There have been recent developments around the National Football League that the league is considering expanding the playoff field from 12 to 14 teams. There have been discussions in the past advocating for an 18-game regular season but this plan never surfaced. This new scheduling model would include three preseason games instead of four and a 16-game regular season, which the league already has.
According to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, these changes would likely not go in effect in 2014. The only way that it could go into effect is if the National Football League can secure a certain number of votes from team owners. Also, the league would have to come up with a new preseason formula, get new sponsorship agreements and a few stadiums would need to settle lease agreements with their partners. This new schedule would have a positive and a negative side to them.
The league claims that the lost revenue from the missing preseason game will be made up for by the expanded postseason. It could lead to additional television revenue and more teams would get the chance to play for the Lombardi trophy. Since more teams would be playing for the Super Bowl, this will mean more excitement from NFL fans in general. The negative would be that this shortened preseason can hurt the development of young players and that it would be harder for coaches to determine which player will make the roster. Personally, coaches need that extra preseason game because the fourth week of the preseason usually determines which backups deserve to make the roster.
The NFL’s competition committee believes that there needs to be a minimum of three preseason games to help the development of rookie players. Moreover, that fourth game of the preseason means everything to those rookies who are trying to make a living by playing pro sports. If they are cut after week four of the preseason, those players who suited up for a “meaningless game” may never play in an NFL game ever again.
This is not a popular view but NFL fans need to see that NFL players are not having it easy. Don’t get me wrong, I love the NFL playoffs and it is my favorite time of the winter, but the development of young players should be more of a priority than making the NFL postseason longer than it already is.
Anyway, notable players like Victor Cruz and Geno Smith have needed the preseason to develop. In 2010, Victor Cruz was first recognized when he had monster game against the New York Jets in Week one of the preseason on Monday Night Football.
After that game, he started to establish himself as an elite wide receiver in the National Football League. Also, the New York Jets did not know who their quarterback would be until week four of the preseason this year when they announced that Smith would be the starter. In addition to limiting the development of young players, if you add two playoff teams then there will be teams that do not deserve to play in the postseason that will get in. During the 2010 season, the Seattle Seahawks had a 7-9 record and they won the NFC West.
In the postseason, the Seahawks defeated the New Orleans Saints in the wild card round of the playoffs. My fear is that 7-9 or 8-8 that make the playoffs and advance deeper into the playoffs will take away spots that do not belong to them in the first place. In 2010, the NFC West was weak but I feel that there will be more of these types of situations with the new scheduling system. This process is still in the preliminary stages but for the sake of the NFL and its players, I hope this scheduling system does not become reality.
Phil Novotny can be reached at philip.novotny@spartans.ut.edu.