Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban says the NFL’s current greediness will jeopardize its long-term popularity.
“I think the NFL is 10 years away from an implosion,” Cuban told reporters Sunday, via ESPN.com. “I’m just telling you, pigs get fat, hogs get slaughtered. And they’re getting hoggy.”
Cuban specifically criticized the league’s recently expanded broadcast plans. CBS partnered with NFL Network in February to broadcast 14 Thursday and two Saturday night games during the 2014 season.
The 55-year-old businessman said the NFL is placing television profit above the interest of its fans, who usually reserve Sunday and Monday nights for watching football games.
“They’re trying to take over every night of TV,” Cuban said. “It’s all football. At some point, the people get sick of it.”
New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft disputed this notion when speaking with reporters Monday, pointing out that 34 of the 35 most-watched prime-time broadcasts in 2013 were NFL games.