How Can The NFL Have More Meaningful Games
 

Since there's not much else going on right now with the Skins, no big announcements looming or anything like that, I wanted to see what ideas everyone has to fix three percieved "problems" with the NFL:

1. Too many pre-season games

2. Playoff teams resting starters in the final games of the seaason

3. How to Expand the NFL to other cities/countries

To fix the later problem, Goodell discussed the possibility of awarding draft picks to teams for playing starters in the final weeks of the season. However, the way i see it, all that would do is help teams that were already good to get better, ultimately hurting parity.

My idea to "fix" these problems is fairly simple:

Expand the Regular Season to 18 games, leaving only 2 pre-season games. There will also be a certain number of "neutral-site" location games per year. As a default, each team will have:

- 1 Pre-Season Home Game
- 8 Regular Season Home Games
- 1 Neutral Site Game

This would mean there would be 16 neutral site games in the NFL every year, which is pretty high. So lets cut that back to 8 neutral site games per year. So, where do the other games go? The 8 teams in the NFL that have the highest win-loss record at the end of the year get an additional home game the next year. This incent teams to win every game possible, as it would result in an extra home game and more revenue for home team. It would reward fans of those home teams as well as all NFL fans, as we'd have fewer crappy games to watch each year.

So, thats my idea. Now its your turn to share your own idea to fix one or all of these "problems" (and also to tell me why mine is stupid).

Re: How Can The NFL Have More Meaningful Games
 

If you want to make the games more meaningful, you certainly don't add more. The games get less important if the schedule is expanded to 18. Plus with more games, more possibility of injuries to your stars, which means more backups playing.

Ask Major League Baseball about meaningless games...

Re: How Can The NFL Have More Meaningful Games
 

Honestly I think all of the complaining about teams resting starters is so silly. If you start off 13-0 and have everything locked up, you've earned the right to sit your guys and rest them for the games that really count.

Re: How Can The NFL Have More Meaningful Games
 

By hiring Vinny Cerrato in the league office! He'll always select the best game available and better yet he'll make sure no one gets hurt! Why you ask, because Vinny has long been a proponent of 7 on 7 football. Why just look at his drafts.

[IMG]http://aaunews.org/news/wp-content/uploads/2007/07/prepx-large.jpeg[/IMG]

Re: How Can The NFL Have More Meaningful Games
 

1. Preseason games: just cut 'em
2. Meaningless games: make the season 3 games long. Then all of the games will count!
3. Expansion to other cities/countries: who cares?

Re: How Can The NFL Have More Meaningful Games
 

I thought it was kind of interesting how the Colts wanted to rest their starters and not worry about going 16-0..yet they had no problem playing Wayne and Clark in blizzard like conditions last weekend to get some individual stats

I think the NFL should consider allowing teams to expand rosters once they've clinched a playoff spot

Re: How Can The NFL Have More Meaningful Games
 

I thought that there were still plenty of meaningfully games in week 17. The NFC East had not yeet been decided, and the AFC playoff picture was not complete until the games concluded last weekend. Sure the more dominant teams were on cruise control but there was still plenty to play for even in the final week of the season.

Re: How Can The NFL Have More Meaningful Games
 

[quote=Mattyk;650424]Honestly I think all of the complaining about teams resting starters is so silly. If you start off 13-0 and have everything locked up, you've earned the right to sit your guys and rest them for the games that really count.[/quote]
I agree 100% with Matty and how great would it be if the Jets ended up knocking the Colts out of the playoffs?

Re: How Can The NFL Have More Meaningful Games
 

[quote=Mattyk;650424]Honestly I think all of the complaining about teams resting starters is so silly. If you start off 13-0 and have everything locked up, you've earned the right to sit your guys and rest them for the games that really count.[/quote]

I don't think you'd find many Steelers or Texans fans who would agree with you. The Jets got 2 pre-season games in December to get into the playoffs. It screws with the competitive balance of the league IMO. I would like to see the NFL do something to address this but realistically there's no way to force a team to play their starters.

Re: How Can The NFL Have More Meaningful Games
 

^With that being said you could also argue that all teams cannot play each other unless both rosters are 100% healthy so that the game is most competative. I don't think that you could do that. If you want to make the playoffs then don't put yourself in a position to rely on someone else to get you in.

Re: How Can The NFL Have More Meaningful Games
 

[quote=Paintrain;650457]I don't think you'd find many Steelers or Texans fans who would agree with you. The Jets got 2 pre-season games in December to get into the playoffs. It screws with the competitive balance of the league IMO. I would like to see the NFL do something to address this but realistically there's no way to force a team to play their starters.[/quote]

My problem with the competitive balance argument is this...

People get all up in arms over a team that has home field wrapped up and nothing to play for. But how about a team that is 6-8 with 2 games to go and they've been eliminated from the playoffs. While they may be playing their starters realistically that team has checked out and is just going through the motions. Do you gig that team just as you would for gigging the 14-0 team that is resting their guys? One team is playing their starters, one isn't, same results. A team that isn't going all out to win a game.

In the end I believe it all comes out in the wash. The good teams make the playoffs, the bad ones don't, and the ones on the fence really only have themselves to blame.

Re: How Can The NFL Have More Meaningful Games
 

The NFL season is meaningful enough to me. Don't need to change it. Making the season longer isn't the answer.

Re: How Can The NFL Have More Meaningful Games
 

[quote=SmootSmack;650438]I thought it was kind of interesting how the Colts wanted to rest their starters and not worry about going 16-0..yet they had no problem playing Wayne and Clark in blizzard like conditions last weekend to get some individual stats

I think the NFL should consider allowing teams to expand rosters once they've clinched a playoff spot[/quote]

I'd say rosters should be expanded all around. 45 on the game-day roster simply isnt enough. 53 doesnt appear to be enough for active rosters either.

In theory, I understand limiting the number of players keeps the overall talent in the league higher. In practice, it doesnt work that way. practice squad players are snatched up and dropped so much that they can't truly be developed. players get injured and their replacements are often picked up "off the street" mid-season because a team wants a player thats familiar with their system - even though he wasn't good enough to make any teams practice squad.

The practice squad should be done away with entirely. Teams should have rosters of 60 or 61 and all of them should be able to be active on gameday.

Re: How Can The NFL Have More Meaningful Games
 

IMO, the league is fine the way it is.

the late-season resting of players is a little annoying to me, but i don't think it's a big enough problem to require new rules. ideally, if the fans want the starters in week 17, they should be vocal about it and the team should listen.

i'd like to see international expansion...but realistically, football isn't ingrained in other cultures like it is with ours. it would be a LONG time before football flourishes elsewhere. i say keep up with the international games; one a year in tokyo, london, maybe others; but that's it for now.

Re: How Can The NFL Have More Meaningful Games
 

[quote=SmootSmack;650438]I thought it was kind of interesting how the Colts wanted to rest their starters and not worry about going 16-0..yet they had no problem playing Wayne and Clark in blizzard like conditions last weekend to get some individual stats

I think the NFL should consider allowing teams to expand rosters once they've clinched a playoff spot[/quote]
I think in haste, Caldwell benched the starters against the Jets because they weren't getting the job done and were taking a beating. Not sure why he marched them out last week unless you could getting game reps in.

The roster expansion isn't a bad idea, however, the owners would never agree because they'd have to pay those added (I'm assuming you take the PS and add them to the active roster) game money instead of PS or no money.

Re: How Can The NFL Have More Meaningful Games
 

[quote=Paintrain;650457]I don't think you'd find many Steelers or Texans fans who would agree with you. The Jets got 2 pre-season games in December to get into the playoffs. It screws with the competitive balance of the league IMO. I would like to see the NFL do something to address this but realistically there's no way to force a team to play their starters.[/quote]
Maybe the Steelers should have helped themself and not relied on another team to get them into the playoffs. Its their fault for loosing 5 games in a row.

Re: How Can The NFL Have More Meaningful Games
 

[quote=Mattyk;650461]My problem with the competitive balance argument is this...

People get all up in arms over a team that has home field wrapped up and nothing to play for. But how about a team that is 6-8 with 2 games to go and they've been eliminated from the playoffs. While they may be playing their starters realistically that team has checked out and is just going through the motions. Do you gig that team just as you would for gigging the 14-0 team that is resting their guys? [B]One team is playing their starters, one isn't, same results. [/B] A team that isn't going all out to win a game.

In the end I believe it all comes out in the wash. The good teams make the playoffs, the bad ones don't, and the ones on the fence really only have themselves to blame.[/quote]

except when we lose to the chargers second and thrid teir guys

i like the league the way it is right now, , the one thing they could do is charge less for the preseason as a season ticket holder i think it is a big effing joke to pay full price for a terrible preseason game, i couldn't even give them away this year

and as far as taking it overseas and into different countires f that, i would be pissed if the skins lost a home game so they could play in englan witha bunch on fguys who don't really give a rat ass about the teams playing watching

if it ain't broke don't fix it

Re: How Can The NFL Have More Meaningful Games
 

[quote=firstdown;650493]Maybe the Steelers should have helped themself and not relied on another team to get them into the playoffs. Its their fault for loosing 5 games in a row.[/quote]

Yeah, I completely get that and you're right. I just don't like to see a team like the Jets get into the playoffs when they didn't really "earn it". At the end of the day though, you're right, if you take care of business in October and November it makes December moot.

Re: How Can The NFL Have More Meaningful Games
 

[quote=Paintrain;650457]I don't think you'd find many Steelers or Texans fans who would agree with you. The Jets got 2 pre-season games in December to get into the playoffs. It screws with the competitive balance of the league IMO. I would like to see the NFL do something to address this but realistically there's no way to force a team to play their starters.[/quote]

The Steelers also had a 5 game losing streak that included loses to the Browns,Chiefs, and Raiders so i don't wanna here anything from Lamar Woodley about teams having it in for them.

Re: How Can The NFL Have More Meaningful Games
 

It doesn't really look like anyone is arguing that a team should be punished for benching starters once they have their playoff seed wrapped up, but if anyone was I'd show them this: [url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs/2009/news/story?id=4798182]New Orleans Saints place starting defensive end Charles Grant on injured reserve - ESPN[/url]

[QUOTE]Grant, one of the few starters the Saints did not rest during the final game of the season, was hurt in New Orleans' 23-10 loss to the Carolina Panthers.[/QUOTE]

Re: How Can The NFL Have More Meaningful Games
 

I'm glad the Chargers rested there starters, we would have had a massacre on our hands.

Re: How Can The NFL Have More Meaningful Games
 

This is such a non-issue. There were plenty of good games this weekend, and any team that has the luxury to rest their starters, should.

Re: How Can The NFL Have More Meaningful Games
 

If Brady gets hurt in a game like that Mr. Goodell might change his mind

Re: How Can The NFL Have More Meaningful Games
 

The NFL has hit the saturation point in terms of the games, the hype, the lunacy of the players' salaries, and expansion. you already have too many teams in the NFL, why expand to other countries, other than maybe in North America, but then again do you think the average Mexican can afford the on average $80-85 ticket? You already have rolling blackouts with Jacksonville, Detroit, a few others. Do not forget that not too long ago the NFL asked the feds to bail them out for being 2 billion $ in the red for operating expenses. Expansion just dilutes the talent pool anyway, thus the current level of mediocrity in the current NFL. You want the Skins to win another Superbowl? Then you should put a fork into any expansion talk. What happens if say Richmond, VA gets a bunch of investors to vye for a NFL franchise and get it? The already divvied up Skins TV market(Ravens, Panthers) will be further cut into.

Re: How Can The NFL Have More Meaningful Games
 

You want better quality play from the players? That is an easy one. Give all players the same base salary, then for every TD, attaining a certain yardage mark, pancakes, sacks, receptions, FG's made, give them a hefty bonus. Paying these bastards $100 million up front is moronic.

Re: How Can The NFL Have More Meaningful Games
 

IF a team wants to rest their players that is their business. THe only teams that usually do that are already in the playoffs. Why would the commish want teams beat up for the playoffs, when it is the league's time to shine?

Re: How Can The NFL Have More Meaningful Games
 

[quote=GusFrerotte;650782]You want better quality play from the players? That is an easy one. Give all players the same base salary, then for every TD, attaining a certain yardage mark, pancakes, sacks, receptions, FG's made, give them a hefty bonus. Paying these bastards $100 million up front is moronic.[/quote]

If you did that then there would be more guys playing hurt and therefore being more detrimental to the team.

Re: How Can The NFL Have More Meaningful Games
 

There's nothing fair that can be done. Matty is right...it all comes out in the wash.

Re: How Can The NFL Have More Meaningful Games
 

[quote=GusFrerotte;650782]You want better quality play from the players? That is an easy one. Give all players the same base salary, then for every TD, attaining a certain yardage mark, pancakes, sacks, receptions, FG's made, give them a hefty bonus. Paying these bastards $100 million up front is moronic.[/quote]

The real problem with salaries is the rookie situation. At least guys like Haynesworth actually had to play years in the league before the big payday. Rookies should not be the highest paid player on the team, and i believe it is being addressed the new bargaining agreement.

Re: How Can The NFL Have More Meaningful Games
 

[quote=Paintrain;650533]Yeah, I completely get that and you're right. I just don't like to see a team like the Jets get into the playoffs when they didn't really "earn it". At the end of the day though, you're right, if you take care of business in October and November it makes December moot.[/quote]

The Jets are in so they earned it in my mind.

Only 12 of 32 teams make the playoffs, it's not an easy thing to do so I don't buy this stuff about teams "backing in" or not "earning it". It's a long grind of a season, teams have plenty of chances to prove their worth. Who else deserved to get in over the Jets?

Re: How Can The NFL Have More Meaningful Games
 

You know what's funny, once everyone starts seeing quality playoff football all this moaning and groaning over competitive balance will quickly fall by the wayside, until this time next year of course.

Re: How Can The NFL Have More Meaningful Games
 

Once you lose 3 games, your season is OVER. Teams are eliminated that way until only 1 team remains.

This means there could potentially be a 5-game championship series if both teams are undefeated going into the "final two".


:D

Re: How Can The NFL Have More Meaningful Games
 

Schedule more division later in the season, espically in closely competitive divisions where the title may be at stake. Unlike last year when we played four of our first five games within the division.

Re: How Can The NFL Have More Meaningful Games
 

[quote=Longtimefan;651096]Schedule more division later in the season, espically in closely competitive divisions where the title may be at stake. Unlike last year when we played four of our first five games within the division.[/quote]

I don't think that would make a difference, as the Eagles showed last week. If a team is in the playoffs or in a better spot like Indy, they'll still rest or play soft knowing their postseason is a lock.

Rivalries will fire up the fans more, but I don't think it will change a coach's/teams strategy in preparing for the postseason at all. In fact, it could end up doing the opposite and making the division rivalry games less intense if one of the teams has things locked up, where they would have played harder if the division game was earlier in the season and still had some more meaning in the big picture.