BS.
They didnt get soft, they just did things their own way. They made the 4 greatest metal albums of all time, they defined a genre. THEN they made a record that sold 22 million. Some musicians have contemporaries in their own genre, Metallica cant be compared to any other metal band. They are just that much better. Sabbath is as close as it gets.
They still play 3 hour shows, tour for years on end, and do what they feel. Theyve made albums of covers, theyve made albums with orchestras, theyve even made albums (crappy as it might be) with Lou Reed. They are pushing 50, and they still play the kill em all stuff live.
Im banking on the NFL opening their eyes and putting Metallica as the Super Bowl halftime show in NOLA next year.