It's like being able to see the future because that indicator's reaction signifies something about the future. If that's the case, the NFL could be in trouble with television ratings this year. The Cowboys registered their lowest local ratings since 2009.

This is when we throw out the normal disclaimer. No matter how much ratings dip, the NFL is still by far the most watched programming on television. It's like dropping from the heights of Mount Everest to the heights of Mount Kilimanjaro. It's still pretty high.

Having said that, the Dallas market is an important market for one of the most watched teams in the country. There is a reason the Cowboys are valued at over $4 billion dollars. They absolutely own Dallas Fort-Worth. Nothing else really matters. The Rangers are fun, but the baseball team doesn't garner as much attention as the Cowboys. Dallas, by all accounts, is a pretty good basketball city, but the Cowboys dominate the Mavericks when it comes to popularity. The NFL does not want to see one of it's most important market losing fans. It's not a good look. It's cause for concern. Other local markets — and national markets — are going to get hit. Any national game with the Cowboys would normally draw larger numbers than other teams, and that might not be the case this year.