Did Nickelodeon just change how we watch football?

Could the NFL keep some of the ingenious graphics used by the children’s television station, Nickelodeon?

This afternoons NFL Wildcard game that featured the New Orlean Saints and Chicago Bears broke a barrier of sorts due to their broadcast on Nickelodeon. It was the first of what I expect to be many of, a potential game-changing event for the future of football games on television.

Their broadcast team consisted of four members: former NFL star Nate Burleson, Noah Eagle (son of megabroadcaster Ian) and Nickelodeon star Gabrielle Neveah Green in the booth with Nick star Lex Lumpkin on the sidelines. It wasn’t about this, although it was interesting to hear child stars making their NFL debuts. The game changing aspect was how the children’s station showed some of their graphics.

This was probably the most important one of them all, giving the NFL plenty of marketing ideas for their future games. Keep in mind that previously the NFL has had advertisements on the netting during field goals, but nothing like what Nick did. Imagine the NFL changing out Sponge Bob for a beer sponsor.

At the end of the day, the NFL’s bottom line is about making money and this surely planted at least a semblance of an idea in their heads. That wasn’t all Nick did, the slimezone was a unique added function as well.

We might have just seen history today with this broadcast. Not just in the NFL but at the collegiate level as well. Hat’s off the Nickelodeon and their ingenuity for bringing these elements to an NFL game.