NFL considering expanding playoffs

[Bucky32]

NFL.com link

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell spoke Wednesday in Dallas after the December Special League Meeting, which was held in large part to discuss issues that later will be raised with the NFL Competition Committee, including the elimination of low blocks and the implementation of mandatory pads.

But Goodell mentioned one issue that is sure to draw the attention of most fans: Expanding the playoffs.


"Right now we're with 12 teams obviously. We'll look at probably 14 or 16 teams," Goodell said.

Obviously you'd see a dilution of the playoffs much like in the NHL or NBA. Thoughts?

 

[OhioState001]

How about you focus on not making it a flag football league Roger.

 

[billmac91]

NFL.com link


Obviously you'd see a dilution of the playoffs much like in the NHL or NBA. Thoughts?

I thought all this guy cared about was player safety?

He's essentially changed and altered the game to the point linebackers and safeties can't enforce over the middle, blitzers can't go low or high, and countless games have been won or lost on third down personal fouls that are an embarrassment to football all in the name of safety....

And he wants to extend playoff football where the stakes are raised?

Hypocritical.

 

[exhawg]

I thought all this guy cared about was player safety?

He's essentially changed and altered the game to the point linebackers and safeties can't enforce over the middle, blitzers can't go low or high, and countless games have been won or lost on third down personal fouls that are an embarrassment to football all in the name of safety....

And he wants to extend playoff football where the stakes are raised?

Hypocritical.

$$$$$$

 

[Jake]

How about you focus on not making it a flag football league Roger.

Blame it on the owners. He works for them, not the other way around.

On one hand they express concerns over player safety. On the other, they have Thursday games every week - which are physically demanding on the players - and talk about adding more games.

 

[Jake]

I thought all this guy cared about was player safety?

He's essentially changed and altered the game to the point linebackers and safeties can't enforce over the middle, blitzers can't go low or high, and countless games have been won or lost on third down personal fouls that are an embarrassment to football all in the name of safety....

And he wants to extend playoff football where the stakes are raised?

Hypocritical.

Why do people talk like Goodell is a dictator, inflicting his rules on the game? He can't change anything without an approval vote from his bosses.

"He" isn't changing the game. They are, the billionaires making a fortune on this League. They're the ultimate hypocrites.

 

[billmac91]

Why do people talk like Goodell is a dictator, inflicting his rules on the game? He can't change anything without an approval vote from his bosses.

"He" isn't changing the game. They are, the billionaires making a fortune on this League. They're the ultimate hypocrites.

I completely disagree. You think the owners sat around and decided to suspend Shawn Payton for a year even though he had zero involvement in the bounty scandal?

The owners give Goodell the authority under the CBA, but to act like he hasn't taken the player safety issue way too far, to the point teams win or lose games based on clean football, is insane.

I will agree the extension of playoff football is about $, but it's the most transparent thing I've ever seen. You can't put skirts on QB's and WR's, and then ask players to go out and play additional games and games with added importance/physicality at that.

Hypocritical.

 

[Buckeneye]

Making the regular season that much less important. Awesome. As if it wasn't hard enough for me to watch regular season basketball & baseball.

 

[BigWoof31]

I thought all this guy cared about was player safety?

He's essentially changed and altered the game to the point linebackers and safeties can't enforce over the middle, blitzers can't go low or high, and countless games have been won or lost on third down personal fouls that are an embarrassment to football all in the name of safety....

And he wants to extend playoff football where the stakes are raised?

Hypocritical.

I remember with the Players and Owners were negotiating during the lockout. The owners big push was to eventually go from 16 to 18 games. Of course this would mean expanded rosters and a 2nd bye week.
Players hated it - so it was killed.

This is a sneaky way of getting more games without having to go through the union agreement.

 

[jlb1705]

In a world where the Browns are not mathematically eliminated with three weeks left, the playoff field should be contracted not expanded.

 

[buckeyebri]

Old adage, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.....

 

[Mike80]

Blame it on the owners. He works for them, not the other way around.

True, but that doesn't hide the fact that Goddell is a moron.

On one hand they express concerns over player safety. On the other, they have Thursday games every week - which are physically demanding on the players - and talk about adding more games.

The Thursday night games have all sucked this year too.

Expanding the playoffs this year in the AFC would get a .500 team or worse into the playoffs and I think the NFC would have been there in previous years. Bad idea.

 

[Bucky32]

True, but that doesn't hide the fact that Goddell is a moron.



The Thursday night games have all sucked this year too.

Expanding the playoffs this year in the AFC would get a .500 team or worse into the playoffs and I think the NFC would have been there in previous years. Bad idea.

At 14 teams in 2011, you would have had 8-8 Chicago making it and 9-7 Tennessee making it as well. If you go to 16, throw two more 8-8 teams (NYJ & Arizona) in the mix too.

If you go back to 2010, it's not as egregious. The NFC would've saw two more 10-6 teams make it, and a 9-7 and 8-8 team make it in the AFC.

 

[scooter1369]

With a desire to have that many teams in the post season, maybe Goodell should consider a Bowl system.

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

If you think teams take games off now when they qualify for the playoffs, just wait until a bunch of teams start locking up playoff spots by week 12...