Why not an incentive to go 16-0

[LaBrady]

With the whole Colt's Quit-Gate and reading everybody's reaction to going 16-0 in the regular season as well as it being meaningless unless the team wins a SB, I was thinking (borrowing some ideas from other posters). Why doesn't NFL give an incentive for teams to go undefeated in the regular season. This way there are no meaningless games at the end, no unhappy fans and no teams being helped into the playoffs. Now as for the prize of going undefeated:
- A trophy (The Belichick 16-0 Trophy or something)
- Additional draft picks
- Bonus paycheck
- Additional time to rest for the playoffs (maybe push back the next playoff game a few days).

I think NFL must do something! What do you guys think?

 

[20HindSight20]

The #1 seed in the playoffs and bragging rights are prize enough. I'd personally be mortified if they ever came out with a "Belichick 16-0" trophy.

 

[Patjew]

The #1 seed in the playoffs and bragging rights are prize enough. I'd personally be mortified if they ever came out with a "Belichick 16-0" trophy.

Better than a "Belichick 18-1" trophy.

 

[TheBostonStraggler]

With the whole Colt's Quit-Gate and reading everybody's reaction to going 16-0 in the regular season as well as it being meaningless unless the team wins a SB, I was thinking (borrowing some ideas from other posters). Why doesn't NFL give an incentive for teams to go undefeated in the regular season. This way there are no meaningless games at the end, no unhappy fans and no teams being helped into the playoffs. Now as for the prize of going undefeated:
- A trophy (The Belichick 16-0 Trophy or something)
- Additional draft picks
- Bonus paycheck
- Additional time to rest for the playoffs (maybe push back the next playoff game a few days).

I think NFL must do something! What do you guys think?

I think it is a good idea (no Belichick trophy!). The NFL likely makes more money with the drama of a team going perfect (most everyone was interested in the 07 patriots - many to simply root against the accomplishment by the evil Patriots). I don't see the extra draft pick or extra rest as good/fair, however, a significant bonus for each player and the team? The 16th victory (or first defeat) on the NFL (or whatever) network will likely add significant viewership (and into the playoffs/SB if the undefeated season contimues). Seems like a good idea for almost everyone.........

 

[Pat the Pats Fan]

Any team that gets to 13-0 is going to face stiff competition for the remaining 3 games of the season, regardless of their opponents record. Every team wants to be "the one" to end the undefeated streak. IMHO, the Colts faced with teams playing the game like it was their superbowl, wimped out.

 

[FortressX]

19-0 should be enough incentive.
Polian obviously thought his "one and done" team could not handle the pressure.

 

[RayClay]

- A trophy (The Belichick 16-0 Trophy or something)

*Barfs* eeewwwhh.

 

[sieglo]

No incentive should be necessary, because any man with any balls would want to go for it.

 

[Number 2]

I think the Colts had the incentive of breaking our record and that wasn't enough. The idea of crushing your rivals record should be enough for any team.

I do agree with the idea of promoting it some how. I think with the way the league is turning more towards thrill, profit and exposure (over seas games, prime time draft, pro bowl before super bowl, extended seasons) they will find a way to make it an interesting feat.

 

[JR4]

I think the Colts had the incentive of breaking our record and that wasn't enough. The idea of crushing your rivals record should be enough for any team.
.....

I agree. The Colts had incentive but it didn't out weigh the incentive
to be better physically for the playoffs. If an incentive is introduced maybe
it should give that team something that would be of benefit in the playoffs.

Example: a 16-0 team is automatically considered to have won the coin toss
in every playoff game they play.

 

[JR4]

I agree. The Colts had incentive but it didn't out weigh the incentive
to be better physically for the playoffs. If an incentive is introduced maybe
it should give that team something that would be of benefit in the playoffs.

Example: a 16-0 team is automatically considered to have won the coin toss
in every playoff game they play.

What about one extra timeout in the second half of any playoff game they
choose.

 

[aluminum seats]

This is a REALLY stupid idea.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

I do agree with the idea of promoting it some how. I think with the way the league is turning more towards thrill, profit and exposure (over seas games, prime time draft, pro bowl before super bowl, extended seasons) they will find a way to make it an interesting feat.

I seem to remember the NFL doing a "bit" of promotion when the Patriots were going for 16-0. [Then again, those "Pursuit of Perfection" spots were sponsored by Gillette. ]

Funny, I don't seem to remember them doing anything this year when you potentially had two teams going for it.

 

[spacecrime]

Who are you (or the league) to tell franchises how they should run their teams?

Because you think something is a good idea, you want to force other teams to do it?

The league should control safety, rules of play, drug use, etc. They have no business forcing a strategy like resting players onto every team.

I agree it is a bad idea, but I thought giving up a first round pick for BB in 2000 was a worse idea (as most of us did at the time).

In 2007 there were a lot of patsfans who felt it was important for the Pats to lose a game because the pressure of being undefeated was getting too great. And it is a rare Pats fan would would not trade a SB win for a loss to the Ravens or Iggles in 2007.

Watch the games, make fun of those guys who do things that to us are counterproductive, but give up the idea that you need to force strategy on teams.

 

[bigfandan]

This won't work... if Manning, Clark, Freeney got hurt playing game 16, people would say "what a bunch of idiots, they lost key starters for a meaningless trophy, or meer $50K paycheck," or whatever the small incentive might be. This way it might make teams less likely to go for 16-0, because the distorted incentive undermines the achievement in itself.

With the whole Colt's Quit-Gate and reading everybody's reaction to going 16-0 in the regular season as well as it being meaningless unless the team wins a SB, I was thinking (borrowing some ideas from other posters). Why doesn't NFL give an incentive for teams to go undefeated in the regular season. This way there are no meaningless games at the end, no unhappy fans and no teams being helped into the playoffs. Now as for the prize of going undefeated:
- A trophy (The Belichick 16-0 Trophy or something)
- Additional draft picks
- Bonus paycheck
- Additional time to rest for the playoffs (maybe push back the next playoff game a few days).

I think NFL must do something! What do you guys think?

 

[Ryan]

I hate that some people consider it meaningless. How is winning all of your games in the regular season meaningless? That's a pretty amazing accomplishment. Just because the coward Colts say it's meaningless because they didn't have the guts to go for it doesn't mean it is.