Quote: As someone who has invested close to 45 years of my life watching and following the NFL,  I plan to be a fan as long as I'm physically and mentally able too.   Having said that,  when the NFL expands to an 8 team playoff format like the NHL and NBA have,  my plan likely will be to watch around 60 % of the amount of regular season games I currently watch.    I'm not sure how much,  if any,  my viewership will drop with a 7 team format.   But my enjoyment won't be as high. 

 

 Because the NHL and NBA expanded their playoffs to 16 teams when I was much younger,  I didn't have the investment in those sports that I have in the NFL.   It's realistically possible I would have been a hard core fan of at least one of those sports if they had a playoff system along the lines that the NFL had in 2013.  

 

You make the point that I'm not sure is understood - that much of the opposition, I think, to the mere idea of expanding the playoffs comes from "older" fans. (I'm one as well - but expanding the playoffs doesn't bother me nearly as much as it does to you.)

 

We are not the future of the NFL. Yes, the league values our interest, and money, but they also think that younger fans who are used to NBA and NHL playoff setups won't object. For all we know - they may actually like it. More football! Playoff, win or go home football! 

 

Major league baseball used to have only the winners of a multi-team league play in the playoffs (World Series). Those days are long gone, as are the days of 14 game NFL seasons.

 

Like it or not, we (veteran fans as I call 'em) are not the NFL. The owners will decide how far to stretch this thing. I don't think they are any where near the breaking point. Yes, many of the issues raised by you and others are valid. But they'll be dealt with, and to be honest I'm not sure most fans are as concerned about the "purity" of the game as you. It is after all only entertainment.

 

How many on this board can honestly say they won't watch Round One (or whatever they chose to call it) of the 14 team playoff scenario? You know you will. I know I will. And guess what? I won't even feel guilty, or like I'm somehow tarnishing the memory of Johnny Unitas.

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