The Pointless Realignment Outpost

[RyanMcD29]

I'm gonna go a little against the grain with this pointless realignment... TV contracts. Not teams.

I was kind of thinking about this with the NFL TV deal. Shaking this up year to year kind of like the MLB and NBA postseason deals. Each year the Super Bowl network would have the Sunday night package as well as the Saturday Wild Card doubleheader and the other two will swap the AFC and NFC. So it would go as follows

Super Bowl, SNF: NBC

AFC: CBS

NFC: FOX

Super Bowl, SNF: CBS

AFC: FOX

NFC: NBC

Super Bowl, SNF: Fox

AFC: NBC

NFC: CBS

(talk about nostalgic with that lineup of the AFC on NBC and NFC on CBS)

Rinse, lather, repeat. Also, ESPN would retain Monday Night Football and Thursday Night Football would either remain on NFL Network or move to Versus or whatever the NFL's heart desires in real life in the coming years.

I don't think it's that plausible with production costs and the like, but the NFL's one huge moneymaker so who knows. Once again I don't think there's any chance in hell of the NFL doing this, but it's an interesting concept nonetheless.

[crashcarson15]

I've come up with a cool idea for an NBA re-alignment, provided that two more teams enter the league (Kansas City expansion franchise and revival of the Sonics). This would necessitate one team moving east, with Memphis being the likely candidate.

WEST:

California Division: Lakers, Clippers, Kings, Warriors

Northwest Division: Sonics, Blazers, Nuggets, Jazz

Southwest Division: Suns, Mavs, Spurs, Rockets

Midwest Division: Wolves, Thunder, Kansas City team, Hornets

EAST:

Northeast Division: Celtics, Knicks, Raptors, Nets (or whatever their name will be in a couple years)

Mid-Atlantic Divison: Cavs, Wizards, Bobcats, Sixers

Central Division: Bulls, Pistons, Bucks, Pacers

Southeast Division: Magic, Heat, Grizzlies, Hawks

Personally, I'd send the Wolves east, because they're on an island in the West currently, where Memphis has OKC and NO close nearby.

[JH42XCC]

Had the USFL and/or the XFL merged with the NFL, this is what the NFL would look like:

AMERICAN FOOTBALL CONFERENCE

EAST

• Baltimore Ravens (formerly Philadelphia/Baltimore Stars)
  
• Buffalo Bills
  
• Miami Dolphins
  
• New England Patriots
  
• New York Jets
  

NORTH

• Chicago Enforcers
  
• Cincinnati Bengals
  
• Cleveland Browns
  
• Indianapolis Colts
  
• Pittsburgh Steelers
  

SOUTH

• Birmingham Stallions
  
• Houston Texans
  
• Jacksonville Bulls
  
• Oklahoma City Bandits (moved from Tampa Bay)
  
• Tennessee Titans
  

WEST

• Denver Broncos
  
• Kansas City Chiefs
  
• Las Vegas Gamblers (merged with Houston Gamblers and later merged with XFL's Las Vegas Outlaws)
  
• Oakland Raiders
  
• San Diego Chargers
  

NATIONAL FOOTBALL CONFERENCE

EAST

• Dallas Cowboys
  
• New York Giants
  
• Orlando Renegades
  
• Philadelphia Eagles
  
• Washington Redskins
  

NORTH

• Chicago Bears
  
• Columbus Generals (moved from New Jersey)
  
• Detroit Lions
  
• Green Bay Packers
  
• Minnesota Vikings
  

SOUTH

• Atlanta Falcons
  
• Carolina Panthers
  
• Memphis Showboats
  
• New Orleans Saints
  
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers
  

WEST

• Arizona Cardinals
  
• Los Angeles Express
  
• St. Louis Rams
  
• San Francisco 49ers
  
• Seattle Seahawks
  

[Rockstar Matt]

I was watching an English Premier League Game, and the thought came to me... what if the NFL combined with the CFL (Canadian) and the UFL to make two leagues with consistent promotion and relegation between the two.

32 NFL teams + 8 CFL teams + 6 UFL Teams = 46 "New" NFL teams.

The 1st season would have the Main league "dubbed the NFL" have 24 teams

(Everything based off of 2009 standings for the NFL. CFL and UFL teams automatically put in the 2nd League)

AFC

East:

New England Patriots

New York Jets

Baltimore Ravens

North:

Cincinnati Bengals

Pittsburgh Steelers

Indianapolis Colts

South:

Houston Texans

Tennessee Titans

Miami Dolphins

West:

San Diego Chargers

Denver Broncos

Oakland Raiders

NFC

East:

Philadelphia Eagles

New York Giants

Carolina Panthers

South:

New Orleans Saints

Dallas Cowboys

Atlanta Falcons

North:

Minnesota Vikings

Green Bay Packers

Chicago Bears

West:

Arizona Cardinals

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

_____________________

2nd League will be split into two 11-team conferences

East:

Buffalo Bills

Washington Redskins

Jacksonville Jaguars

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Hamilton Tiger-Cats

Toronto Argonauts

Montreal Alouettes

Winnipeg Blue Bombers

Florida Tuskers

Hartford Colonials

UFL Virginia

West:

St. Louis Rams

Kansas City Chiefs

Detroit Lions

Cleveland Browns

Calgary Stampeders

BC Lions

Edmonton Eskimos

Saskatchewan Roughriders

Las Vegas Locomotives

Sacramento Mountain Lions

Omaha Nighthawks

[Rockstar Matt]

This next part is an example of how the relegation and promotion system works:

AFC

East:

New England Patriots 12-4

New York Jets 10-6

Baltimore Ravens 8-8

North:

Cincinnati Bengals 9-7

Pittsburgh Steelers 13-3

Indianapolis Colts 11-5

South:

Houston Texans 11-5

Tennessee Titans 9-7

Miami Dolphins 8-8

West:

San Diego Chargers 10-6

Denver Broncos 8-8

Oakland Raiders 7-9

NFC

East:

Philadelphia Eagles 11-5

New York Giants 9-7

Carolina Panthers 6-10

South:

New Orleans Saints 12-4

Dallas Cowboys 12-4

Atlanta Falcons 11-5

North:

Minnesota Vikings 10-6

Green Bay Packers 9-7

Chicago Bears 5-11

West:

Arizona Cardinals 9-7

San Francisco 49ers 8-8

Seattle Seahawks 4-12

AFC PLAYOFF SEEDINGS (Four Divisional Winners guaranteed a spot, but seeding is based on purely record. Like normal, playoffs determine the Champion)

1. Steelers

2. Patriots

3. Colts

4. Texans

5. Chargers

6. Jets

NFC PLAYOFF SEEDINGS

1. Saints

2. Cowboys

3. Falcons

4. Eagles

5. Vikings

6. Cardinals

____________________________________

NFL TEAMS THAT ARE RELEGATED:

(Four teams from each Conference)

AFC RELEGATED TEAMS:

Raiders, Dolphins, Broncos, Ravens.

NFC RELEGATED TEAMS:

Seahawks, 49ers, Bears, Panthers.

_____________________________

League 2

East:

Buffalo Bills 10-6

Washington Redskins 13-3

Jacksonville Jaguars 11-5

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 7-9

Hamilton Tiger-Cats 8-8

Toronto Argonauts 4-12

Montreal Alouettes 13-3

Winnipeg Blue Bombers

Florida Tuskers 9-7

Hartford Colonials 2-14

UFL Virginia 0-16

West:

St. Louis Rams 11-5

Kansas City Chiefs 13-3

Detroit Lions 12-4

Cleveland Browns 8-8

Calgary Stampeders 9-7

BC Lions 7-9

Edmonton Eskimos 6-10

Saskatchewan Roughriders 8-8

Las Vegas Locomotives 9-7

Sacramento Mountain Lions 5-11

Omaha Nighthawks 3-13

(Top 6 teams in each conference advance to the playoffs.)

EAST PLAYOFF SEEDINGS (Again, based on regular-season standings):

1. Washington Redskins

2. Montreal Aloulettes

3. Jacksonville Jaguars

4. Buffalo Bills

5. Florida Tuskers

6. Hamilton Tiger-Cats

WEST PLAYOFF SEEDINGS

1. Kansas City Chiefs

2. Detroit Lions

3. St. Louis Rams

4. Calgary Stampeders

5. Las Vegas Locomotives

6. Cleveland Browns

PLAYOFFS (Normal NFL Format.

1st Round:

Jaguars 31, Tiger-Cats 27

Tuskers 24, Bills 21

Rams 34, Browns 13

Stampeders 35, Locomotives 32 OT

2nd Round: (all teams that made it to the 2nd round are promoted.)

Alouettes 41, Jaguars 23

Redskins 38, Tuskers 30

Rams 31, Lions 30

Chiefs 21, Stampeders 9

Conference Championships (Each Conference Champion is guaranteed Promotion as well as the runner-up):

Rams 23, Chiefs 20

Redskins 35, Alouettes 21

LEAGUE TWO TITLE GAME:

Redskins 37, Rams 6 <--- (Both guaranteed promotion)

LEAGUE TWO PROMOTED TEAMS:

Redskins, Stampeders, Rams, Alouettes, Jaguars, Rams, Lions, Chiefs, Tuskers.

New NFL Teams and where they are placed the following season.

Italics denote promoted teams.

AFC

East:

New England Patriots

New York Jets

Florida Tuskers

North:

Cincinnati Bengals

Pittsburgh Steelers

Indianapolis Colts

South:

Houston Texans

Tennessee Titans

Jacksonville Jaguars

West:

San Diego Chargers

Kansas City Chiefs

Calgary Stampeders

NFC

East:

Philadelphia Eagles

New York Giants

Washington Redskins

South:

New Orleans Saints

Dallas Cowboys

Atlanta Falcons

North:

Minnesota Vikings

Green Bay Packers

Detroit Lions

West:

Arizona Cardinals

St. Louis Rams

Montreal Alouettes

New League Two placement of teams:

East:

Miami Dolphins

Chicago Bears

Carolina Panthers

Baltimore Ravens

Buffalo Bills

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Hamilton Tiger-Cats

Toronto Argonauts

Winnipeg Blue Bombers

Hartford Colonials

UFL Virginia

West:

Oakland Raiders

Denver Broncos

Seattle Seahawks

San Francisco 49ers

Cleveland Browns

BC Lions

Edmonton Eskimos

Saskatchewan Roughriders

Las Vegas Locomotives

Sacramento Mountain Lions

Omaha Nighthawks

[Magnus]

Interesting concept, although with the differences between CFL and NFL rules, I think it might be hard to mix the two.

Personally I think the NHL teams that are hemorrhaging (sp?) money should be demoted to the AHL and the best-performing AHL teams should take their place.

[ZapRowsdower8]

They were doing pointless realignment on Mike and Mike this morning. They were saying that there are rumors the NBA might contract two teams, Greenberg suggested Memphis and Toronto, he then goes on to suggest that the other leagues (possible exception to the NFL) do the same. His plan for MLB would be to contract Tampa Bay and Oakland, move the Brewers back to the AL along with Arizona and institute interleague play throughout the season.

Anybody heard these NBA rumors anywhere else?

[BBTV]

Interesting concept, although with the differences between CFL and NFL rules, I think it might be hard to mix the two.

Personally I think the NHL teams that are hemorrhaging (sp?) money should be demoted to the AHL and the best-performing AHL teams should take their place.

Explain how this works - you're going to tell a bunch of guys that they're now minor-league players? And promote a bunch of guys who aren't good enough? Or are you talking just about the cities, and the AHL players would all move to the former-NHL city, while the NHL players would become the new Hershey Bears (just as an example).

[Magnus]

Just the cities would trade leagues. The players currently on the NHL team in Atlanta would play in Chicago's Allstate Arena, and the farm team would move to Atlanta. If the New York area can support 3 teams, and the L.A. area has 2, I think Chicago can support 2 as well.

[rams80]

Just the cities would trade leagues. The players currently on the NHL team in Atlanta would play in Chicago's Allstate Arena, and the farm team would move to Atlanta. If the New York area can support 3 teams, and the L.A. area has 2, I think Chicago can support 2 as well.

You'd think that, but you are wrong. There's not enough " the Blackhawks" sentiment in the city to make a second team a truly viable option. At least at the NHL level.

[BrySmalls]

They were doing pointless realignment on Mike and Mike this morning. They were saying that there are rumors the NBA might contract two teams, Greenberg suggested Memphis and Toronto, he then goes on to suggest that the other leagues (possible exception to the NFL) do the same. His plan for MLB would be to contract Tampa Bay and Oakland, move the Brewers back to the AL along with Arizona and institute interleague play throughout the season.

Anybody heard these NBA rumors anywhere else?

For the NBA, it's at least mentioned on ESPN.

[Eye]

They were doing pointless realignment on Mike and Mike this morning. They were saying that there are rumors the NBA might contract two teams, Greenberg suggested Memphis and Toronto, he then goes on to suggest that the other leagues (possible exception to the NFL) do the same. His plan for MLB would be to contract Tampa Bay and Oakland, move the Brewers back to the AL along with Arizona and institute interleague play throughout the season.

Anybody heard these NBA rumors anywhere else?

Why would they contract Toronto? They have a good fanbase in Canada, right?

If contraction were to happen, I'd for sure say New Jersey, but since they are moving to Brooklyn, that isn't an option. So keep 'em around or something, I guess.

[Magnus]

Just the cities would trade leagues. The players currently on the NHL team in Atlanta would play in Chicago's Allstate Arena, and the farm team would move to Atlanta. If the New York area can support 3 teams, and the L.A. area has 2, I think Chicago can support 2 as well.

You'd think that, but you are wrong. There's not enough " the Blackhawks" sentiment in the city to make a second team a truly viable option. At least at the NHL level.

Perhaps. Mostly I just want the Sun Belt NHL teams to disappear. Wisconsin could use an NHL team too.

[rams80]

Just the cities would trade leagues. The players currently on the NHL team in Atlanta would play in Chicago's Allstate Arena, and the farm team would move to Atlanta. If the New York area can support 3 teams, and the L.A. area has 2, I think Chicago can support 2 as well.

You'd think that, but you are wrong. There's not enough " the Blackhawks" sentiment in the city to make a second team a truly viable option. At least at the NHL level.

Perhaps. Mostly I just want the Sun Belt NHL teams to disappear. Wisconsin could use an NHL team too.

Oh, you're one of those guys.

[CubsFanBudMan]

A few years ago there might have been an opportunity for a second NHL team to steal some fans from the Blackhawks, since the AHL's Wolves could even outdraw them (even head to head on a Sunday afternoon at least once) and probably had more games on TV due to the franchise's ban on televised home games.

However, the theory that Chicago was a sleeping giant hockey town proved to be true even before the Blackhawks' run to the conference finals in 2008-09 -- a season which featured a stunning jolt to attendance thanks to a heavy marketing push by the team that convinced people to go to Cubs games for all those years. Now that they have a two-season string of sellouts and hold the Cup, all former and casual fans -- and then some -- are likely spoken for.

Certainly this city can support a second team in more than just MLB, but I'd like to see that be an NFL team in a state-of-the-art stadium that can host Super Bowls. (Don't forget the Grizzlies were almost headed to south suburban Dixmoor -- my 2nd reference to that in as many days here.) I think the Bulls and Blackhawks are likely set at the United Center for a while still, but that Soldier Field renovation has to be one of the most short-sighted of all-time. Even the Cubs should probably rebuild the Wrigley grandstand from scratch like they did the bleachers.

[The_Admiral]

The sports demographics are too crystallized. Chicago can support two baseball teams because it's had two baseball teams for over a hundred years. Any second team in another sport is way too late to the party to make any worthwhile inroads in an exceedingly provincial region. Anyone who isn't a Bears fan is a Packers fan, and there's only shame in abandoning either one for the Jaguars or something.

"Likely set at the United Center for a while" is a vast understatement considering the anchor tenants own the real estate and make lots of money off it.

[CubsFanBudMan]

True, but I always thought a stadium in the right suburb could make it work. I just haven't identified which one that would be, but maybe a city could surprise me, as Bridgeview did on a much smaller scale with Fire.

As far as the United Center, I agree, but despite the fact that I still feel it is top of the line, it just seems 16 years old isn't far away from the "we need a new stadium talk." OK, maybe only halfway there. The United Center name might be on its way out when the deal expires in 2014, based on the prominent Madhouse rebranding last year.

[KennyRock]

Dan Patrick: With the first nine months of the Baseketball postseason out of the way, the playoff picture is starting to emerge.

Kenny Mayne: So, with last night's victory over Boston, next week the Milwaukee Beers must beat Indianapolis in order to advance to Charlotte. That's in an effort to reduce their magic number to three.

Dan Patrick: Right, and then the Beers can advance to the National Eastern Division North to play Tampa.

Kenny Mayne: So, if the Beers beat Detroit and Denver beats Atlanta in the American Southwestern Division East Northern, then Milwaukee goes to the Denslow Cup, unless Baltimore can upset Buffalo and Charlotte ties Toronto, then Oakland would play LA and Pittsburgh in a blind choice round robin. And if no clear winner emerges from all of this, a two-man sack race will be held on consecutive Sundays until a champion can be crowned.

Dan Patrick: Right.

[omnivore]

True, but I always thought a stadium in the right suburb could make it work. I just haven't identified which one that would be, but maybe a city could surprise me, as Bridgeview did on a much smaller scale with Fire.

As far as the United Center, I agree, but despite the fact that I still feel it is top of the line, it just seems 16 years old isn't far away from the "we need a new stadium talk." OK, maybe only halfway there. The United Center name might be on its way out when the deal expires in 2014, based on the prominent Madhouse rebranding last year.

Aurora is broke, but it's far enough away that they'd draw well and it'd work for those folks far enough out that don't want the make the trek to the city for games. After living there for a year, it always felt like Chicago's Jersey to me and would be able to support the right team in the right spot, but who knows what that'd be. Not hockey, though.

[The_Admiral]

Chicago's Jersey

Northwest Indiana