Interesting proposed Anti Tanking Rule

[Grogan14]

I am still pissed off about Pats losing the top pick

See below. Basically, if a team loses their last game they are pushed back in draft order. I woukd take it even further, Any team losing last game is pushed back at least one spot in draft order

I like it. What do others think?

The Proposal: “Anti-Tanking” Rule​

1. The first 10 picks of the NFL Draft would be reordered based on the outcome of their final regular season game;
2. All of the teams in the Top 10 who WON their Week 18 game, will be given “Top Priority” in the NFL Draft. Of these teams, the order shall be determined based on the length of their winning streaks to end the season;
3. Contrary, the teams in the Top 10 who LOST in Week 18 will be repositioned AFTER the teams who won. The order will be determined based on their record for the season;
4. Any additional tie breakers needed will be determined by: (1) regular season record, then, if necessary (2) strength of schedule;

The basic idea behind this proposal is simple: PROMOTE WINNING. Why not give the teams who won their final game better draft position? This creates an environment of competition amongst the entire league and gives the fans exactly what they want: GOOD FOOTBALL.

 

[lancerman]

At that point just give the number one pick to the best record. I get it sucks, but a team like us winning and losing the pick pretty much shows tanking isn't that much of an issue

 

[TinhWoodhead]

just make it a lottery (top 8?). if you suck, thats too bad

 

[MrTibbs]

Lottery for the top 6-7 but yeah a lottery.

 

[Zuma]

I think once you go down the lottery road it's harder to go back. Week 18 game might seem odd but it's easier to come back from if it doesn't work as intended. 2 cents.

 

[maust]

Or maybe just drop the last game of the season from the equation, For non playoff teams the draft order could be set based on the penultimate week's standings.

 

[Huckleberry1]

Lottery for the top 6-7 but yeah a lottery.

I agree with a bottom 6 lottery.

 

[Brotherblues]

Lottery is pointless for antitanking unless it's all non-playoff teams. Because then teams would tank to get in the lottery.

Tanking isn't an issue anyway. How many SB contenders got where they are by tanking?

 

[Ring 6]

The problem with pro sports and society as a whole really, is they see something that is less than perfect and feel it must be changed and create other problems, or just don’t really solve it and people like the new way worse than the old way.
There is no way to both have a draft that drives parity by giving the worst teams the best position but also legislates against trying to lose to gain that advantage.
Like the kickoff, overtime, protect the Qb, baseball all star game, etc etc. you will never solve every angle.

 

[TheRainMaker]

What about teams that purposely sit players in week 18 like the Bills did? People are paying hard earned money to see both teams. But there's nothing worse than finding out you paid for a ticket only to find out the players you want to see aren't playing. The NBA said they were going to crack down on this, but I haven't watched the NBA to know whether players are still taking games off.

 

[lancerman]

What about teams that purposely sit players in week 18 like the Bills did? People are paying hard earned money to see both teams play and there's nothing worse than finding out you paid for a ticket and the players you want to see aren't playing. The NBA said they were going to crack down on this, but I haven't watched the NBA to know whether players are still taking games off.

We are only saying this now because it hurt us. I was at the Doug Flutie dropkick game, a bunch of people paid money to watch Brady and all the starters play one series and then sit out. We did it too plenty of times. The Bills did what they were supposed to do all season and locked in a playoff spot, the final week nothing they did would change where they were seeded and playing starters could only result in an injury. Causality of a team having nothing to play for the final week and playing starters only having risk and no upside.

You can't legislate against common sense for teams to do what is most effective for their goals. No Bills fans that went to that game or watched that game cared about the outcome as long as key players didn't get injured. We've been there.

If the Patriots weren't hoping for the #1 draft pick, and were instead trying to get a wildcard spot, nobody would be upset that the Bills did what was in their interests.

Sometimes the cards just fall the way they do and someone winds up with the shortend of the stick. There was no way to prevent it.

Even this week 18 rule idea was entirely contingent on this very specific situation. If the Bills were tied with the Chiefs and needed a win to get the number 1 seed and they played their starters and kicked us in the teeth... then we'd all be crying about how a week 18 rule is stupid and counter productive to a draft order based on parity.

 

[TheRainMaker]

We are only saying this now because it hurt us. I was at the Doug Flutie dropkick game, a bunch of people paid money to watch Brady and all the starters play one series and then sit out. We did it too plenty of times. The Bills did what they were supposed to do all season and locked in a playoff spot, the final week nothing they did would change where they were seeded and playing starters could only result in an injury. Causality of a team having nothing to play for the final week and playing starters only having risk and no upside.

You can't legislate against common sense for teams to do what is most effective for their goals. No Bills fans that went to that game or watched that game cared about the outcome as long as key players didn't get injured. We've been there.

If the Patriots weren't hoping for the #1 draft pick, and were instead trying to get a wildcard spot, nobody would be upset that the Bills did what was in their interests.

Sometimes the cards just fall the way they do and someone winds up with the shortend of the stick. There was no way to prevent it.

Even this week 18 rule idea was entirely contingent on this very specific situation. If the Bills were tied with the Chiefs and needed a win to get the number 1 seed and they played their starters and kicked us in the teeth... then we'd all be crying about how a week 18 rule is stupid and counter productive to a draft order based on parity.

While I agree with this, what I'm saying is that you can't penalize a team for tanking when the Bills and the Pats have purposely lost games.

 

[lancerman]

While I agree with this, what I'm saying is that you can't penalize a team for tanking when the Bills and the Pats have purposely lost games.

I wouldn't call it purposely losing. It was more that they weren't trying to win and putting their best foot forward out of self preservation for the playoffs. Neither team cared much if their second string balled out and won. They just cared more about starters not getting hurt.

 

[jmt57]

​

1. The first 10 picks of the NFL Draft would be reordered based on the outcome of their final regular season game;

The problem is that none of these teams can pick and choose their Week 18 opponent.


Hypothetical Scenario:

Bad Team A is in line for the #1 draft pick.
In Week 18 they are playing a team that MUST win in order to make the playoffs.
Bad Team A tries hard but loses - and drops out of the Top 5

Bad Team X is in line for the #5 draft pick.
In Week 18 they are playing a playoff team locked into their playoff seed
That opponent plays third stringers and practice squad elevations.
Bad Team X wins easily - and gets a better draft pick.


I don't see how this solution makes things any better or fairer.

There is far more 'tanking' by the better, playoff-bound teams in week 18 than there is by the bad teams with bad records.

We may be searching for a solution to something that is not truly a problem.

 

[lancerman]

The problem is that none of these teams can pick and choose their Week 18 opponent.


Hypothetical Scenario:

Bad Team A is in line for the #1 draft pick.
In Week 18 they are playing a team that MUST win in order to make the playoffs.
Bad Team A tries hard but loses - and drops out of the Top 5

Bad Team X is in line for the #5 draft pick.
In Week 18 they are playing a playoff team locked into their playoff seed
That opponent plays third stringers and practice squad elevations.
Bad Team X wins easily - and gets a better draft pick.


I don't see how this solution makes things any better or fairer.

There is far more 'tanking' by the better, playoff-bound teams in week 18 than there is by the bad teams with bad records.

We may be searching for a solution to something that is not truly a problem.

I said this in another post, but if KC dropped a couple of more games, something that neither us or the Bills can control, it's possible the Bills play us in week 18 trying to secure the 1 seed and the bye week. Then we lose. If this week 18 rule is in effect then we could finish with the worst record and get screwed out of the first pick.

Likewise, as you said, some week 18 team that is in line for the 1 seed could end up getting some bottom feeder at the end of the season and have a much easier chance of winning the game that is treated specia.

It's just better to keep it the way it is and hope everyone acts in good faith.

 

[PancakeBlockPaul]

We are only saying this now because it hurt us. I was at the Doug Flutie dropkick game, a bunch of people paid money to watch Brady and all the starters play one series and then sit out. We did it too plenty of times. The Bills did what they were supposed to do all season and locked in a playoff spot, the final week nothing they did would change where they were seeded and playing starters could only result in an injury. Causality of a team having nothing to play for the final week and playing starters only having risk and no upside.

Well if they have nothing to play for, aren't they able to forfeit? Should be a way but with the $ involved, I am sure there isn't.

 

[Grogan14]

I said this in another post, but if KC dropped a couple of more games, something that neither us or the Bills can control, it's possible the Bills play us in week 18 trying to secure the 1 seed and the bye week. Then we lose. If this week 18 rule is in effect then we could finish with the worst record and get screwed out of the first pick.

Likewise, as you said, some week 18 team that is in line for the 1 seed could end up getting some bottom feeder at the end of the season and have a much easier chance of winning the game that is treated specia.

It's just better to keep it the way it is and hope everyone acts in good faith.

But no team acts in good faith

 

[Nehalem]

So teams that play good teams like KC/Bills that are resting all their starters gets rewarded?

While teams playing good teams still fighting for playoff positions get punished?

The flaw in this plan should be obvious

 

[Joey007]

How about a rule where if you’re caught tanking, you have to wear a chastity belt for an entire year

 

[tuckeverlasting]

lottery sure as long as goodell is a million miles away.