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Originally Posted by cdcox
Hi Phil:
There are multiple motivations from the owners perspective:
a) Keep more fans intersted longer
b) More revenue
c) More fans "satisfied" that their team made the playoffs
However, if we push this line of thinking to its logical conclusion, all teams should make the playoffs. Obviously that won't work, so the question should be, how many playoff teams balance everything.
There are two options. One is to include enoiugh teams to ensure that all teams capable of winning the Super Bowl qualify for the playoffs. I've made a convincing argument that 6 teams satisfies that criteria. That was my point. That 7th seed is not a legitimate threat to win the SB and everyone knows it.
The other option is to make the field large enough to ensure that every team percieved to having a good season gets to go as some kind of reward for a good season. If you are going to do that, the top half of the teams in the league will eventually qualify for the playoffs, because every time some 10-6 club doesn't make it, you will expand the field. Already this season you would might need half of the AFC teams to ensure that all the 10-6 clubs make it. This would severly weaken the regular season, which is one of the best things the NFL has going for it.
This is a move of pure greed, that objectively considered is bad for the league. So far the other owners have recognized this.
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From what I posted I have no clue how that would lead to the "logical conclusion" you presented. And at this point there isn't enough data to support by the numbers produced since the most recent expansion and realignment to prove the #6 seed scenario to remain status quo. If it does prove out again over time then so be it. Till then would it hurt to go to an increased playoff schedule? Going to 4 divisions essentially wiped out a wild card spot and it's changed the lay of the land and the playoff scenario needs to be looked at very closely. I don't know that it would be a move of pure greed. IMO it could very well improve the NFL experience. ......And I never said every 10-6 team should get into the playoffs. There will always be a point where tie-breakers come into play no matter what the scenario is.
PhilFree
