The NFL seems adamant about expanding the playoffs at least by two teams and possibly up to 4 teams. The players association seems to be against it citing possible injuries due to playing an extra week or two more.
Positives of an expanded playoffs:
1) More fringe teams (8-8, 9-7) records have a better chance of getting in.
2) One or even two less pre-season games for the fans to endure.
3) More football!
Negatives of an expanded playoffs:
1) The possibility for a watered down NFL tradition.
2) Higher risk for player injuries.
3) One or even two less pre-season games, which may hurt the evaluation and development for bottom third roster players competing for a chance.
What do you think?
Bad idea. I like seeing Dallas fail to make it
Quote:Bad idea. I like seeing Dallas fail to make it
That's funny because Jerry Jones seems to be a big supporter of the expanded playoffs!
Well if we're going to do it the old fashioned way, 2014 is our last chance from what I hear. But with the new rules, Blake 2015 not making the playoffs would be a huge disappointment. If this is his debut season, pressure is on.
All one needs to do is take a look at what has transpired in the NHL playoffs this season to see why expanded playoffs is a horrific idea.
In BOTH NHL Conferences, the teams with the top 3 records were eliminated by the end of the second round playoffs. This coming two years after an L.A. Kings 8th seeded Western Conference team won the Stanley Cup!
Basically, all that matters in the NHL is to be one of the top 8 seeds in the conference your team is in. In the last two or three weeks of the regular season, there's practically nothing meaningful for the top teams to play for. In some cases, even longer than that. This is the path the NFL is heading towards if the playoffs are expanded. Like I've said every time this topic is discussed, it's a matter of when, not if, the NFL will go to 8 playoff teams per conference, once they decide to go to 7.
Quote:Bad idea. I like seeing Dallas fail to make it
For what it's worth, even if they were expanded the past 4 years they still would have missed it.
It sure seems inevitable to me. The networks want it (because the viewers want it) and the league and players association want it because it's more money for everyone.
The main people against it, it seems to me, are those old geezers (like many of us on here) that want to keep things like they are (because we like things as they are.)
The NFL has never been real big on keeping things as they are, just to keep things as they are. Which is why they are, by far, the most powerful sports entity in America.
I hate the idea of expanded playoffs in the NFL at least under the current allotment of 32 teams. 12 is perfect under that configuration.
Quote:I hate the idea of expanded playoffs in the NFL at least under the current allotment of 32 teams. 12 is perfect under that configuration.
But that's what was said prior to the last expansion of the playoffs. And the last expansion of the number of teams.
It's amazing how fast we sports fans adapt to new circumstances.
Quote:I hate the idea of expanded playoffs in the NFL at least under the current allotment of 32 teams. 12 is perfect under that configuration.
It's been 12 teams in the playoffs since the league had 28 teams and only 6 divisions.
6 wildcard spots at one point. Now there are only 4 wildcards. Going back to 6 won't kill anything.
Quote:But that's what was said prior to the last expansion of the playoffs. And the last expansion of the number of teams.
It's amazing how fast we sports fans adapt to new circumstances.
Oh you mean accept a diluted accomplishment, yep...it is amazing how fast fans accept regression of the sport.
Quote:It's been 12 teams in the playoffs since the league had 28 teams and only 6 divisions.
6 wildcard spots at one point. Now there are only 4 wildcards. Going back to 6 won't kill anything.
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...
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...
You sure are taking it hard, dude. Maybe it's time for a break if the idea of two more teams getting into the playoffs each year is that big of a problem in your life.
Quote:You sure are taking it hard, dude. Maybe it's time for a break if the idea of two more teams getting into the playoffs each year is that big of a problem in your life.
That big of a problem? Hardly. I just enjoy working for what I get. Not having it handed to me. I like the sense of accomplishment.
The new playoff system is like NFL welfare.
Quote:It sure seems inevitable to me. The networks want it (because the viewers want it) and the league and players association want it because it's more money for everyone.
The main people against it, it seems to me, are those old geezers (like many of us on here) that want to keep things like they are (because we like things as they are.)
The NFL has never been real big on keeping things as they are, just to keep things as they are. Which is why they are, by far, the most powerful sports entity in America.
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.
Quote:But that's what was said prior to the last expansion of the playoffs. And the last expansion of the number of teams.
It's amazing how fast we sports fans adapt to new circumstances.
When the NFL expanded the playoffs from 10 to 12 teams, I was dead set against it. The only reasons why I eventually became comfortable with the new circumstances is within a 12 year period, 4 teams were added to the NFL. Plus the fact that each conference had two byes.
If as expected the NFL expands the playoffs to 14 teams, each conference will only have one bye. The difference between going from 2 byes to 1 bye, compared to going from 3 byes to 2 byes is huge on a % basis.
Quote:It's been 12 teams in the playoffs since the league had 28 teams and only 6 divisions.
6 wildcard spots at one point. Now there are only 4 wildcards. Going back to 6 won't kill anything.
Except under what is being proposed, there will be 8 division winners, not the 6 that was the case prior to 2002.
Quote:You sure are taking it hard, dude. Maybe it's time for a break if the idea of two more teams getting into the playoffs each year is that big of a problem in your life.
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.
Quote:It sure seems inevitable to me. The networks want it (because the viewers want it) and the league and players association want it because it's more money for everyone.
The main people against it, it seems to me, are those old geezers (like many of us on here) that want to keep things like they are (because we like things as they are.)
The NFL has never been real big on keeping things as they are, just to keep things as they are. Which is why they are, by far, the most powerful sports entity in America.
It is inevitable. Where there's money to be made, the league won't wait long to exploit it.
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.
co-sign