Reseeding playoffs and expanded pre-season rosters under consideration

[JoeSixPat]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=clayton_john&id=3313655

Some interesting changes being proposed here, along with FG attempt replays - looks like they're getting serious consideration too.

 

[bitsygirl]

Does anybody know when next seasons schedule is due out?

 

[richpats]

Week 1 games out Monday. Schedule likely out April 8th.

 

[Deus Irae]

Re-seeding was a bad idea for the NBA and it's a bad idea for the NFL. If record is to be considered more important than a division title, then the divisions should be abolished along with divisionally weighted schedules.

 

[patsfan209]

Re-seeding was a bad idea for the NBA and it's a bad idea for the NFL. If record is to be considered more important than a division title, then the divisions should be abolished along with divisionally weighted schedules.

My thoughts exactly.

 

[Mr.Muhozi]

this is what the nfl should be worrying about, not about flowing hair

 

[ScottieC]

Week 1 games out Monday. Schedule likely out April 8th.

I thought it was April 3rd. Either way, it's right around the corner and I can't wait!!!

 

[friggs]

If I were an NFL owner I would say they should go one better. I'd say the Super Bowl should be between the two best teams, not the best team from the AFC and from the NFC. The 12 best teams by record make the post season. The 1 through 4 seeds get a first round bye, and in the subsequent rounds the lowest remaining seed plays the highest remaining seed and so on. So what if there's a chance that a team from, for example, the AFC West does not make the playoffs? To make the playoffs a team should go out and win most of their games and if some division is so weak that none of the teams can come up with at least the 12th best record in the NFL, how on Earth is anyone going to argue that they "deserve" to make the playoffs?

Conversely, say the Pats and the Bills both end the regular season 15-1. The Bills win the AFC East by a hundredth of a percentage point on some tie breaker way down the list. Under the current system the Bills get a first round bye and most likely home field advantage throughout the playoffs. The Pats get no bye, and at least the potential to play every single playoff game on the road in spite of their tying for the best record in the NFL that year.

Superior performance should be rewarded. Stumbling through a season and getting a home field playoff game simply because you were not quite as bad as the other teams in your division should not be. Yes, I know that the 15-1 wild card team would likely do well in the playoffs. Be they the Pats or any other team they would likely go far because as a 15-1 team they know how to get the job done. But why should the 9-7 or 10-6 or God forbid 8-8 team they are playing be declared "better" and get the advantage of a home game simply because they didn't do quite as bad as three other teams they were stuck into a division with?

I'm not saying wipe away divisions or conferences. Playing a team that is geographically or historically tied to your own team twice a year keeps it interesting. I just think that, as others much smarter that I have said, the playoffs is a whole new season. Take the teams that have proven by their regular season records that they deserve the right to be there and let them duke it out. At the end I want the two strongest teams to play for the Lombardi Trophy regardless of what conference they come from.

 

[Kontradiction]

The seeding is fine as it is.

 

[tombonneau]

Re-seeding is stupid. Even Clayton is able to see the problem with a team wins a tough division at 11-5 but has to play a team like the Jags that goes 12-4 and finishes second in a two team division.

He of course than goes on to showcase his idiocy by stating keeping pre-season rosters at 80 vs. 86 exposes million-dollar veteran players to more risk because you'd have to play them more in the pre-season.

Sure, John, that's what a team would rather do. They'd rather give their vets more reps instead of the rookies they need to get film on. That's who will pick up the slack.

Idiot.

 

[blackglass3]

Ugh, is THIS what they are worrying about? Why doesn't someone let these idiots on both sides know they won't be having playoffs to worry about come 2011 if they don't fix the labor agreement.

I realize it seems a long way off now, but if they would just resolve it now everyone would win.

 

[AStack75]

I thought it was April 3rd. Either way, it's right around the corner and I can't wait!!!

Yeah, I heard April 3rd also.

 

[ScottieC]

Does anybody know when next seasons schedule is due out?

Guys on PFT said April 3rd on the Show today. You can download the Podcast and listen, they discuss it around about 22 or 23 min into the program. But they seemed a little noncommittal. Just an FYI.

 

[jbb9s]

Who is complaining about the current system?

 

[patsfan39]

its fine the way it is

 

[Sicilian]

Who is complaining about the current system?

I've never liked divisions myself. They're relics from an era where a team travelling outside of their region was subjected to horrific travel conditions. These players now fly in planes bigger and more luxurious than any place I've ever claimed as a residence.

I don't think they should be abolished, but the seeding should be based on record. Not playoff spots, just seeding. If a team wins a crappy division, sure, why not, give them a playoff spot. They can play in the #6 seed and be thankful they're not in a tougher division.

 

[brdmaverick]

re-seeding wouldn't work because of the unbalanced schedules.

Of course Goodell would be pulling for re-seeding though because he is right that there would be more to play for in weeks 16 and 17

 

[pats1]

If anyone was wondering about the 5 teams over 70 players as of right now:

Broncos - 79
Buccaneers - 77
Packers - 73
Jets -71
Texans - 71

The Pats are at 59, which is the third lowest team, the others being the Cardinals at 54 and Chiefs at 55. All other teams are in the 60s.

 

[richpats]

Of course Goodell would be pulling for re-seeding though because he is right that there would be more to play for in weeks 16 and 17

The NFL's master, TV RATINGS, rears its ugly head again. Of course the NFL wants more meaningful games the last couple of weeks. More people will tune in.

Ironic that the highest-rated game of the regular season was between teams that technically had NOTHING to play for.

 

[mgteich]

Seeding is fine as it is. Division winners deserve a home playoff game.

The possibility of an upcapped 2010 should affect most rookie contracts. There should be provisions in case 2010 is uncapped. Otherwise there may be a lot of two year contracts, or sit outs.