1 and currently has four of the top five receiving games in Cowboy history. The 18-catch game is the best in the NFL for tight ends and ties for third in the league for all receivers. Earlier this season he became the Cowboys all-time leader in receptions and trails only Hall of Famer Michael Irvin for passing yardage in club history.

--Tom Reed

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Some Browns observers spent last Sunday enjoying family time and working outdoors on a sun-splashed afternoon. I used the bye to dedicate seven hours to watching 11 NFL games without a clicker or commercial interruption from the comfort of my sofa.

What some might deem a wasted off day ? my wife falls into this camp ? enterprising types would consider valuable research on behalf of his readers. Yeah, let's go with that.

For just the second time this season I was able to watch the NFL RedZone channel, which comes as part of Time Warner's "Sports Pass" package and is available on other cable providers. Its pigskin programming cousin, Sunday NFL Ticket Red Zone, is the DirecTV equivalent.

These channels might be the best thing to happen to football since NFL Films wed John Facenda's voice to Sam Spence's music. Hosted by Scott Hanson, NFL RedZone hops from game to game showing fans big plays and all the touchdowns as they occur. What if teams at four different venues are simultaneously in scoring position? RedZone goes Quad Box ? four games on a single screen -- and football fantasy leaguers begin speaking in tongues.

Although RedZone was created in 2009, its audience is much broader today. The channel only became available to customers of Time Warner ? the nation's second-largest cable provider ? in late September. An afternoon filled with football and free from Cialis commercials is bliss. It also might give some fans another reason to stay home rather than watch an NFL game live.

In the past five seasons league attendance has dipped by 4.5 percent even as the NFL grows more popular. There are multiple factors to consider including a sluggish economy, but even league officials acknowledge the confluence of high-definition television, wireless communication and proliferation of fantasy sports is making it more tempting for fans to stay in their man caves.

Nothing quite replicates the game-day experience. There are hardcore fans who wouldn't trade their tailgates in the Muni Lot and the role as their team's 12th Man for a lifetime subscription to DirecTV's Sunday Ticket. Every Browns fan who sat through the 9-6 win over San Diego in Biblical rain and wind deserved a game ball.

Many others chose to stay dry watching the game in high-def at home while supplementing it with NFL RedZone coverage and never having to see the face of Flo from Progressive Insurance. Not a bad option.

While the NFL is taking the initiative to make a trip to the stadium feel more like home, league officials know where their big money is coming ? and it's not through the turnstiles. The NFL will earn $27.9 billion on broadcasting rights from 2014 to 2022, according to the Wall Street Journal. The RedZone is commercial free, but every time fans are transported from one venue to the next they see a graphic with Chevrolet's name affixed to it.

Would anyone be surprised if the next generation of NFL stadia included slightly smaller seating capacity? Nearly two-thirds of league's teams advertised season-ticket subscriptions on their web sites this year. Fans can simulate tailgates in their driveway and not have to drag the turkey fryer to the stadium.

I much prefer going to sporting events and interacting with people who share a common bond. But last Sunday, sitting on the couch while the all-powerful Scott Hanson squired me from one game to another, I could make time for this alternative NFL universe.

Source: http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2012/11/watching_the_redzone_might_be.html

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