Goodell: support for expanded playoffs is "tremendous"

[GoChargers]

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com...is-tremendous/

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell seems fully on board with adding two playoff teams.

Although the owners have not yet voted to expand the postseason to 14 teams, it sounds like just a matter of time, based on the comments Goodell made at the league meeting today.

“We had a good discussion on it on several fronts,” Goodell said. “As you know, the Competition Committee has been looking at this for a couple of years. We have discussed it in various committees, including broadcasting. We had a full discussion on the floor with the owners and other executives this week. I think there’s a tremendous amount of interest in this, possibly even to the point of support, but there are also things we still want to make sure we do it right. We’ve been very incremental in trying to do this, but we believe competitively it could make even our races toward the end of our season even more exciting with more teams vying for playoff positions, which is great for our fans. We still want to do some additional work, including talking with the players association. We have a scheduled meeting set for April 8. This will be one of the things we’ll probably discuss and then we’ll also have to talk to broadcast partners and there are some scheduling issues that we still need to work through.”

It seems unlikely that the league will expand the playoffs for the 2014 season. But it looks like it’s going to get done in 2015.

Every time this guy opens his mouth, Cuban looks more and more like a genius.

[TEX]

Originally Posted by BCD

What about 90-94 when 12 of 28 teams got in? Basically the same as 14 of 32.

"Basically" comes into play when something doesn't quite add up...What about 12 of 32???

[TEX]

Originally Posted by Steron

I hate the Wild Card in baseball too. If my Orioles win 98 games (yeah right) and the Yankees win 100. Too damn bad.

Exactly.

[Deberg_1990]

Originally Posted by Steron

I hate the Wild Card in baseball too. If my Orioles win 98 games (yeah right) and the Yankees win 100. Too damn bad.

The late season pennant races in August and September used to mean something. Fans would hang on every game. Those races were basically an extended playoff.

Back in the day, you could have teams win 95 to 100 games and miss the playoffs.

[Gravedigger]

Putting that extra game in is just extra revenue to them but it doesn't really affect player health and safety. I bet the majority of players on a team would rather this happen than the 18 game season because it gives that extra team a shot. A 9-7 Giants team can get hot at the right time and win the Superbowl so it can happen. Fans get to see their team on the field one more time when 9-7 or even 10-6/11-5 wouldn't cut it due to division standings being one or two wins better. I like the idea personally, the only reason the NFLPA doesn't want it to go through is because it sets up the 18 game season, it gives the NFL a little bit more push in that regard and once you let them do one thing, they'll try to take more.

[BigMeatballDave]

Originally Posted by TEX

"Basically" comes into play when something doesn't quite add up...What about 12 of 32???

[SAUTO]

Originally Posted by bowener

I think they should go to a 32 team, 16 game playoff format. Once you reach the 16th game they tally the wins and losses for every team. Then they seed the SuperPlayoffs based on the top 12 records, 6 from each conference. I really think a lot of people will get behind this format.

Best idea yet
Posted via Mobile Device

[Sanka]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

Because good luck proposing this to the players Union without forcing a 15 game season. And with a 15 game season, most NFL records become increasingly hard to break and some teams will have one extra home field game, and some will have less.

Every team will play a game in London during the season, problem solved.

[TEX]

Originally Posted by JASONSAUTO

Best idea yet
Posted via Mobile Device

No its not. Why even have conferences or divisions then? Or am I not understand something?

[Jimmya]

Less usually means better quality.

[BigMeatballDave]

Originally Posted by TEX

No its not. Why even have conferences or divisions then? Or am I not understand something?

Bowener described the current system.

[OldSchool]

Teams will vote to pass it. Everyone will want a better shot at post-season play; they'd be dumb not to.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by OldSchool

Teams will vote to pass it. Everyone will want a better shot at post-season play; they'd be dumb not to.

Carl Peterson proposed this rule change the first time in 1998, I believe. You'd think it would be a no-brainer but it hasn't happened yet.

[OldSchool]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

Carl Peterson proposed this rule change the first time in 1998, I believe. You'd think it would be a no-brainer but it hasn't happened yet.

Weird, you'd think that owners would want more of a shot at winning it all and getting increased exposure, endorsements, tv deals, prime time games, etc.

[Steron]

If you add extra play-off teams to the mix you'll have to increase to an 18 game regular season. Players are going to want to be compensated for the additional games. Player contracts go up. This will force up the salary cap. We'll have to go back to 2 bye weeks during the regular season for player health reasons. I see none of this being a good thing.

I don't see it as simple as just adding more play-off teams.

[Discuss Thrower]

FWIW NFLPA's president is gonna be on Rome... be interesting to hear what he says.

TL;DR: Says he thinks the league is safer with the targetting and defenseless receiver penalties but realizes they frustrate fans because they're subjective calls. Also holds to 18 games is a no-go from the union's standpoint and seems to hint at not being kosher with extra playoff games. Says he's focused more on ensuring player financial responsibility.