I respect your post - but do disagree. The direct package isn't a crime - what would you have the NFL do? What other singular company could really deliver to the most people? The cable companies are all chopped up and gave hell to the NFL for the NFL Network in certain areas. The true crime is how we were trapped into using our local cable company to get TV channels all those years as they basked in their little monopolies- they kept raising their rates and offered the consumer nothing. Directv drove the cable companies to have to earn our business instead of the crap customer service you got because you were stuck without an option. Obviously the next chapter is going to be interesting but I've always gotten excellent customer service from Directv and they gave us choice as they evolved from single LB where you could only watch on one tv to where they are now.
I have zero issues with the NFL partnering with Direct for as long as they have. Now they have competition and that usually means nothing but good news for us the consumer.