Quote:When you invest countless hours in watching NFL games and the significance of the outcome of the games is reduced because two more teams will be getting into the playoffs, there's reason to strongly oppose the plan.
FYI, Giants co-owner John Mara opposes playoff expansion. Much like John Mara's father Wellington Mara, John acts in the best interest of the NFL even though it will cost him short term profits. If not for Wellington Mara's long term vision, we probably wouldn't be on this MB as small market teams like Jacksonville, Green Bay, Buffalo, etc. would likely not exist. I wish there were 10 Maras in the NFL for every Jerry Jones.
Sadly, the ratio is starting to appear slanted in the other direction. The league think of the Pete Rozelle days are long gone.
Quote:Sadly, the ratio is starting to appear slanted in the other direction. The league think of the Pete Rozelle days are long gone.
I couldn't agree more.
Other than John Mara, I haven't seen comments from any current NFL owner or team executive that opposes playoff expansion.
Quote:Oh you mean accept a diluted accomplishment, yep...it is amazing how fast fans accept regression of the sport.
And it sucked when it was first introduced too.
It only became good when the NFL expanded to 32 teams.
Sigh....everyone loves the easy way out anymore. smh...
Yeah, if we only aspired to your lofty standards! LOL.
Quote:I agree with you that it seems inevitable.
However, I disagree with you that the viewers want it. When you get a chance, go to practically any Online article about playoff expansion that has a comment section. The common themes are at least 2/3 of the people commenting are against playoff expansion and that Roger Goodell and Jerry Jones are heavily criticized. It's safe to assume that a large % of the people commenting on these articles are in their teens, 20's, or 30's.
As for the NFLPA, they aren't going to accept playoff expansion unless the NFL gives them something else that satisfies them. The more games that are played, the greater the risk of injury.
Look, I've already stated that it would be fine with me if they left well enough alone. But you and I don't get a vote. Unless you plan to vote by not watching and going to NFL games anymore.
Sorry - but that's not a price I chose to pay. And I seriously doubt you, or anyone else around here, will either.
You (and TMD and others) who pine for the days of yore remind me of the hard-core traditionalists who said that major league baseball was going to hell in a hand basket (where did that phrase come from?) and they'd never watch again, etc., etc. Well, MLB is doing just fine. When (not if) the NFL expands the playoffs - which I'd much rather have than the useless four exhibition (I'm sorry, pre-season) games - the NFL will do just fine.
Quote:Look, I've already stated that it would be fine with me if they left well enough alone. But you and I don't get a vote. Unless you plan to vote by not watching and going to NFL games anymore.
Sorry - but that's not a price I chose to pay. And I seriously doubt you, or anyone else around here, will either.
You (and TMD and others) who pine for the days of yore remind me of the hard-core traditionalists who said that major league baseball was going to hell in a hand basket (where did that phrase come from?) and they'd never watch again, etc., etc. Well, MLB is doing just fine. When (not if) the NFL expands the playoffs - which I'd much rather have than the useless four exhibition (I'm sorry, pre-season) games - the NFL will do just fine.
While we don't get a vote and very likely won't change the outcome of the decision, I still believe that it's worth expressing my opinion on a subject that's very important to me as an NFL fan. There are many NFL decisions that I'm relatively neutral on. This isn't one of them.
I would take a 4 game exhibition season 100 out of 100 times if it means that the regular season maintains it's importance level. We have difference preferences, which of course is fine.
As for MLB, the way they added two playoff teams a couple of years ago was actually a good decision. It made the regular season more important from the standpoint that the division winners don't have to participate in a one game playoff. Under the playoff structure prior to the current one when each league had one wild card, there was almost no difference in being a division winner compared to being a wild card. My only major issue with the current structure of the MLB season is the 2nd Round of the playoffs are best 3 out of 5 instead of best 4 out of 7. It's too easy for an inferior team to win a short series.