2012 NFL Season Thread

[IceCap]

I don't have a problem with 14 teams. Puts more emphasis on finishing first in the conference, and 16 games is a small sample size.

Agreed. I don't get the uproar.

[Lights Out]

I don't have a problem with 14 teams. Puts more emphasis on finishing first in the conference, and 16 games is a small sample size.

Agreed. I don't get the uproar.

It's yet another unnecessary change to a sport that already has a fine playoff system. Furthermore, all this does is add more games, practices, and travel time on to some teams' seasons every year. You'd think Mr. Player Safety would realize the added injury/head trauma risk that comes with that if his concerns were really sincere.

[Epiphanic]

How come I'm not hearing that the NFL should be reducing the number of games by making the playoff field smaller or shortening the season from those that want "Mr. Player Safety" to walk his talk?

Also, what's so perfect about a 12-team playoff? And why is a 14- or 16-team playoff inferior? It doesn't add to the length of the season. Unless people are arguing against the playoffs being "watered" down. And if that's the case, why not just drop the wild cards altogether? 8 division winners. That eliminates one game for 8 teams that would've played under the old system thus reducing the risk of added injury/head trauma.

Of course that won't happen because Goodell secretly wants to ruin football*

*sarcasm

[Eye]

How come I'm not hearing that the NFL should be reducing the number of games by making the playoff field smaller or shortening the season from those that want "Mr. Player Safety" to walk his talk?

Also, what's so perfect about a 12-team playoff? And why is a 14- or 16-team playoff inferior? It doesn't add to the length of the season. Unless people are arguing against the playoffs being "watered" down. And if that's the case, why not just drop the wild cards altogether? 8 division winners. That eliminates one game for 8 teams that would've played under the old system thus reducing the risk of added injury/head trauma.

Of course that won't happen because Goodell secretly wants to ruin football*

*sarcasm

Under your format, if your 8 division format, you'd have to redo the schedules to make it work, otherwise it isn't an even playing field.

I'm against a 14 or 16 team playoff because I think you should have to at the very least be good to get in. Of course there are anomalies like the 2008 Patriots who went 11-5 and didn't make it, while the 2010 Seahawks went 8-8 and won their division, but anomalies are inevitable with any format. As you get closer to letting in, or actually let in half the conference, the mediocre start to get into the playoffs, and that is why I don't want to see the playoff format changed. Also, I think the current playoff format is great.

[Epiphanic]

Under your format, if your 8 division format, you'd have to redo the schedules to make it work, otherwise it isn't an even playing field.

No you don't. There are already 8 divisions. All an 8-team field would do is eliminate the wild cards (and the first-round byes). Win your division and you're in. Don't win your division and you aren't.

If the argument against an expanded playoff is you don't want unworthy teams in (which I think is very reasonable), why do you draw the line where you do? Why is 16 teams too many, 8 teams too few, and 12 teams just right?

[Eye]

Under your format, if your 8 division format, you'd have to redo the schedules to make it work, otherwise it isn't an even playing field.

No you don't. There are already 8 divisions. All an 8-team field would do is eliminate the wild cards (and the first-round byes). Win your division and you're in. Don't win your division and you aren't.

If the argument against an expanded playoff is you don't want unworthy teams in (which I think is very reasonable), why do you draw the line where you do? Why is 16 teams too many, 8 teams too few, and 12 teams just right?

I wasn't necessarily against 8, all I said was that you'd have to make the schedules equal because one team is playing teams from a certain division, and another team is playing against teams from another division. 8 is intriguing. You only get the best of the best (in theory) if we're doing 8 division winners as opposed to top 8 teams in the league.

Again, 16 is too much because allowing half the conference get in means the mediocre get in. I don't know how I feel about 8, I need more time to think about it.

I think 12 is "just right" because, it really is an excellent playoff structure. Also, I think many would have a hard time formulating an argument good enough for why it has to be changed.

[Gothamite]

How come I'm not hearing that the NFL should be reducing the number of games by making the playoff field smaller or shortening the season from those that want "Mr. Player Safety" to walk his talk?

I don't understand why people want to link the two, other than looking for a hypocrisy that isn't there.

If you want to extend the season, it only makes sense that you would be working to increase player safety so they can handle the increased load. It's not a contradiction, it's a prerequisite.

[fouhy12]

Does anyone think that the NFL will put patches on the jerseys or helmets this weekend for the victims of the CT shooting? The Rockies did it after the Aurora shooting.

[IceCap]

How come I'm not hearing that the NFL should be reducing the number of games by making the playoff field smaller or shortening the season from those that want "Mr. Player Safety" to walk his talk?

I don't understand why people want to link the two, other than looking for a hypocrisy that isn't there.

If you want to extend the season, it only makes sense that you would be working to increase player safety so they can handle the increased load. It's not a contradiction, it's a prerequisite.

Indeed. This is all just more mental gymnastics to justify a pre-determined hatred of Goodell.

[FiddySicks]

So Skip Bayless was not the dumbest guy on First Take yesterday.

It was nice knowing you Rob Parker. Say hi to Mariotti. That was just one of the all-time open mouth insert foot statements I've ever heard.

Is it me, or do Parker's words just not come out the least bit natural... as if someone (Bayless?) put him up to saying them.

That final statement had me rolling. You know you're about to get the axe when you scare Stephen A Smith

[DG_YouKnowWhatThatMeans]

That's the first time I've listened to the clip. Wearing braids? GTFO.

[Lights Out]

If you want to extend the season, it only makes sense that you would be working to increase player safety so they can handle the increased load. It's not a contradiction, it's a prerequisite.

Unless Goodell can see the future, there's still only so much that can be done about the increased injury and head trauma risk of playing more games.

The best solution to avoiding that added risk is to not add more games onto the season in the first place. The players made it clear that they were against this sort of thing when Goodell was pushing for an 18-game regular season.

[Gothamite]

I think the active players as a whole have made it clear that they're not all that concerned about CTE, actually.

That's why I applaud what the Commissioner has been doing as a whole, even when I don't like the specifics: somebody has to care about the future of the game, and it sure as hell isn't the players who will be out of the league in a couple years at best.

[fouhy12]

Does anyone think that the NFL will put patches on the jerseys or helmets this weekend for the victims of the CT shooting? The Rockies did it after the Aurora shooting.

To answer my own question, the Patriots are wearing a helmet sticker about it, and lighting 26 flares before the game.

[hailstateunis]

Cousins will start tomorrow in place of RG3.

[dbadefense1990]

You allow half the league into the playoffs and you're getting into NHL territory.

Nah, you wait until the next labor talks when the NFLPA brings in Donald Fehr for negotiations.

[dbadefense1990]

Cousins will start tomorrow in place of RG3.

Somewhere, Rob Parker is lighting one up in celebration.

[Cujo]

Cousins will start tomorrow in place of RG3.

Somewhere, Rob Parker is lighting one up in celebration.

I'll be his second victory cigar of the weekend after ESPN also decided to spare his job, following some of the most racist comments i've seen in quite some time. (SMH @ The Leader.)

[dbadefense1990]

I don't have a problem with 14 teams. Puts more emphasis on finishing first in the conference, and 16 games is a small sample size.

Agreed. I don't get the uproar.

To me, it's injuries. You run the risk of injury with all the teams gunning for the #1 spot, even against the inferior teams, and especially the #2 seed. If #2 knows that it'll play on Wildcard weekend, then they'll throw all their cards to get the top seed and a bye. And the injury risk rises, to which the lowest seed (#7) can take advantage on...and we know how people grumble when the worst seed does well in the postseason.

[CS85]

If it means dumping preseason games, why not.