An NFL player was caught using a pirate streaming site called “MethStreams” to watch his own team play.

This incident highlights the ongoing challenge of live-streaming piracy, an issue that leagues like the NFL, NBA, UFC, and The Premier League are actively trying to combat.

NFL Star’s Surprising Streaming Choice

Seattle Seahawks cornerback Tariq Woolen made headlines for a reason unrelated to his on-field performance. The star, who earns more than $1 million a year, was caught watching a game through MethStreams, a free sports streaming website.

This revelation came after Woolen shared an image on his Instagram story, with the site’s URL clearly visible.

Despite the eyebrow-raising discovery, Woolen seemed unfazed when the news made its way back to him. However, the NFL, which is serious about tackling piracy, will likely view this incident differently.

The NFL’s Stand Against Live-Streaming Piracy

Piracy has been a persistent issue for sports leagues, especially for live events where real-time content is essential.

Last year, the NFL teamed up with the NBA and UFC to urge the U.S. Government’s Patent and Trademark Office to strengthen measures against live-streaming piracy.

They argued that current DMCA takedown requests are often too slow to be effective since the value of live sports content diminishes rapidly once the game is over.

Push for Instant Takedowns

The leagues suggested that online services should be legally required to remove infringing content “instantaneously or near-instantaneously.”

This would include not only traditional streaming platforms but also social media, where pirate streams are often promoted.

According to the NFL and its partners, pirates have become increasingly sophisticated, producing streams that can be hard to distinguish from legitimate broadcasts.

To maximize viewership, they frequently post advertisements on social media that direct users to external sites offering illegal streams of live sports events for free.

Impact of Piracy on the Sports Industry

The NFL, NBA, and UFC stressed that widespread piracy hurts their revenues, which ultimately impacts everyone involved in the sport, from teams and staff to the players themselves.

However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that all athletes are on board with cracking down on illegal streams. The revelation involving Woolen suggests that even those within the sports industry might turn to pirate sites under certain circumstances.

Lebron James was even caught using StreamEast several months ago to watch basketball games.

Tariq Woolen: ‘It’s Free’

The image showing Woolen using MethStreams was picked up and shared by several social media accounts, eventually catching the attention of well-known NFL news aggregator Dov Kleiman.

“Seahawks CB Tariq Woolen was using MethStreams to watch today’s NFL games. He makes over $1 million a year,” Kleiman tweeted, amplifying the incident.

When the news reached Woolen, he didn’t appear to be too concerned, remarking on social media, “It’s free.” This casual response is in stark contrast to the NFL’s efforts to clamp down on piracy.

Ironically, while Woolen was using MethStreams, the NFL’s anti-piracy teams were likely working to take down similar streams during the Seahawks’ game against the Atlanta Falcons.

The Bigger Picture: Piracy Continues Despite Efforts

The NFL and other sports leagues continue to battle against live-streaming piracy, but this incident shows just how challenging it is to control. Even as authorities work to remove illegal streams, many still find ways to access these services.

The NFL’s efforts to strengthen takedown processes show a serious commitment to protecting its content, but players’ casual use of pirate sites sends a mixed message about the issue.

Final Thoughts

Tariq Woolen’s choice to watch his team’s game on a pirate streaming site has shone a spotlight on the ongoing struggle between sports leagues and piracy.

While the NFL and others are pushing for stricter controls and faster takedowns, the reality is that pirate streams remain popular, even among those directly involved in the sport.

This incident raises questions about the effectiveness of current anti-piracy efforts and how laughable this situation is.