Jetfan13 Posted June 26, 2014 Share Posted June 26, 2014 In recent days, soccer fans have been coming out of the woodwork, showing their allegiance to "the world's game" as World Cup fever starts to reach a fever pitch. Jumping on the bandwagon of Team USA makes sense; national pride will get sports fans to tune into almost anything. But the conversations have also revealed that plenty of people in the United States have become fans of overseas teams as well. Real Madrid. Barcelona. Manchester United. Bayern Munich. Arsenal. Name a prominent European team and someone in America is suddenly on their bandwagon. It becomes an obvious question: Why do people with no built-in allegiance to a team wind up becoming a fan? Which leads to an interesting hypothetical. If roles were reversed and people from other countries were forming a bond with a National Football League team, which ones would they gravitate toward? It led the editorial staff at cover32 to rate each NFL franchise based on their likability. The idea is simple: If a fan was neutral, what teams would they be most attracted to. Here’s how things shook out: 1. Pittsburgh Steelers – They win consistently, which is nice. But they don’t take shortcuts to success, as the Steelers don’t buy their championship rosters. There’s something honorable about rooting for a team that is loyal and has work ethic. 2. Green Bay Packers – Being able to own a piece of the team would be cool. So too would the fact that the league’s championship trophy is named after the franchise’s former coach. Green Bay is the closest thing to a college atmosphere in the NFL. 3. Buffalo Bills – There’s a Chicago Cubs quality about the Bills; there’s a lovable loser element that dates to date to their four-consecutive Super Bowl losses in the 1990s. But they also possess a fiercely loyal fan base and have an underdog quality. 4. Cleveland Browns – One certainly wouldn’t jump on the Browns bandwagon because they wanted enjoy easy victory; instead, it’d be about being a part of a group that has endured a lot of pain in search of eventual victory. 5. Kansas City Chiefs – There’s a classic Midwestern charm to the Chiefs, as their diehard fans have avoided the corporate pitfalls that plague so many teams. It’s good people in search of another title, something 40 years in the making. 6. New York Jets – While the Giants fans are bluebloods, the Jets backers are the working class folks who give the Big Apple its swagger. Hanging out with a hard-working guy beats a Wall Street tycoon any day of the week, especially on Sundays. 7. Dallas Cowboys – As annoying as it may be to many NFL fans, the allure of “America’s Team” still remains; that’s something that people want to be a part of, as there’s a certain mystique that comes with the rich guy everyone roots against. 8. Atlanta Falcons – The Falcons are interesting to people who want to get on board with a promising team – Matt Ryan and Julio Jones make them that – but aren’t the obvious choice. Given their meager track record, Atlanta is an obscure choice. 9. Detroit Lions – A high-powered offense would make rooting for the Lions a fun experience; every Sunday is sure to at least produce some excitement. Being a part of the excitement that comes to Detroit when they win a title would be special. 10. Oakland Raiders – It may be a difficult group to understand, but it’s hard not to be envious of those who root for the Silver and Black. Everyone wants to belong to a group that is so passionate and loyal; Raiders fans have each other’s backs. 11. Indianapolis Colts – For those who don’t like to be a long-suffering fan, the Colts would be a great choice; they’re the fortunate franchise that transitioned from Peyton Manning to Andrew Luck after just one dismal season. That’s living right. 12. Denver Broncos – While it would be nice to root for Peyton Manning every Sunday, it’d feel a little dirty, knowing that he was a mercenary brought in for one purpose. Plus, knowing what’s to come after his retirement would loom large. 13. New York Giants – Yes, rooting for the Giants is sort of like pulling for Microsoft, the IRS or Bank of America; but organizations with deep pockets, lots of connections and tons of resources tend to not disappoint their supporters. 14. Minnesota Vikings – The Vikings have a unique look with the purple and the whole Scandinavian thing. Plus, they too evoke some compassion, given that they came up short during all four of their trips to the Super Bowl. 15. Chicago Bears – There’s a history associated with the Bears, dating back to George Halas, that would be cool to tap into. But having to constantly harken back to the 1985 team would get annoying after a while; so too would Jay Cutler. 16. Cincinnati Bengals – Someone would have to be searching for punishment if they willingly chose to be a Bengals fan, as the franchise has been mired in mediocrity (at best) for two decades. But there have been sparks of hope the past three seasons. 17. Miami Dolphins – The glitz and glamour of South Beach is attractive, but those hideous colors from the ’70s are a turnoff. Also, having to constantly defend the 1972 squad, the NFL’s only perfect team, would be tiresome to the nth degree. 18. Jacksonville Jaguars – They have a very likable head coach, a promising young quarterback and an owner who defines unique, all of which is attractive. But their sheer lack of relevance would make them tough to get on board with from afar. 19. San Diego Chargers – The powder blue uniforms would be fun to watch on a weekly basis. But their fair-weather, front-running fans aren’t exactly a group that anyone would aspire to join; and Philip Rivers is tough to love. 20. St. Louis Rams – Jeff Fisher is an old-school coach who deserves a title, so he’d be fun to root for on a weekly basis. And the fact that the franchise took a chance on Michael Sam should make their fans proud. But the team is just blah on many fronts. 21. Seattle Seahawks – Frontrunners probably would like rooting for the Seahawks, but that’s about it. They have a brash coach who left a mess in his wake at USC, a trash-talking cornerback and an overrated QB. But they do win, so that’s cool. 22. Arizona Cardinals – The Bidwells have never proven to be a family that wants to win; at least, they aren’t willing to spend the money to show that they’re serious about it. Thus, it’d be hard to spend hard-earned cash supporting their product. 23. Houston Texans – The Texans are the definition of boring. Yes, they don’t do anything to rub anyone the wrong way, but that’s most because they simply don’t do anything. Period. What is there to gravitate toward, other than the cool logo? 24. Carolina Panthers – Despite winning the NFC South a year ago, the Panthers are fairly drab; that’s because defense tends to be fairly boring. And since Cam Newton has very few weapons around him, that’s the way it’s going to be in Carolina. 25. Tennessee Titans – The most-notable thing about this franchise is that their lone trip to the Super Bowl resulted in such an agonizing defeat that the drama worked its way into the script of “Cast Away.” But that’s not much to hang one’s hat on. 26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – The Bucs were more likable when they had the ugly orange uniforms and hadn’t won a darn thing. Once they modernized their look and won a single Super Bowl title, the cool factor was gone completely. 27. Baltimore Ravens – Yes, they’ve won two Super Bowls since the turn of the century, but they’ve done it with some of the least likable characters in NFL history. Ray Lewis and Ray Rice make Jay Cutler and Philip Rivers look cuddly. 28. San Francisco 49ers – Having to hear about the glory days of Joe Montana and Steve Young would become tiresome after a while, but not as much as trying to happily cheer for Colin Kaepernick, Jim Harbaugh and Aldon Smith. 29. New Orleans Saints – Drew Brees is a nice guy, but he’s not enough to hide the stench of owner Tom Benson, who is a slimy businessman, and head coach Sean Payton, a bratty looking dude who always seems like he’s up to no good. 30. Philadelphia Eagles – This is an organization that has employed Michael Vick and Riley Cooper in recent years; talk about forcing fans to plug their noses when they enter the stadium. And their fan base is rude, crude and socially unacceptable. 31. Washington Redskins – Honestly, now would not be the time to jump on board the Redskins bandwagon. They have a racist nickname, an arrogant owner and a prima donna quarterback. Other than that, it’s nothing but stocked cupboards in D.C. 32. New England Patriots – Bill Belichick is a cheater that still thinks he’s smarter than everyone else, which makes the coach imminently distasteful. And quarterback Tom Brady is about as relatable as William and Kate across the pond. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T0mShane Posted June 26, 2014 Share Posted June 26, 2014 6. New York Jets –Hanging out with a hard-working guy beats a Wall Street tycoon any day of the week, especially on Sundays. No. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbatesman Posted June 26, 2014 Share Posted June 26, 2014 1. Pittsburgh Steelers I got this far. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Klecko73isGod Posted June 26, 2014 Share Posted June 26, 2014 No. **** YOU TOM SHANE!!! **** YOU!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T0mShane Posted June 26, 2014 Share Posted June 26, 2014 I got this far. Who doesn't like rapists? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T0mShane Posted June 26, 2014 Share Posted June 26, 2014 **** YOU TOM SHANE!!! **** YOU!!! Most common discussion topics among "working guy Jets fans": 1. Their foreclosure. 2. Their third divorce and that bitch who's after his money. 3. How AA has brought him closer to God. 4. Whether you can still buy coke from that guy in Section 112. 5. Adam Sandler's greatness Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
faba Posted June 26, 2014 Share Posted June 26, 2014 Who would you want to have a beer at the bar with? That should be the question asked Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T0mShane Posted June 26, 2014 Share Posted June 26, 2014 6. It's bullsh*t that Kleckp isn't in the Hall. 7. Gastineau, too. 8. I heard Marino is gay. 9. Rex is better than Parcells 10. Belichick too, really. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
faba Posted June 26, 2014 Share Posted June 26, 2014 6. It's bullsh*t that Kleckp isn't in the Hall. 7. Gastineau, too. 8. I heard Marino is gay. 9. Rex is better than Parcells 10. Belichick too, really. The first item is right on- the others are your imagination Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jetsfan80 Posted June 26, 2014 Share Posted June 26, 2014 Who would you want to have a beer at the bar with? That should be the question asked Lions fans, no doubt. Those guys are freaking hilarious. (NOTE: I'm only talking about the ones who suffered through the Matt Millen years or prior) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slats Posted June 26, 2014 Share Posted June 26, 2014 Marino isn't gay, but probably knows whether or not that guy in sec. 112 has coke. Tom Brady is gay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#27TheDominator Posted June 26, 2014 Share Posted June 26, 2014 What a shock. Shane is threatened by a list with the Steelers on the top. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
faba Posted June 26, 2014 Share Posted June 26, 2014 What a shock. Shane is threatened by a list with the Steelers on the top. Tom would only be happy if the Jets were ranked 32 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#27TheDominator Posted June 26, 2014 Share Posted June 26, 2014 Tom would only be happy if the Jets were ranked 32 ...and since likeable fans are part of the equation is not going to stop until they are! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustInFudge Posted June 26, 2014 Share Posted June 26, 2014 This is the worst list ever. Everyone hates the Steelers except Steelers fans. And everyone hates the Jets, especially Jets fans. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustInFudge Posted June 26, 2014 Share Posted June 26, 2014 Tom would only be happy if the Jets were ranked 32 Tom is the worst thing to ever happen to the Jets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeC36 Posted June 26, 2014 Share Posted June 26, 2014 Most common discussion topics among "working guy Jets fans": 1. Their foreclosure. 2. Their third divorce and that bitch who's after his money. 3. How AA has brought him closer to God. 4. Whether you can still buy coke from that guy in Section 112. 5. Adam Sandler's greatness I've had these exact conversations all within the last 24-hours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thor99 Posted June 26, 2014 Share Posted June 26, 2014 Tom is the worst thing to ever happen to the Jets. He's Kotite bad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgb Posted June 26, 2014 Share Posted June 26, 2014 This is the worst list ever. Everyone hates the Steelers except Steelers fans. And everyone hates the Jets, especially Jets fans. beat me to it. not even jets fans like the jets. they should be #33. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustInFudge Posted June 26, 2014 Share Posted June 26, 2014 beat me to it. not even jets fans like the jets. they should be #33. Pretty much. The only likeable thing about the NY Jets is Rex Ryan. The only people who dont love Rex Ryan are Jets fans which speaks to our point so #33 is about right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bleedin Green Posted June 26, 2014 Share Posted June 26, 2014 He's Kotite bad. That's a little harsh, don't you think? I mean, Kotite wasn't that bad. After all, he did help lead the Jets to the hiring of Parcells. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustInFudge Posted June 26, 2014 Share Posted June 26, 2014 That's a little harsh, don't you think? I mean, Kotite wasn't that bad. After all, he did help lead the Jets to the hiring of Parcells. Kotite >>>> TomShane All day ery day Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Klecko73isGod Posted June 26, 2014 Share Posted June 26, 2014 That's a little harsh, don't you think? I mean, Kotite wasn't that bad. After all, he did help lead the Jets to the hiring of Parcells. 4-28. He was even worse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgb Posted June 26, 2014 Share Posted June 26, 2014 someone should do this for JN posters Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgb Posted June 26, 2014 Share Posted June 26, 2014 4-28. He was even worse. he had no weapons Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T0mShane Posted June 26, 2014 Share Posted June 26, 2014 someone should do this for JN posters 1. Joe Brod 2. The Ilk. 3. Falcon There is no 4. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FloridaJetsFan Posted June 26, 2014 Share Posted June 26, 2014 Tom is the worst thing to ever happen to humanity. Fixed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Villain The Foe Posted June 26, 2014 Share Posted June 26, 2014 In recent days, soccer fans have been coming out of the woodwork, showing their allegiance to "the world's game" as World Cup fever starts to reach a fever pitch. Jumping on the bandwagon of Team USA makes sense; national pride will get sports fans to tune into almost anything. But the conversations have also revealed that plenty of people in the United States have become fans of overseas teams as well. Real Madrid. Barcelona. Manchester United. Bayern Munich. Arsenal. Name a prominent European team and someone in America is suddenly on their bandwagon. It becomes an obvious question: Why do people with no built-in allegiance to a team wind up becoming a fan? Which leads to an interesting hypothetical. If roles were reversed and people from other countries were forming a bond with a National Football League team, which ones would they gravitate toward? It led the editorial staff at cover32 to rate each NFL franchise based on their likability. The idea is simple: If a fan was neutral, what teams would they be most attracted to. Here’s how things shook out: 1. Pittsburgh Steelers – They win consistently, which is nice. But they don’t take shortcuts to success, as the Steelers don’t buy their championship rosters. There’s something honorable about rooting for a team that is loyal and has work ethic. 2. Green Bay Packers – Being able to own a piece of the team would be cool. So too would the fact that the league’s championship trophy is named after the franchise’s former coach. Green Bay is the closest thing to a college atmosphere in the NFL. 3. Buffalo Bills – There’s a Chicago Cubs quality about the Bills; there’s a lovable loser element that dates to date to their four-consecutive Super Bowl losses in the 1990s. But they also possess a fiercely loyal fan base and have an underdog quality. 4. Cleveland Browns – One certainly wouldn’t jump on the Browns bandwagon because they wanted enjoy easy victory; instead, it’d be about being a part of a group that has endured a lot of pain in search of eventual victory. 5. Kansas City Chiefs – There’s a classic Midwestern charm to the Chiefs, as their diehard fans have avoided the corporate pitfalls that plague so many teams. It’s good people in search of another title, something 40 years in the making. 6. New York Jets – While the Giants fans are bluebloods, the Jets backers are the working class folks who give the Big Apple its swagger. Hanging out with a hard-working guy beats a Wall Street tycoon any day of the week, especially on Sundays. 7. Dallas Cowboys – As annoying as it may be to many NFL fans, the allure of “America’s Team” still remains; that’s something that people want to be a part of, as there’s a certain mystique that comes with the rich guy everyone roots against. 8. Atlanta Falcons – The Falcons are interesting to people who want to get on board with a promising team – Matt Ryan and Julio Jones make them that – but aren’t the obvious choice. Given their meager track record, Atlanta is an obscure choice. 9. Detroit Lions – A high-powered offense would make rooting for the Lions a fun experience; every Sunday is sure to at least produce some excitement. Being a part of the excitement that comes to Detroit when they win a title would be special. 10. Oakland Raiders – It may be a difficult group to understand, but it’s hard not to be envious of those who root for the Silver and Black. Everyone wants to belong to a group that is so passionate and loyal; Raiders fans have each other’s backs. 11. Indianapolis Colts – For those who don’t like to be a long-suffering fan, the Colts would be a great choice; they’re the fortunate franchise that transitioned from Peyton Manning to Andrew Luck after just one dismal season. That’s living right. 12. Denver Broncos – While it would be nice to root for Peyton Manning every Sunday, it’d feel a little dirty, knowing that he was a mercenary brought in for one purpose. Plus, knowing what’s to come after his retirement would loom large. 13. New York Giants – Yes, rooting for the Giants is sort of like pulling for Microsoft, the IRS or Bank of America; but organizations with deep pockets, lots of connections and tons of resources tend to not disappoint their supporters. 14. Minnesota Vikings – The Vikings have a unique look with the purple and the whole Scandinavian thing. Plus, they too evoke some compassion, given that they came up short during all four of their trips to the Super Bowl. 15. Chicago Bears – There’s a history associated with the Bears, dating back to George Halas, that would be cool to tap into. But having to constantly harken back to the 1985 team would get annoying after a while; so too would Jay Cutler. 16. Cincinnati Bengals – Someone would have to be searching for punishment if they willingly chose to be a Bengals fan, as the franchise has been mired in mediocrity (at best) for two decades. But there have been sparks of hope the past three seasons. 17. Miami Dolphins – The glitz and glamour of South Beach is attractive, but those hideous colors from the ’70s are a turnoff. Also, having to constantly defend the 1972 squad, the NFL’s only perfect team, would be tiresome to the nth degree. 18. Jacksonville Jaguars – They have a very likable head coach, a promising young quarterback and an owner who defines unique, all of which is attractive. But their sheer lack of relevance would make them tough to get on board with from afar. 19. San Diego Chargers – The powder blue uniforms would be fun to watch on a weekly basis. But their fair-weather, front-running fans aren’t exactly a group that anyone would aspire to join; and Philip Rivers is tough to love. 20. St. Louis Rams – Jeff Fisher is an old-school coach who deserves a title, so he’d be fun to root for on a weekly basis. And the fact that the franchise took a chance on Michael Sam should make their fans proud. But the team is just blah on many fronts. 21. Seattle Seahawks – Frontrunners probably would like rooting for the Seahawks, but that’s about it. They have a brash coach who left a mess in his wake at USC, a trash-talking cornerback and an overrated QB. But they do win, so that’s cool. 22. Arizona Cardinals – The Bidwells have never proven to be a family that wants to win; at least, they aren’t willing to spend the money to show that they’re serious about it. Thus, it’d be hard to spend hard-earned cash supporting their product. 23. Houston Texans – The Texans are the definition of boring. Yes, they don’t do anything to rub anyone the wrong way, but that’s most because they simply don’t do anything. Period. What is there to gravitate toward, other than the cool logo? 24. Carolina Panthers – Despite winning the NFC South a year ago, the Panthers are fairly drab; that’s because defense tends to be fairly boring. And since Cam Newton has very few weapons around him, that’s the way it’s going to be in Carolina. 25. Tennessee Titans – The most-notable thing about this franchise is that their lone trip to the Super Bowl resulted in such an agonizing defeat that the drama worked its way into the script of “Cast Away.” But that’s not much to hang one’s hat on. 26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – The Bucs were more likable when they had the ugly orange uniforms and hadn’t won a darn thing. Once they modernized their look and won a single Super Bowl title, the cool factor was gone completely. 27. Baltimore Ravens – Yes, they’ve won two Super Bowls since the turn of the century, but they’ve done it with some of the least likable characters in NFL history. Ray Lewis and Ray Rice make Jay Cutler and Philip Rivers look cuddly. 28. San Francisco 49ers – Having to hear about the glory days of Joe Montana and Steve Young would become tiresome after a while, but not as much as trying to happily cheer for Colin Kaepernick, Jim Harbaugh and Aldon Smith. 29. New Orleans Saints – Drew Brees is a nice guy, but he’s not enough to hide the stench of owner Tom Benson, who is a slimy businessman, and head coach Sean Payton, a bratty looking dude who always seems like he’s up to no good. 30. Philadelphia Eagles – This is an organization that has employed Michael Vick and Riley Cooper in recent years; talk about forcing fans to plug their noses when they enter the stadium. And their fan base is rude, crude and socially unacceptable. 31. Washington Redskins – Honestly, now would not be the time to jump on board the Redskins bandwagon. They have a racist nickname, an arrogant owner and a prima donna quarterback. Other than that, it’s nothing but stocked cupboards in D.C. 32. New England Patriots – Bill Belichick is a cheater that still thinks he’s smarter than everyone else, which makes the coach imminently distasteful. And quarterback Tom Brady is about as relatable as William and Kate across the pond. Its pretty cool that the Steelers not only got the #1 spot but I liked the statement given about them not buying their championships. The Steelers were the only team in history to win a Superbowl with every player on the team being drafted by them. There are certain things that occur that is so crazy that you know will most likely never happen again. To win a SB with all 53 men on your roster drafted by that organization is one of them. Its crazy that when people talk about "greatest coaches of all time" Chuck Noll doesn't even get mentioned. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shawn306 Posted June 26, 2014 Share Posted June 26, 2014 This is the worst list ever. Everyone hates the Steelers except Steelers fans. And everyone hates the Jets, especially Jets fans. True and True Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
faba Posted June 26, 2014 Share Posted June 26, 2014 Well who would show up as the least liked JN poster? Decisions Decisions Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JetsFanInDenver Posted June 26, 2014 Share Posted June 26, 2014 Steelers are as likeable as hemorrhoids. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
predator_05 Posted June 26, 2014 Share Posted June 26, 2014 Green Bay, college atmosphere? Really? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pdxgreen Posted June 26, 2014 Share Posted June 26, 2014 I have no idea what percentage of foreign citizens watch the NFL. It is probably the same amount of people who wach the MLS, not much. The major thing working against American football is that no one plays it overseas. Andthat isn't likely to change with different kinds of rugby being so popular. A percentage of people, at least in Great Britian and Ireland, probably watch the Super Bowl, but more as a way to waste time. As far as foreign soccer teams, I have followed Manchester City for over eight years. I love the fact that they are the anti-United team in town. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustInFudge Posted June 26, 2014 Share Posted June 26, 2014 Well who would show up as the least liked JN poster? Decisions Decisions Like there is any question. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#27TheDominator Posted June 26, 2014 Share Posted June 26, 2014 I have no idea what percentage of foreign citizens watch the NFL. It is probably the same amount of people who wach the MLS, not much. The major thing working against American football is that no one plays it overseas. Andthat isn't likely to change with different kinds of rugby being so popular. A percentage of people, at least in Great Britian and Ireland, probably watch the Super Bowl, but more as a way to waste time. As far as foreign soccer teams, I have followed Manchester City for over eight years. I love the fact that they are the anti-United team in town. I played it overseas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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