You can't have a monopoly on a private, trademarked brand that a company owns. It's not football that EA has the exclusive agreement to make, it's the actual
NFL branding of football, that they own. That's the difference as to why it's an exclusive agreement, not a monopoly.
As I said, I too don't like it and would like to see anyone who would like be able to make an NFL game, but the NFL has chosen not to go that route.
Hate it all you want but don't call it something it's not.