This is staggering when you consider that the vast majority of players in the Hall of Fame Game never will see a down of action during the regular season.

From Sports Media Watch:

Sunday’s Cowboys/Dolphins NFL Hall of Fame Game earned a 6.2 final rating and 10.1 million viewers on NBC, up 417% in ratings and 413% in viewership from Saints/Cardinals on NFL Network last year (1.2, 2.0M), but down 9% and 11%, respectively, from Cowboys/Bengals on NBC in 2010 (6.8, 11.3M).

Meanwhile, the All-Star Game, baseball’s marquee event, did a 6.9 rating with an estimated 11 million viewers tuning in.

There was this from SMW:

Among adults 18-49, Sunday’s game drew a 3.8 rating — up 322% from last year’s game on NFL Network (0.9), but down 10% from the 2010 game on NBC (4.2). The 3.8 rating is the highest in the demo for any television program since the NBA Finals in June, topping the MLB All-Star Game on FOX (3.2).

What does it mean? The ratings show the massive popularity for the NFL knows no bounds. Not so much for baseball.