Need More League Parity? There Are Better Ways Than a Witch Hunt!

ChessToCheckers · Dec 12, 2015

In a weak moment, I started thinking about one of the popular arguments for WHY there was a witch hunt against GOAT. Some people said it's because of "League Parity."

Many of us on this board think this is far from the truth.

More likely, it was driven by the envy and humiliation of the 31 Owners and their Clown Show on Park Avenue. The Pats are too good, and have been for too long.

Instead of trying to improve their teams, they try to tear down ours.

Despicable!

That having been said, this year the League seems to have a large gap between the "Haves" and "Have-Nots". This isn't supposed to happen either. It's probably not optimal for the Game. But what can be done to further level the field? Start more Witch Hunts?

So here's my question: If the goal is to drive more parity into the league, what would you do? Ideally, it should be fair, simple, and efficient.

One thought I had was:

Modify the draft based on the previous year's final standings. Simple formula. SuperBowl Winner loses their normal 1st round pick. SuperBowl Loser loses their normal 2nd round pick. Conference Championship Losers, their 3rd. Division Championship Losers, their 4th, and Wildcard Game Losers, their 5th.

I know. I know. Who wants Parity? Life ain't fair. My point is that there are many simple ways to drive parity. Witch Hunting is not one of them.

Your thoughts?

Fencer · Dec 12, 2015

ChessToCheckers said:
SuperBowl Winner loses their normal 1st round pick.

That's close to what's happened the last two times the Pats won.

Kontradiction · Dec 12, 2015

Fencer said:
That's close to what's happened the last two times the Pats won.

The Pats didn't win in '07.

Nikolai · Dec 12, 2015

I'm not a fan of parity as a principle. Dynasties make things more interesting in my opinion. Maybe I'm old school, but I actually try to appreciate greatness. I wasn't a Bulls fan, but man did I admire the hell out of Michael Jordan and that Bulls team. Winners.

I'm not sure parity is good for the league's well-being either. The NHL has had parity for nearly 25 years, and it hasn't helped it all that much. Baseball's new streak of parity might be the final nail in its coffin as the number two sport in America. How many people cared about Royals-Mets?

What kind of buzz would a Jacksonville-Detroit Super Bowl bring?

The Patriots are actually good for the NFL. Whether it's because people admire the greatness of a dynasty, or hate the winners and want to bring us down, the NFL has a center. For the most part, that's been the case for the last 40-45 years; 1970s Steelers, 1980s-1990s 49ers, 1990s Cowboys, and now us. It never hurt the NFL, and I'd argue that baseball was at its most popular when the Yankees were winning World Series like it was old hat. The NHL was probably the hottest it ever got in the aftermath of the 1980s Edmonton run.

**** parity...it's overrated.

RayClay · Dec 12, 2015

ChessToCheckers said:
In a weak moment, I started thinking about one of the popular arguments for WHY there was a witch hunt against GOAT. Some people said it's because of "League Parity."

Many of us on this board think this is far from the truth.

More likely, it was driven by the envy and humiliation of the 31 Owners and their Clown Show on Park Avenue. The Pats are too good, and have been for too long.

Instead of trying to improve their teams, they try to tear down ours.

Despicable!

That having been said, this year the League seems to have a large gap between the "Haves" and "Have-Nots". This isn't supposed to happen either. It's probably not optimal for the Game. But what can be done to further level the field? Start more Witch Hunts?

So here's my question: If the goal is to drive more parity into the league, what would you do? Ideally, it should be fair, simple, and efficient.

One thought I had was:

Modify the draft based on the previous year's final standings. Simple formula. SuperBowl Winner loses their normal 1st round pick. SuperBowl Loser loses their normal 2nd round pick. Conference Championship Losers, their 3rd. Division Championship Losers, their 4th, and Wildcard Game Losers, their 5th.

I know. I know. Who wants Parity? Life ain't fair. My point is that there are many simple ways to drive parity. Witch Hunting is not one of them.

Your thoughts?

Why not just execute the two Super bowl participants after the game and make them sign all free agents?

Seriously, the worst teams will sign all the most expensive players and keep losing, while the 5 or 6 consistent teams develop systems to win. The league, which is a commune anyway, will just have to keep teams afloat in cities they desire and let the best teams play winning football.

You can't legislate competence. If you try, you will just have an awful league of losers that are unwatchable and the league will gradually fade away as Goodie and his buds tell concussion and rape jokes in tuxedos.

I never complained watching the Cowboys against the 49ers, Pats - Pittsburgh, Green Bay - Vikings etc. and those teams didn't have salary caps.

Only in the demented mind of a corporate ass kisser like Goodell does making the product worse make sense?

The way you get better is to emulate the systems of the Pats, Pitt Green Bay etc. Copy them. Analyze why we know you're going to suck, you're going to wreck that promising 1st round QB, why you're going to destroy your salary cap, why you can't make a good coaching hire then let him and/or a GM build a team

Do a George Costanza and do the opposite. Until then, you're cannon fodder and need to get out of the way and let the best teams play.

borg · Dec 12, 2015

The Full 32 desire a high scoring league to satisfy the growing legion of pink hat, fantasy newbies that have no serious interest in football beyond the generated scoring statistics. Higher scores require passing...so new rules have been implemented to boost the passing game.....but unfortunately the league is devoid of competent passers. No surprise the lopsided standings favor the teams with competent passers.
And of course the owners, players, fans of the United 31 want NE to fail.......15 years of irrelevance for most of those teams...so debilitating on so many levels. No surprise the silent chant behind closed doors to end the NE dynasty is......"What ever it takes!!!!!!!!!!"

Kontradiction · Dec 12, 2015

Nikolai said:
I'm not a fan of parity as a principle. Dynasties make things more interesting in my opinion. Maybe I'm old school, but I actually try to appreciate greatness. I wasn't a Bulls fan, but man did I admire the hell out of Michael Jordan and that Bulls team. Winners.

I'm not sure parity is good for the league's well-being either. The NHL has had parity for nearly 25 years, and it hasn't helped it all that much. Baseball's new streak of parity might be the final nail in its coffin as the number two sport in America. How many people cared about Royals-Mets?

What kind of buzz would a Jacksonville-Detroit Super Bowl bring?

The Patriots are actually good for the NFL. Whether it's because people admire the greatness of a dynasty, or hate the winners and want to bring us down, the NFL has a center. For the most part, that's been the case for the last 40-45 years; 1970s Steelers, 1980s-1990s 49ers, 1990s Cowboys, and now us. It never hurt the NFL, and I'd argue that baseball was at its most popular when the Yankees were winning World Series like it was old hat. The NHL was probably the hottest it ever got in the aftermath of the 1980s Edmonton run.

**** parity...it's overrated.

Ironically, the NHL has starting seeing a surge in popularity again and the Blackhawks have been winning Stanley Cups.

Nikolai · Dec 12, 2015

KontradictioN said:
Ironically, the NHL has starting seeing a surge in popularity again and the Blackhawks have been winning Stanley Cups.

Good point, actually. Chicago is probably the first real shot at a dynasty in a hot minute.

anditsgood · Dec 12, 2015

Nikolai said:
I'm not a fan of parity as a principle. Dynasties make things more interesting in my opinion. Maybe I'm old school, but I actually try to appreciate greatness. I wasn't a Bulls fan, but man did I admire the hell out of Michael Jordan and that Bulls team. Winners.

I'm not sure parity is good for the league's well-being either. The NHL has had parity for nearly 25 years, and it hasn't helped it all that much. Baseball's new streak of parity might be the final nail in its coffin as the number two sport in America. How many people cared about Royals-Mets?

What kind of buzz would a Jacksonville-Detroit Super Bowl bring?

The Patriots are actually good for the NFL. Whether it's because people admire the greatness of a dynasty, or hate the winners and want to bring us down, the NFL has a center. For the most part, that's been the case for the last 40-45 years; 1970s Steelers, 1980s-1990s 49ers, 1990s Cowboys, and now us. It never hurt the NFL, and I'd argue that baseball was at its most popular when the Yankees were winning World Series like it was old hat. The NHL was probably the hottest it ever got in the aftermath of the 1980s Edmonton run.

**** parity...it's overrated.

Im Ok with parity, as long as its organic, done through the draft and free agency, Its the fake parity, "everyone deserves a trophy" and "Harrison Bergeron" approach. Its stupid to give great teams a handicap, so the "special" teams feel good about themselves, When the league average passer rating is in the 90s, then you be better off watching two kids playing catch in the park, at least they are playing honest

turkeyneck · Dec 12, 2015

You may be on to something here. This system is more or less applied only to the Patriots now. By making it a league rule and applying it to all successful teams it would actually reduce the relative disadvantage that the Patriots are now suffering under.

tasmlab · Dec 12, 2015

Want parity? Have BB coach all 32 teams.

TheFlyingWedge · Dec 12, 2015

anditsgood said:
Im Ok with parity, as long as its organic, done through the draft and free agency, Its the fake parity, "everyone deserves a trophy" and "Harrison Bergeron" approach. Its stupid to give great teams a handicap, so the "special" teams feel good about themselves, When the league average passer rating is in the 90s, then you be better off watching two kids playing catch in the park, at least they are playing honest

Despite all of the league measures to enforce equality and handicap the good teams, the Patriots have no doubt proven that dynasties can still exist and this must really hurt the feelings of Goodell and all the Patriot haters out there.

Nice Kurt Vonnegut reference there by the way.

50-yard-line · Dec 12, 2015

ChessToCheckers said:
One thought I had was:

Modify the draft based on the previous year's final standings. Simple formula. SuperBowl Winner loses their normal 1st round pick. SuperBowl Loser loses their normal 2nd round pick. Conference Championship Losers, their 3rd. Division Championship Losers, their 4th, and Wildcard Game Losers, their 5th.

I know. I know. Who wants Parity? Life ain't fair. My point is that there are many simple ways to drive parity. Witch Hunting is not one of them.

Your thoughts?

The draft is already TOO unfair to good teams. Having the SB winner pick at the end of each round is wrongheaded.

So, no.

Wordsmyth · Dec 12, 2015

Danger Zone · Dec 12, 2015

I'm going to make some assumptions here.

While profitable, I don't think man owners buy an NFL team thinking to make a profit as they are about winning, ego and competition.

I suspect that billionaire owners aren't used to losing -ever, let alone year after year after year after year.

Billionaires are most likely extremely egotistical people.

I fully believe they are more than capable, likely even, to be quite petty about losing to the Patriots.

And yes, I fully believe there is a strong hatred of the Patriots by the NFL office. Being a fan is just something you are and they have hired over time personnel they are comfortable with. By natural accretion the NFL has become packed with people with very strong Jets/Giants/NYC connections. A good example of this kind of thing is the Ted Wells hiring.

ThatllMoveTheChains!!! · Dec 12, 2015

Start punishing teams for losing rather than winning. Losers get better picks, winners get a bigger slice of the profit sharing pie.

IllegalContact · Dec 12, 2015

The league would be more competitive if there was no salary cap ......

Wheelman · Dec 12, 2015

borg said:
The Full 32 desire a high scoring league to satisfy the growing legion of pink hat, fantasy newbies that have no serious interest in football beyond the generated scoring statistics. Higher scores require passing...so new rules have been implemented to boost the passing game.....but unfortunately the league is devoid of competent passers. No surprise the lopsided standings favor the teams with competent passers.
And of course the owners, players, fans of the United 31 want NE to fail.......15 years of irrelevance for most of those teams...so debilitating on so many levels. No surprise the silent chant behind closed doors to end the NE dynasty is......"What ever it takes!!!!!!!!!!"
View attachment 11530

It is so scary.

micronin127 · Dec 12, 2015

Their product isn't parity so much as it is football games. I can't remember a year with so many bad games. The inventory of good games where both teams are worth watching and the game will be played at a high level has gone way down.

Is it possible to tweak the scheduling formula so that instead of playing an entire division from the NFC that the 1's have to play all the 1's, so this year we would have played Dallas, Green Bay, Carolina, and Seattle instead of the entire NFC East?

This would give them a larger inventory of better games to feature on TNF, SNF, and MNF. This would mean bad teams sneaking in to the playoffs as the best of the cupcakes would pile up enough wins to qualify for a beating in the Wild Card round.

IndianPat · Dec 12, 2015

What parity? The last few years I have witnessed MANY extremely uncompetitive teams. It seems as though every year there is atleast one and sometimes two divisions that have division winners and leaders with losing records.
This trend has come about because of league's ever changing rules to make the game quarterback friendly and to increase scoring. Why is QB friendly system the problem? Because there are not enough good QB's in this league. If you want parity the solution is to repeal all the Manning rules. I very much doubt if the genie could be put back into the bottle.

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