The same can easily be said about college fans, and if you need proof... read threads on this board when it comes to how our offense plays at times. Also check out a gameday thread.
I don't have personal ties to the Patriots so I can't claim that (I picked them because they are an extremely well run organization with a top notch head coach), but still... a large chunk of a fanbase is personally tied to a team through geography. If you grow up in an NFL city, you're likely to be a fan of that team. The same goes for growing up near a college team.
Why are the contracts so outrageous? Do you have a personal problem with people making that level of money? Did you watch the Namath documentary? If so, what were your thoughts of Coach Bryant telling him to ask for $200,000 right out of college when that was a ridiculous price? You do realize most (not all, but most) college players are playing the sport strictly to get into the NFL. Not for the love of the game or any other reason. It's to make it to the league and get a payday. What's wrong with that?
Again, to pro-fans... most college rivalries don't mean jack. I'm sure the TV ratings of those games compared to college rivalry games would tell an interesting story as well. Also, if you don't think some NFL rivalries aren't based on legit hatred, you're nuts.
If you worked for a company and their rival offered you a lot more money to come to them, what would your thoughts be about that rivalry?
All you're doing is taking offense to everything I say because you're an NFL fan. I didn't mean to offend you.
I don't have any problem with NFL players taking whatever anybody is willing to pay them, that's not my point. It's not personal. Heck, we'd all take the money. I just think it waters down the league. You have guys holding out for more money all the time because they think they're worth more, even when they already have more than they can spend. The problem is, after they've held out and get their money (Chris Johnson, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Albert Haynesworth, etc., etc. for example) they play like crap.
A coach can bench a player for underperforming or not practicing hard in college or high school, NFL coaches can't do that. The owner is paying that player big time money for him to be on the field and selling tickets, it doesn't matter how big of a pain in the butt the player is, or if he even deserves to be out there.
College rivalries are simply more storied, with more tradition, and have a more legitimate make-up. That's not opinion, that's just the way it is. College football has been around a lot longer than the NFL has. Rivalries and tradition is what makes college football what it is. I think you can ask any player or coach in the NFL and 99% will tell you that college rivalries are simply much better than NFL rivalries.
DeMeco Ryans said it best a couple years ago when Phil Simms asked him before Houston played Dallas if he hated the Cowboys. "No I don't hate the Cowboys". Ryans said, "I hate Auburn".
That about sums it up. You play "rivalries" in the NFL. You LIVE rivalries in college football. It's part of who you are, and no amount of money will ever change it.