Goodell wants to expand playoffs?

[Salvo]

The more I read about this, the more I soften to the idea. I still kinda prefer to the way it is now but with the league becoming more competitive, it would be a disservice to those teams that played the tough schedule and were competitive in those games but missed out on the playoffs to the Atlanta Falcons of the league. Enlarging the pool will at least give them a shot.

I'm still skeptical with Goodell at the helm, though.

[j2sgam]

Im for removing 1 preseason game making it a season game. This will eliminate 8-8, you either have a winning season or you dont...

again a sign that people aren't paying attention...just going with the blind rage.

goodell isn't proposing the elimination of kickoffs. he stated that a coach, schiano, was proposing it and was using that as an example of the type of things that the league would look at when they go in for their post season meetings...just like they do every year. he wasn't advocating it. he was asked about things the league was looking at and he threw that out there.

and rule changes have ALWAYS been a part of the game. the game is constantly evolving and growing and it always has. get over it.

Normally, rayzor, I agree with you, and this kickoff thing, I only read 3 sentences of 4 articles and dismissed the idea. This isnt blind rage, this is me disagreeing with the current commissioner of teh NFL. I do not think that moving the kickoff 5yds or eliminating them all together is in the best interest of the game. I doubt that adding anymore games is in teh best interest of player safety, neither is more playoff games. Like I said, if it aint broke.... What is wrong with the current playoff scenario that would deem changing it?

If the rules are changed to protect the players or the game, to eliminate bad calls(need them ref's to step up), to make it a better experience for everybody, then I am on board. I just do not think some of the things Goodell does reflect those intentions...

[Munch4455]

Where is the challenge in making the playoffs if every other team makes it in? It should be a challenge to make the playoffs. Essentially by having a 16 team playoff, if you make it to 8-8, odds are, you will make the playoffs. Since when is it OK to strive for a mediocre record?

[Proudiddy]

Where is the challenge in making the playoffs if every other team makes it in? It should be a challenge to make the playoffs. Essentially by having a 16 team playoff, if you make it to 8-8, odds are, you will make the playoffs. Since when is it OK to strive for a mediocre record?

8-8 teams have made it in the current format. It can happen now. And some of those teams made runs in the playoffs.

I'm for it because of all of the seasons that we have sucked early on because coaches didn't get our guys ready to play until we were 1-5 and then we streak to 7-9 or 8-8. Some of those teams could've made a run in the playoffs. To me, that makes the playoffs even more exciting.

[SZ James (banned)]

All the people that are saying if Goodell is doing this, how come he doesn't suggest 18-20 teams to make the playoffs is crazy. That would ruin the game and you are cutting down your own argument with stupid remarks like that.

Yeah so crazy someone said they would okay with that as well. Still think it was a stupid remark?

[Munch4455]

8-8 teams have made it in the current format. It can happen now. And some of those teams made runs in the playoffs.

I'm for it because of all of the seasons that we have sucked early on because coaches didn't get our guys ready to play until we were 1-5 and then we streak to 7-9 or 8-8. Some of those teams could've made a run in the playoffs. To me, that makes the playoffs even more exciting.

I'm not saying 8-8 can't get in now, but it is much less likely in the current format. My argument is that if the playoffs go to 16 teams, at 8-8, you are most likely in the playoffs. So at that point these teams will strive for 8 wins to make the playoffs, which by definition is mediocre. Teams in the current format can't settle for 8 wins, most years you have to have at least 10 wins to make the playoffs, maybe 1 will make it at 9-7. Big difference from striving to win 50% of your games to 62.5% of your games.

[Proudiddy]

I'm not saying 8-8 can't get in now, but it is much less likely in the current format. My argument is that if the playoffs go to 16 teams, at 8-8, you are most likely in the playoffs. So at that point these teams will strive for 8 wins to make the playoffs, which by definition is mediocre. Teams in the current format can't settle for 8 wins, most years you have to have at least 10 wins to make the playoffs, maybe 1 will make it at 9-7. Big difference from striving to win 50% of your games to 62.5% of your games.

I wasn't saying you were implying 8-8 couldn't make it now, I was just saying that 8-8 teams can make it currently so what would be the big difference if we expanded the playoffs and they could make it then?

My point is, teams will strive to win as many games as possible. You still want home-field advantage. Just because they expanded doesn't mean you don't try to win as many as possible. I don't think any coach would set his goal for 8 wins. Every team would still aim to win their division and hopefully home-field advantage.

Where it helps is for teams like us who were good enough to be a top seed but wasted games early on and then win games at the end of the season. We could make a big run in that format if we made it into the playoffs, and who's to say we didn't belong there? There are plenty of variables that hurt teams and cause them to have mediocre seasons, yet they start putting it together at the end of the year.

I really think this would only increase competition and make it more interesting for the last few teams to sneak in. The difference between the NFL/NCAAB and the NBA/NHL is the NFL and college basketball play one deciding game between playoff teams, best team wins and moves on. The problem with the NBA and NHL is they play series. I don't see any negative in expanding the field, I think it only enhances the product. Just my opinion though.

[rayzor]

Im for removing 1 preseason game making it a season game. This will eliminate 8-8, you either have a winning season or you dont...

Normally, rayzor, I agree with you, and this kickoff thing, I only read 3 sentences of 4 articles and dismissed the idea. This isnt blind rage, this is me disagreeing with the current commissioner of teh NFL. I do not think that moving the kickoff 5yds or eliminating them all together is in the best interest of the game. I doubt that adding anymore games is in teh best interest of player safety, neither is more playoff games. Like I said, if it aint broke.... What is wrong with the current playoff scenario that would deem changing it?

If the rules are changed to protect the players or the game, to eliminate bad calls(need them ref's to step up), to make it a better experience for everybody, then I am on board. I just do not think some of the things Goodell does reflect those intentions...

i love the idea of making it an uneven number of games in the season.

what you are missing, though, about the kickoff rules is that it isn't his idea. it was schiano's idea and goodell was just throwing that out there when he was asked about what things would be considered by the NFL....meaning the owners who are the ones who make the rules, rather they vote on them after the NFL competition committee (made up of 8 coaches and managers) suggest them.

all goodell does is preside over the owners meeting that happens after the season is over. and preside doesn't mean decide.

in essence, the competition committee suggests a rule change and the owners vote on it and it takes a 3/4 majority for a rule change to take place.

if people don't like rule changes, blame the competition committee for bringing it up and the owners for voting on it.

[Munch4455]

I wasn't saying you were implying 8-8 couldn't make it now, I was just saying that 8-8 teams can make it currently so what would be the big difference if we expanded the playoffs and they could make it then?

My point is, teams will strive to win as many games as possible. You still want home-field advantage. Just because they expanded doesn't mean you don't try to win as many as possible. I don't think any coach would set his goal for 8 wins. Every team would still aim to win their division and hopefully home-field advantage.

Where it helps is for teams like us who were good enough to be a top seed but wasted games early on and then win games at the end of the season. We could make a big run in that format if we made it into the playoffs, and who's to say we didn't belong there? There are plenty of variables that hurt teams and cause them to have mediocre seasons, yet they start putting it together at the end of the year.

I really think this would only increase competition and make it more interesting for the last few teams to sneak in. The difference between the NFL/NCAAB and the NBA/NHL is the NFL and college basketball play one deciding game between playoff teams, best team wins and moves on. The problem with the NBA and NHL is they play series. I don't see any negative in expanding the field, I think it only enhances the product. Just my opinion though.

I wasn't thinking about for the benifit of the Panthers or teams like us, I was thinking for the league as a whole. I actually think that it will hurt the NFL more than help it. Notice how NBA and NHL playoffs first couple of rounds have less viewers than the NFL playoffs corresponding rounds? I believe the fact that there are so few teams in the playoffs raise the stakes and make it seem like there is a lot more to play for. I think by adding more teams they will lose some of the neutral fans for the beginning of the playoffs.

[rayzor]

8-8 teams have made it in the current format. It can happen now. And some of those teams made runs in the playoffs.

I'm for it because of all of the seasons that we have sucked early on because coaches didn't get our guys ready to play until we were 1-5 and then we streak to 7-9 or 8-8. Some of those teams could've made a run in the playoffs. To me, that makes the playoffs even more exciting.

if you can make it through the playoffs, you deserve to be in the playoffs.

it doesn't matter how many teams start out in it, the cream will rise to the top.

[Darknight]

Yeah so crazy someone said they would okay with that as well. Still think it was a stupid remark?

What "someone" said they would be OK with 20 playoff teams?

[Ruff]

fug.

no.

this guy is trying to destroy football.

(Unless this means an expansion of two-ish teams for each conference. Then yes.)

[The_Mango55]

I'd like to see a 17 game schedule, with 16 neutral field games per year. Then we could have games in other countries no problem without costing anyone a home game. Every team plays 1 neutral field game per year.

You could have games all over the place. London, Mexico, Germany, Japan, Canada, a couple games per year in LA, a game or two in Vegas, and another couple in markets that don't have nfl teams but have stadiums, like San Antonio and OKC.

[rayzor]

What "someone" said they would be OK with 20 playoff teams?

me.