10-03-2016, 09:42 PM
(10-03-2016, 06:12 PM)Nately120 Wrote: Stupid question, but what did the Steelers do to get this preferential treatment and why can't Mike Brown and the Bengals do the same thing?
The Steelers have one of the biggest fanbases, and as a result, draw higher ratings for the league than almost anybody else. It's in the league's interest for them to be good. Conversely, the Bengals have one of the smallest fanbases and draw worse ratings for the league than almost anybody else. Steeler fans also drop a lot more money on merchandise and such on average, while Bengal fans are notoriously frugal.
If you want to close the gap, sad to say, buy some new Bengals gear and boycott Steeler games on tv to stop adding to their ratings draw power. Because of their ability to make money for the league and their large vocal fanbase, close calls are usually going to go the Steeler's way. If the Bengals get hosed on a bad call, nobody but Bengal fans care. If the Steelers get hosed on a bad call, the national media will make a big deal out of it because their huge fanbase will eat it up.