I said it once at FanHouse and I'll say it again here: I don't like that the NFL is going to screw with the 16-game schedule.
The current schedule is awesome. It divides easily into quarters, the byes are done at a quick pace and the actual construction of the schedule is perfect. You play the other three teams in your division twice (6 games), one entire division in your conference (4 games) that rotates in a three year cycle, one entire division in the other conference (4 games) that rotates in a four year cycle and then the two teams who finished in the same place in the divisions in your conference that you aren't set to play (2 games).
I like it this way. But I also know that things change.
It seems as if their mind is already made up. 2010 will probably be the last year of the 16-game season. May it rest in peace. The NFL will vote whether to have a 17 or 18-game season starting in 2011. However many games they add on to the regular season, they will take games off the preseason.
Okay! Since this is going to happen, let me look at the positives.
It is better for season ticket holders. NFL teams make their fans pay for two preseason games at full price despite the games being meaningless. Instead of paying out the booty for two preseason snoozers, fans would now get a game that actually counts.
Fantasy football gets better! A longer NFL season would mean a longer fantasy football season. Instead of the typical 13 or 14 week season, now we can fool around for up to 16 weeks. With the extra week or two of games, byes should be spread out a little more evenly (now there are two weeks of the season where six teams are on a bye).
Still, where will the add the games? Maybe one week earlier (around Labor Day) and one a week later (first week of January)? I don't like pushing the Super Bowl back to much since it would then move in on college basketball territory.
Also, how will they schedule the extra opponents? My best guess would be that instead of playing the two teams who finished in the same place as you in those divisions, you just play another entire division.
Let's use the Redskins for an example. Every year, they will play the Giants, Cowboys and Eagles twice apiece. They will also play one entire division in the AFC (let's use the AFC West for this exercise). In the current format, they would play one entire division in the NFC (that would be the NFC South). That is a total of 14 games. To get to 18, they may as well let the Redskins play another entire division in the NFC. Rotate it in a three year cycle to what division you DON'T play each year.
2009-Don't play the NFC West
2010-Don't play the NFC South
2011-Don't play the NFC North
That would be somewhat fair.
Still, I hate that it has gotten to this point. I love my NFL the way it is right now and I don't like seeing things tweaked that seem fine.
The current schedule is awesome. It divides easily into quarters, the byes are done at a quick pace and the actual construction of the schedule is perfect. You play the other three teams in your division twice (6 games), one entire division in your conference (4 games) that rotates in a three year cycle, one entire division in the other conference (4 games) that rotates in a four year cycle and then the two teams who finished in the same place in the divisions in your conference that you aren't set to play (2 games).
I like it this way. But I also know that things change.
It seems as if their mind is already made up. 2010 will probably be the last year of the 16-game season. May it rest in peace. The NFL will vote whether to have a 17 or 18-game season starting in 2011. However many games they add on to the regular season, they will take games off the preseason.
Okay! Since this is going to happen, let me look at the positives.
It is better for season ticket holders. NFL teams make their fans pay for two preseason games at full price despite the games being meaningless. Instead of paying out the booty for two preseason snoozers, fans would now get a game that actually counts.
Fantasy football gets better! A longer NFL season would mean a longer fantasy football season. Instead of the typical 13 or 14 week season, now we can fool around for up to 16 weeks. With the extra week or two of games, byes should be spread out a little more evenly (now there are two weeks of the season where six teams are on a bye).
Still, where will the add the games? Maybe one week earlier (around Labor Day) and one a week later (first week of January)? I don't like pushing the Super Bowl back to much since it would then move in on college basketball territory.
Also, how will they schedule the extra opponents? My best guess would be that instead of playing the two teams who finished in the same place as you in those divisions, you just play another entire division.
Let's use the Redskins for an example. Every year, they will play the Giants, Cowboys and Eagles twice apiece. They will also play one entire division in the AFC (let's use the AFC West for this exercise). In the current format, they would play one entire division in the NFC (that would be the NFC South). That is a total of 14 games. To get to 18, they may as well let the Redskins play another entire division in the NFC. Rotate it in a three year cycle to what division you DON'T play each year.
2009-Don't play the NFC West
2010-Don't play the NFC South
2011-Don't play the NFC North
That would be somewhat fair.
Still, I hate that it has gotten to this point. I love my NFL the way it is right now and I don't like seeing things tweaked that seem fine.
1 comment:
Cry me a river, you pussy
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