Might As Well Just Expand To 8 Teams For Playoff Format

[ChargingBolts]

Increasing the number of teams in the playoffs would be a terrible idea. Look at the NBA, teams would start load managing, saving themselves for the playoffs, manipulate their seed depending on what team they have a good matchup against.

This isn't true because it's the same amount of weekends of playoffs (except for the teams who used to have a bye)

[Guest]

Increasing the number of teams in the playoffs would be a terrible idea. Look at the NBA, teams would start load managing, saving themselves for the playoffs, manipulate their seed depending on what team they have a good matchup against.

I am in favor of eliminatiing all first round byes because they are too much of an advantage for one team to have.

For example, the entire Brady/Belichick so-called dynasty is based on first round byes. In their 9 Super Bowl appearances during that era, how many came when they did not have a first round bye?

Don't waste too much time thinking about it. The answer is zero.

I am not in favor of a team playing year after year in a weak division and being given a watered down path to the Super Bowl by following the bye with a home game against a weak division winner to reach the conference championship game while other teams have to slug their way week after week through tougher teams while also playing an extra game.

Instead, expand to 8 teams. If the #1 seed can't beat the #8 seed at home, then I have no sympathy for that team. I do not favor "stabbing" six teams so the "matador" team with a bye can look good by finishing off what survives out of the wild card weekend.

[dmac_bolt]

7 is plenty. 8 will almost guarantee a sub-.500 team makes the playoffs in one of the conferences. OK with the bye still.

[Caslon]

Don't like this at all. Owners approving playoffs that include 14 teams. What is this...the freaking NBA? What a money grab.

[Boltjolt]

No....the new format is bordering on watering down the quality of teams in, just to create more games...half the league makes playoffs? No thanks. I am barely OK with 14 teams.

Agree, we will have losing records make the playoffs. Dont be like basketball....and im sure the players would reject it anyways.

[gzubeck]

Disagree with all of you who don't want a 7th team. How many times have we seen a 10-6 team not make the playoffs because they lost a stupid tiebreaker with another team. I'd rather have the occasional 8-8 team make the playoffs rather than have 3 out of 4 seasons where a 9-7 or better team gets to sit home due to a minor difference. The benefits out way the negatives.

[Boltjolt]

Disagree with all of you who don't want a 7th team. How many times have we seen a 10-6 team not make the playoffs because they lost a stupid tiebreaker with another team. I'd rather have the occasional 8-8 team make the playoffs rather than have 3 out of 4 seasons where a 9-7 or better team gets to sit home due to a minor difference. The benefits out way the negatives.

They did go to a 7 team format. This thread is about an 8 team format. Too many IMO.

[gzubeck]

They did go to a 7 team format. This thread is about an 8 team format. Too many IMO.

It's just that so many we're complaining about expanding the playoffs including the 7th game. Too many poster wanting to go back to 6 playoff teams. With KC in our division with mahomes we might not sniff the playoffs for five years with only two wild cards. Right now for the next decade this is pro chargers going to 7 games. I'm also pro 18 regular games with nixing all preseason games outright. The two additional games are pre-season but they COUNT!

[Boltjolt]

It's just that so many we're complaining about expanding the playoffs including the 7th game. Too many poster wanting to go back to 6 playoff teams. With KC in our division with mahomes we might not sniff the playoffs for five years with only two wild cards. Right now for the next decade this is pro chargers going to 7 games. I'm also pro 18 regular games with nixing all preseason games outright. The two additional games are pre-season but they COUNT!

Doubt they will nix them all. Every pro sport has a preseason. The NFL and coaches would want at least 2. They feel thats how you evaluate rookies and second year players. Players dont want 18 regualr season games. It takes a toll on the body and cant argue that. They would also have to expand the practice squads. All this costs money.....more for all players involved and the cheap owners dont think they should pay more.
Yes they get more money fr playoffs but they get peanuts pay for those games compared to their salary. I think the NFL pays out the playoff money but not sure.

From SI:

NFL players are paid their yearly salaries on a weekly basis (aside from signing, roster and other bonuses) from the first game of the season through the last, including the team's bye week. Team payments and contracts end, however, with the regular season. During the postseason, players are paid by the league through a designated postseason fund as opposed to being paid by their individual teams.

A handful of players have postseason incentives worked into their contract from their team, but most only recieve on league pay. The NFL pays every player on the 53-man active roster an identical amount per postseason appearance and/or win regardless of impact or performance.

Once NFL player contracts become irrelevant, here are the per-player payouts this year, per the CBA.

Wild Card Round—Division Winner: $29,000
Wild Card Team: $27,000
Divisional Round: $29,000
Conference Championship: $54,000
Super Bowl Winner: $118,000
Super Bowl Loser: $59,000

Compared to the NFL's minimum salary for 2018, which was $480,000 for a rookie, the postseason payout from the league does not amount to much.

Note that teams earning a bye week for the first round—the Chiefs, Patriots, Saints and Rams this season—are not paid for that week. Every played on the active roster, inactive list or on a franchise's injured reserve list at the time of a wild card game or divisional round will be paid the full amount designated.

For conference championship games and the Super Bowl, the payout is more nuanced and depends on a player's most recent participation.


https://www.si.com/nfl/2019/01/05/ho...tseason-payout

[gzubeck]

Doubt they will nix them all. Every pro sport has a preseason. The NFL and coaches would want at least 2. They feel thats how you evaluate rookies and second year players. Players dont want 18 regualr season games. It takes a toll on the body and cant argue that. They would also have to expand the practice squads. All this costs money.....more for all players involved and the cheap owners dont think they should pay more.
Yes they get more money fr playoffs but they get peanuts pay for those games compared to their salary. I think the NFL pays out the playoff money but not sure.

From SI:

NFL players are paid their yearly salaries on a weekly basis (aside from signing, roster and other bonuses) from the first game of the season through the last, including the team's bye week. Team payments and contracts end, however, with the regular season. During the postseason, players are paid by the league through a designated postseason fund as opposed to being paid by their individual teams.

A handful of players have postseason incentives worked into their contract from their team, but most only recieve on league pay. The NFL pays every player on the 53-man active roster an identical amount per postseason appearance and/or win regardless of impact or performance.

Once NFL player contracts become irrelevant, here are the per-player payouts this year, per the CBA.

Wild Card Round—Division Winner: $29,000
Wild Card Team: $27,000
Divisional Round: $29,000
Conference Championship: $54,000
Super Bowl Winner: $118,000
Super Bowl Loser: $59,000


https://www.si.com/nfl/2019/01/05/ho...tseason-payout

Crocodile tears for millionaires...They can expand the roster and also give greater security for developmental players with better poaching rules. Hard for me to stomach crap when QB's are crying all the way to the bank with forcing $35 mil contracts and bigger guaranteed money. No one even gives a poop about preseason anymore including coaches. With an extra five spots on a roster we don't even need a preseason they get to practice with the entire team.

[Kingcrimson]

Remove divisions when determining playoff seeding.

11-5 Seahawks @ 9-7 Eagles

12-4 Chargers @ 10-6 Ravens then @ 11-5 Patriots coming off a bye

that’s my biggest issue.

[Boltjolt]

Crocodile tears for millionaires...They can expand the roster and also give greater security for developmental players with better poaching rules. Hard for me to stomach crap when QB's are crying all the way to the bank with forcing $35 mil contracts and bigger guaranteed money. No one even gives a poop about preseason anymore including coaches. With an extra five spots on a roster we don't even need a preseason they get to practice with the entire team.

I dont feel for the owners at all. Thats just what ive read/heard

Coaches DO care aboout preseason...its the fans that dont care. Dont know why fans think the coaches feel like we do because they dont..