Goodell wants to expand playoffs?

[Inimicus]

Its like Goodell said that they were going to only admit teams with losing records and play a round robin until we all puked and begged the league to give the trophy to the best of the worst.

The histrionics are getting down right comical.

[Proudiddy]

For those who can't get around Goodell... Bill Polian was just on Mike and Mike and he said they already studied this and ran numbers on it 6 or 7 years ago. He said the models showed that 14 teams was the ideal number and said (as I did earlier in the thread), it would give teams a greater reason to play all the way through the season. It would keep teams competitive to the very end.

He also said originally they discussed if they expanded to 14 teams that they would reduce the number of first-round byes to one per conference. Then he said if they expanded the regular season that it's possible they would add another first-round bye per conference.

Again, I think it would be nothing but good for the game.

[rayzor]

again, what's so special about the current play-off model...what makes it perfect?

what is so great about it that it should be left alone?

watered down...meh. what waters it down more, a 7-9 team that makes it into the playoffs because it has the benefit of being in a sucky division or one that brings more quality competition by allowing in another team with a winning record?

what's so bad about bringing in more competition for weaker teams who shouldn't be in there to begin with or presenting more of a way for a championship team to prove itself?

[rayzor]

For those who can't get around Goodell... Bill Polian was just on Mike and Mike and he said they already studied this and ran numbers on it 6 or 7 years ago. He said the models showed that 14 teams was the ideal number and said (as I did earlier in the thread), it would give teams a greater reason to play all the way through the season. It would keep teams competitive to the very end.

He also said originally they discussed if they expanded to 14 teams that they would reduce the number of first-round byes to one per conference. Then he said if they expanded the regular season that it's possible they would add another first-round bye per conference.

Again, I think it would be nothing but good for the game.

it just makes sense, but the level of irrational hate towards Goodell and/or the owners (who provide an opportunity for the game to be played at all) keeps them from being able to see anything that might make the game better.

[ElkinPanthersFan]

Its hard for people to grasp that he is indeed just a face to all the rules being made. It is no different than the President. All I know is he has the final say on players (Well that is debatable now). The president more times than not does not make up things that come up in legislation, just like Goodell and new ideas. He can disagree with them but the competition committee can still just pass them.

[Munch4455]

Jared Allen pretty much echoes my sentiments from yesterday.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/8747031/jared-allen-minnesota-vikings-calls-idea-expanding-playoffs-stupid

Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jared Allen is not a fan of the NFL exploring the idea of playoff expansion.

"It's stupid," Allen told the Minneapolis Star Tribune. "I think it's a dumb idea. The reason our league is so much better than other leagues, I think, is because of that competition. Every game means something. There are 162 games in baseball and you're like, 'Ehhh.' No one really watches until the end, right? Basketball, same way. There's no real significance on every game. And I think you damage the sport if an 8-8 team [has a greater playoff chance]. You know what I mean? Now our games become less significant each week if you know, like, 'Oh, I can still lose half my games and sneak into the playoffs."

More Playoffs?

ESPN.com's NFL columnists and division bloggers weigh in on the idea of expanded NFL playoffs. Blog

Allen's comments come in the wake of NFL commissioner Roger Goodell saying at the owners meetings Wednesday that the league would spend the next few months looking at the idea of adding more playoff teams.

In the current format, adopted in 2002 after the NFL added the Houston Texans and realigned the league into eight four-team divisions, 12 teams make the playoffs -- eight division champions and two wild cards in each conference.

The NFL has had 12 teams qualify for the postseason since 1990, when it expanded the field from 10, adding a third wild card in each conference to join three division champions. Goodell said the league would explore adding two to four playoff teams, meaning half of the league's 32 teams could make the postseason.

Allen's criticism also comes with the Vikings (7-6) battling for an NFC playoff spot. Even though the Vikings would have a better shot at making the playoffs if there were more teams, Allen still likes the current system.

"With all these changes, it's not necessarily always a good thing," Allen told the paper.. "I know it probably is for owners. They make more money. And TV and all that good stuff. But at some point, the identity of our league and what it stands on and why it's so good is because every game means something."

In 2008, the Patriots missed the playoffs with an 11-5 record. Three years earlier, Allen's Chiefs failed to qualify for the postseason with a 10-6 mark.

[rayzor]

Jared Allen pretty much echoes my sentiments from yesterday.

http://espn.go.com/n...playoffs-stupid

how much more does it "damage the sport" when a 7-9 team gets in just because they were the turd that floated to the top of their division.

what makes more sense, allowing another team with a winning record to enter the playoffs and provide more quality competition or maintaining the status quo where it's possible for a 10 win team to sit at home come playoff time while a 7-9 team gets to keep on playing?

[Proudiddy]

I find it funny that even players are thinking PROFESSIONALS would be cool with losing half of their games just because they expand the playoffs. Doesn't everyone that makes it to that level want to be the best? Isn't that how they got there?

Secondly, I'm a Allen fan, but his reasoning leaves something to be desired here... Comparing football to the MLB and NBA in your defense of not expanding the playoffs? Uhh... Guess what? 16 games isn't much time to jack around regardless of whether it's 12 or 14 teams getting in. There is a huge difference between 16 (or 18 games) versus 82 and 100+. What I'm saying is, every game will still count.

And he's completely neglecting the potential of how much more exciting the playoffs would be when you factor in the potential for upsets. It will also draw in more fans because more teams will be in it.

[Munch4455]

how much more does it "damage the sport" when a 7-9 team gets in just because they were the turd that floated to the top of their division.

what makes more sense, allowing another team with a winning record to enter the playoffs and provide more quality competition or maintaining the status quo where it's possible for a 10 win team to sit at home come playoff time while a 7-9 team gets to keep on playing?

You speak of the Seahaws like it happens every year with a team below .500 sneaks into the playoffs bc they have a terrible division. Only 3 times since '82 have teams made the playoffs with a sub .500 record. 2 of them were 1982 when the season was shortened to 9 games and 2 4-5 teams made it in. It was an anomaly, nothing more.

[rayzor]

You speak of the Seahaws like it happens every year with a team below .500 sneaks into the playoffs bc they have a terrible division. Only 3 times since '82 have teams made the playoffs with a sub .500 record. 2 of them were 1982 when the season was shortened to 9 games and 2 4-5 teams made it in. It was an anomaly, nothing more.

it's still a flawed system that really is no better than the one being suggested, in fact the one suggested could very well be an improvement...but we don't want that, do we? we've got to resist change.

[beastson]

I agree with Goodell here

But are there any players that agree with anything he wants? Lol

Probably besides cutting preseason

[rayzor]

I agree with Goodell here

But are there any players that agree with anything he wants? Lol

Probably besides cutting preseason

the ones who get into the playoffs when they wouldn't have the year before will agree with it.

[Sword]

rather have 16 team playoffs then 18 game season, if that is the choice we are having to make here. Goodell seems to want more games either way. Of course this probably also means the London and LA expansion team are not far behind either.

[rayzor]

the funny thing about all this whining and bitching about adding a couple playoff teams...just how many playoff games will it add?

if it's expanding to 14 we're talking about 2 added playoff games. that's it. one in each conference and the only one who gets a bye is the one team at the top.

i'm not sure what all the hub bub is.