NFL looking into a new playoff format and "Maybe" a extra game per team? (1 Viewer)

[Tornacl]

I agree, I think the only "fair" way is to match NFC vs AFC the equivalent team from last years standings, only problem for the NFL is that guarantees a bunch of stinkers.

As it stands right now, only two games on the schedule are flexed due to strength of schedule, so making that three games wouldn't be difficult.  Wouldn't necessarily have to be AFC/NFC equivalent.  And if that extra game were neutral site, you could get some prime matchups without giving an extra advantage to a team playing at home.  I would make the neutral site game, plus two other games be the "strength of schedule" adjusted games.

Currently, with the neutral site games, the team giving up the home game is disadvantaged because they are in essence playing 7 home games vs 9 away games.  So most good teams aren't going to agree to do that.  As it stands now, the teams playing the neutral site games are "generally" not the best teams (although there have been a few good teams like the Chiefs, most of the time it has been the Jags and other bottom feeders).  By having ALL teams play a neutral site game, overall the quality of those games should be better, which would be better for the international marketing of the NFL. 

 

[Archiebonker]

They just have make sure that every team plays one neutral game and give up one home game every other year. With the extra regular season game. This shouldn't be a problem, because each other season, they have one more home game than they do now. 

 

[rschroeder1]

When they talked about 17 games before, they talked about trying to create out of division rivalries, something like trying a yearly Chicago/Indy game because they are close in location but usually don't play each other.  That artificial setup screws with competitive balance, so it still worries me the NFL would try something like that, after all, this is all about money/ratings.

I would hope you are right though.

Slightly off topic, but I am annually vexed as to how the NFL has determined that Chicago is a "secondary market" for the Colts.  Please, no more force feeding us Colts games on CBS...

And no one would ever consider Bears-Colts a rivalry, no matter how hard you try.  Much like that vaunted Titans-Jags matchup.

 

[lod001]

7 playoff teams seems stupid. Just go to 8 and every team has to win 3 games to get to the SB.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

I agree, I think the only "fair" way is to match NFC vs AFC the equivalent team from last years standings, only problem for the NFL is that guarantees a bunch of stinkers.

When running this extra game thru my mind, I was thinking the same thing. It would be an extension of the current SOS with the 3rd game being a rotation of an other conference team in the same place.

 

[Anarchy99]

I believe the current proposal by the owners limits players to $250K to play in the 17th game. With some QBs in the $2M a game range, not sure that’s going to fly with the NFLPA.

 

[King of the Jungle]

I believe the current proposal by the owners limits players to $250K to play in the 17th game. With some QBs in the $2M a game range, not sure that’s going to fly with the NFLPA.

I am sure it is has been said but the players have no leverage. With the majority of the NFLPA made up of players that are on the “lower end” of the pay scale the owners know they will not sit out and most likely succumb to the majority of their demands. Finding a job at Home Depot is not going to be quite the same lifestyle for these guys and they are not willing to sacrifice that for a year or two that it would take to swing the leverage in the players direction. I personally would love to see the players be able to just sit out long enough to have the owners crawl back and have to meet the players demands. But...it will most likely never happen.

 

[Capella]

I am sure it is has been said but the players have no leverage. With the majority of the NFLPA made up of players that are on the “lower end” of the pay scale the owners know they will not sit out and most likely succumb to the majority of their demands. Finding a job at Home Depot is not going to be quite the same lifestyle for these guys and they are not willing to sacrifice that for a year or two that it would take to swing the leverage in the players direction. I personally would love to see the players be able to just sit out long enough to have the owners crawl back and have to meet the players demands. But...it will most likely never happen.

Also the 48th and 49th guys on a roster may never see those spots again. A lockout isn’t going to prevent the next wave of 300 college players from coming in. The players would absolutely cave during a lockout. This is probably the best the deal will ever be. 

 

[Archiebonker]

So what the owners are offering and want: The owners' proposal features a 17-game season, shorter preseason, larger rosters and limits on the number of international games, increases in minimum salaries, changes in practice squad makeup and eligibility, and reduced offseason and preseason requirements as pivotal parts of the deal. An expansion of the playoffs to seven teams in each conference, with only the top seed in the AFC and NFC getting a wild-card bye,as long as the postseason remains in a four-week format. Several owners are strongly in favor of doing so regardless of the CBA status. The 17-game schedule actually is a compromise offer for some owners who wanted 18 games. Adding the one regular-season match would seem to indicate each of those games would be at a neutral site.But the league has promised the union to cap the number of international games and that there would not be a full week of such contests. More likely is a continued mix of games in England (and other European sites) and Mexico. Most team schedules will have nine home games and eight road games in alternating years.  The preseason would be reduced from four games to three, not counting the Hall of Fame game that starts the exhibition schedule.Training camp padded practices would be reduced from a total of 28 to 16. A five-day acclimation period would precede summer practices. There would be more days off during camp - eight instead of five - and a limit on joint practices.

Rosters would expand from 53 to 55, with 48 players able to dress for games rather than the current 46. Practice squads would go from 10 players to 12 and eventually to 14, probably by 2022. There would be more flexibility for protecting practice squaders from becoming free agents. Suspensions for a positive test for marijuana likely would end, except for cases of tampering with a test. But doctors appointed by the league and union would have the ability to recommend players sit if they are not under treatment or are at risk if they suit up. Significant boosts in pension for retired players and active ones also are provided in the contract.

 

[JohnnyU]

They're bound and determined to wreck this whole thing, aren't they?

Part of the allure of following football is the feeling of scarcity and lack which creates pent up demand.

They mess around with expanding the season/playoffs it'll water down the experience like the NBA/NHL where all but two teams make the playoffs. Yuck.

I agree with this 100%.  But at the end of the day money Trumps.