It really doesn't though.

If the Jags get a 2 seed, they would have to play three games instead of just two.  Granted one of them would be against a fairly easy team at home, but you can't count anyone out.  And if you get the 7 seed, you're facing the 2nd best team in the conference.  Again, not unwinnable, but I don't see it as improving the chances.  Especially considering the team is more likely ready for a Super Bowl with a 2 seed.  Which is when they'd be decreasing our chances of winning.

 

Ya, that's a good point.  I can see both sides of the argument.  Whatever decision the owners make, I'm fine with it.

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Oh, I dunno.....at least we had kickoff returns... :whistling:

Don't forget the lack of these excessive stupid endzone celebration penalties..

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Don't forget the lack of these excessive stupid endzone celebration penalties..

 



 

Oh really?

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“An empty vessel makes the loudest sound, so they that have the least wit are the greatest babblers.”. - Plato

Don't forget the lack of these excessive stupid endzone celebration penalties..

 

Whatever it takes to squeeze the fun and uniqueness out of the league, Goodell is happy to oblige.

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Never argue with idiots. They drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.

Don't forget the very real possibility of losing starters to injury in the extra game...

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"Don't worry about the world coming to an end today. It's already tomorrow in Australia."
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Charles Schultz
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"The harder I work, the luckier I get."
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T-Shirt at District Wrestling Meet.

Oh really?

Don't mock what you don't understand. I'm sure those of us who remember the Ickey Shuffle would agree.. It's probably only a matter of time that The Lambeau Leap is gone too. Hail to The Dictator..

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I agree completely with this.

 

It's the perfect number of teams in the postseason now.

 

There's enough spots to give fanbases all over the hope of contention late in the season, but it's exclusive enough such that it's saying something when you make the playoffs.

 

Adding another team to each conference only decreases the quality of the product, since inferior teams are more likely to make the playoffs, and increase the likelihood of injury for what would otherwise be a 2nd seeded team.

 

If you increase the number of playoff teams and eliminate the first round bye for 2nd seeded teams, you'd only serve to have some teams rest starters in the late regular season games.

 

 

Very well stated,  Bullseye.  

 

One word that comes to mind when thinking about the likely decision by the NFL to expand the playoffs is ' myopic '.

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Expanding the playoffs beyond what they are today would be the equivalent to giving everyone participation trophies.  It hurts the product quality for the sake of the almighty dollar. 

 

Absolutely.  

 

The incentive for the better teams to win games late in the season will be reduced significantly each time the playoffs are expanded.

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To D6,

 

I guess I don't really care about that.  Maybe I'm just selfish.  I just care about my team having a shot.  Expanding the playoffs only gives them a better shot at winning a championship.

 

badger,  regarding what you mentioned,   there's an additional potential negative ramification if as expected the playoffs are expanded.

 

It's very likely that when there's a field of 7 teams from each conference in the playoffs,  there will be a MNF playoff game in Round 1.   Lets suppose the Jaguars are scheduled to play in that game and aren't the 7th seeded team.   During the game,  the Jaguars have the misfortunate of suffering a number of injuries but go on to win the game.   However,  the Jaguars would then be scheduled to play the following Sunday,  against a team that played their 1st Round playoff game prior to Monday Night.    With that team escaping their game relatively healthy.   Now,  the Jaguars would have to face a team that would be more fresh and had more time to prepare for the 2nd Round game.     The chances of the Jaguars winning the 2nd Round game would be greatly reduced under this scenario that isn't as far fetched as it might sound to some. 

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This commissioner is proving that his loyalties lie where the dollar signs are the greatest.  Watering down the playoffs is secondary to nailing down $100 million per game. 

 

On a different note, David, are you going to be in the city for the draft this year?

 

Tim, unfortunately you are correct.   The shortsightedness of the Commissioner,  most owners,  and other league executives will likely prove costly in the long run.

 

I'm planning on going to the draft.   I suffered a quad injury last year that required surgery but barring a setback am at the point that I can travel and do most everyday normal activities.   Being at the draft has been a goal of mine for many months.  

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Don't forget the very real possibility of losing starters to injury in the extra game...

 

I'm expecting this to happen.   It's more of a question of when, not if.  

 

  A 2nd seeded team should have a week off before their first playoff game.   If the top teams aren't rewarded along these lines,  why play the regular season!

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I'm expecting this to happen.   It's more of a question of when, not if.  

 

  A 2nd seeded team should have a week off before their first playoff game.   If the top teams aren't rewarded along these lines,  why play the regular season!

 

To try to earn a spot in the playoffs

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To try to earn a spot in the playoffs

 

 Basically what I was saying is with so many teams in the playoffs,  why not just have one big tournament!   That's already the way I feel about the NHL and NBA.   When the NFL eventually expands the playoffs to 8 teams a conference,  that would be my view of the NFL.   

 

With a 7 team format,  the regular season still would have importance.   But it would be noticeably less than with a 6 team per conference format,   The last weekend of the season is going to be anti-climatic for the most part.    For many teams heading for the playoffs,  this will apply to the last 2 weeks of the regular season.

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Basically what I was saying is with so many teams in the playoffs, why not just have one big tournament! That's already the way I feel about the NHL and NBA. When the NFL eventually expands the playoffs to 8 teams a conference, that would be my view of the NFL.


With a 7 team format, the regular season still would have importance. But it would be noticeably less than with a 6 team per conference format, The last weekend of the season is going to be anti-climatic for the most part. For many teams heading for the playoffs, this will apply to the last 2 weeks of the regular season.

Ya I get it, but overall we like football because its football. The change in the system will have some negatives, but I dont think it will make the NFL uninteresting. We still love the sport. If you dont watch NHL or NBA, its probably because you don't like the sports that much.

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Ya I get it, but overall we like football because its football. The change in the system will have some negatives, but I dont think it will make the NFL uninteresting. We still love the sport. If you dont watch NHL or NBA, its probably because you don't like the sports that much.

 

 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.  

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Don't mock what you don't understand. I'm sure those of us who remember the Ickey Shuffle would agree.. It's probably only a matter of time that The Lambeau Leap is gone too. Hail to The Dictator..

Speak for yourself, I watched Billy Johnson celebrate live in person. I was commenting that celebrations were penalized and outlawed long before Goodell, even back in the now celebrated 80s.

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“An empty vessel makes the loudest sound, so they that have the least wit are the greatest babblers.”. - Plato

 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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The sun's not yellow, it's chicken.

Football in the 80s was not nearly as exciting as it is today, don't kid yourself.

Upon what do you base this statement?

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Worst to 1st.  Curse Reversed!

Speak for yourself, I watched Billy Johnson celebrate live in person. I was commenting that celebrations were penalized and outlawed long before Goodell, even back in the now celebrated 80s.

 

You realize that celebration penalties became much more severe at the start of the 2006 season, right? That included much stiffer fines and 15 yard excessive celebration penalties.. And what do you know, Goodell took office at the start of the 2006 NFL campaign.. Coincidence, right? 

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"The competitiveness of our league, that's the difference to me. It's not just adding two more teams that didn't have a chance to proceed in the playoffs. That wouldn't be something that we're interested in. I think what we're seeing now is such a competitive league that a team that got in on the 13th or 14th spot has a chance to win it all."

 

Roger Goodell

 

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/108374...ompetitive

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