End Drought? Lower Standards
February 20th, 2020
Joe was listening to the best football show in the land yesterday afternoon, “Movin’ the Chains,” heard exclusively on SiriusXM NFL Radio, when Joe heard the breaking news.
In a step toward youth baseball/softball where scores aren’t kept and everybody gets a shiny participation trophy, the NFL has reportedly decided to try to go all NHL and non-basketball association by letting undeserving teams into the playoffs. This scheme was hatched and pitched by the NFL owners to the NFLPA in their current CBA talks, Adam Schefter of BSPN reported.
One team per conference will be added to the playoff format. It could begin as early as this year.
Co-hosts Pat Kirwan and Jim Miller were positively giddy with the news.
Joe was revolted.
There is no need for this. Joe would even argue there is at least one team too many from each conference now, considering the quality (?) of play of most wild card games.
This is nothing more than a naked money grab.
(Whoever decided using the word “naked” to add emphasis to a verb phrase or a noun was a clever soul. Like a money grab isn’t bad enough if the parties involved are clothed?)
But then it hit Joe: This is a way for the Bucs to end their playoff drought and leave the Lost Decade behind: lower the standards.
In the post-Chucky era, the Bucs have only had two winning seasons. And both would have been playoff seasons under the new proposed playoff format.
And had the Bucs made the playoffs in 2016, no one would say Mr. Entertainment, America’s Quarterback, Jameis Winston, cannot lead a team. And then there would be no reason to run him off, right?
Right?
Imagine the sales for “NFL Wild Card” T-shirts and cheesy caps!
February 20th, 2020 at 12:16 am
Yeah! (Sarcasm)
2 more possible 7 or so wins teams get into the mix…
When there are teams with 7 wins in the playoffs and teams with 9+ wins knocked out of the same playoffs, the solution sure isn’t add 2 more teams…
February 20th, 2020 at 12:20 am
It’s amazing how the standards in Tampa Bay football have drastically lowered.
Coaches here were once fired for going 9 – 7.
Quarterbacks use to get benched , then cut for throwing interceptions and pick 6’s.
The stadium for home games was always full with a waiting list for season tickets.
9 – 7 was a down year, but now would be celebrated.
Now some people will love the new playoff system thinking that maybe the Bucs can somehow “back into” the playoffs.
Totally Pitiful
February 20th, 2020 at 12:24 am
I think this is an attempt to not have a 7 win division champ get a shot eh. A team with more wins does get in. Really only became a proble, I believe after going to 4 divisions from 3. So by giving a more deserving team a shot over a less deserving one in a crappy division, as well as making more money, seems like a no brainer
February 20th, 2020 at 12:24 am
I have no problem with adding more games to the playoffs. That’s the best football!
If that means adding a couple more teams in order to add another round, I’m in favor…if it is done right.
February 20th, 2020 at 12:27 am
I think calling it participation trophies is stretching it. Those spots would still be earned.
Teams that lost due to bad referee calls could fight it out (just kidding).
February 20th, 2020 at 12:43 am
Brian
Fun fact: it took the Bucs more than 20 years to have two 10 win seasons. The Bucs only had back to back 10 win seasons in 99 and 2000.
If my math is right the Bucs avg 5 wins per season before JW and 6 wins per season with JW.
February 20th, 2020 at 12:50 am
Of course this is the take of the negative website. I thought you were better than this pathetic take but this is what it is here. How about even with the new format the bucs still would have not made the playoffs thanks to winston season ending pick 6. There were would have been 4 teams ahead of the bucs for that final spot. Seems you missed that trying to be funny and take another shot at the team because your boy loves to throw the ball to the other team. No reason to take an rule not in effect yet and try to apply it to 4 years ago and winston would still suck that playoff run was thanks to the defense not his other double digit interception year
February 20th, 2020 at 12:53 am
The only people that hate this are the Jameis haters.. They know he is good enough to get us to 9-7 and in the playoffs. And they dont wanna see that….They dont wanna see that at all
February 20th, 2020 at 1:36 am
Goodell is just the corporate wanker to ruin the league by dumbing down the playoffs and making the regular season useless. At least in the other leagues they play 82 game schedules fer rogerssake. They’ll do it,
Premier league soccer anyone?
February 20th, 2020 at 2:02 am
10-6 was once the benchmark to sort of get in the playoffs…
now 9-7 will become the benchmark to most likely get in
February 20th, 2020 at 2:09 am
As Joe purposely drives a wedge further between Buc fans. So ridiculous. The only wedge between fans is driven by excessive losing. –Joe Joe loves drama, even at the detriment of possibly starting a civil war within it’s own ranks. Joe sometimes can be that conniving little devil on your shoulder that convinces you to do things that you otherwise wouldn’t do if not goaded into it.
Shame on you little devil. 😈
February 20th, 2020 at 2:23 am
I’m all for it. more playoff games and a couple #6 seeds have won the SB. There will be a #7 that wins it when a team gets hot at the right time.
February 20th, 2020 at 4:34 am
no child left behind ?
February 20th, 2020 at 6:20 am
Smh. Would the consolation team be picked by lottery?
February 20th, 2020 at 6:31 am
So ridiculous. The only wedge between fans is driven by excessive losing. –Joe
Yea right Joe so some of us like losing and the others dont, is that the where you’re talking about? Article equals trolling. Cleveland hasn’t been to the playoffs since we held up the Lombardi trophy…..1 team in the conference still in the playoff hunt gets in. As usual yourbeing overly dramatic and it’s why you’re the drama queens of Bucs news, everything is doomsday scenario with you which is why you only one writing that cant see any positives in BA’s first season no you’d rather lump him in with lovie….drama queen
February 20th, 2020 at 6:33 am
The formula, if you will, to get into the playoffs has been and always will be to WIN GAMES. You don’t set an imaginary bar and say, “yeah boys, 9 wins and we’re in!” Or, “10 wins boys, that’s all it takes!”
Absolutely freakin’ NOT! You line your sights on the team in front of you and WIN. Keep WINNING and guess what? You get a shot at the postseason!
Of course, Buc fans don’t know this word “winning”. So we set low standards for ourselves, “9 wins baby!” Horsespit!!!
Who cares how many teams make the playoffs?! Just win the freaking games!
February 20th, 2020 at 6:43 am
I agree with you Joe … it’s a naked money grab, just like preseason games (seats for those should be free). It seems like it’ll be detrimental to those teams who actually do have good winning records & who presently EARN A BYE that first week. The playoff format would require one of those teams from each conference to play the new addition. Assuming that happens, the better team SHOULD win, but still, the risk of losing a key player is increased (which could impact the rest of the playoff results?).
Personally I think we’ve got too many playoff teams right now. Four teams from each conference seems about right to me … with no Byes that first week. That way everyone’s on an equal footing throughout the playoffs.
February 20th, 2020 at 7:16 am
Clueless Joe is off the mark again
February 20th, 2020 at 7:30 am
Damn really is this the only place people get news? Why not go to the source instead of half the information. This rule would kick in this season but also putting in place the next year allegedly only 3 preseason games and one more regular season game. Geez billionaire taking advantage of a market wow that’s new….think cellphone companies don’t make a huge profit off of what we love? Dont go to the freaking games. Anyone complaining about one extra football is just flat or stupid and needs top goop watch soccer instead complaining about more games to watch
February 20th, 2020 at 7:36 am
Who came up with this RIDICULOUS idea?? Bernie Sanders or Elizabeth Warren I bet.
February 20th, 2020 at 7:56 am
I LIKE IT!!! When they went to 12 playoff teams in 1990, there were 28 teams , so 43% made it to playoffs. So now, you would have 14 teams make it in a 32 team league… back to 43% of teams making it as originally planned. More football and scrap the 4th preseason game!
February 20th, 2020 at 8:35 am
Eh I think nearly half the teams making the playoffs is kinda dumb personally. Considering this team finished near the middle of the league that means some pretty mediocre or even bad teams could be getting in
February 20th, 2020 at 9:10 am
Agree, such a horrible idea. The NFL playoffs structure right now is perfect imho.
And if other teams knew they could have gotten in by winning a bit more, I have my doubts the Bucs would have made the cut even with the new criteria.
February 20th, 2020 at 9:17 am
Joe your take is wrong. I believe that the NFL playoffs are the most inclusive of the major sports. This change will not lead to 7-9 teams making the playoffs. This change will actually make up for the possibility of a below average division winner making the playoffs by also allowing the best record team in the conference to also make the playoffs. In the past, a below average division winner took the spot of a more deserving team
February 20th, 2020 at 9:18 am
onetrickpony Says:
“no child left behind ?”
~~~~~~~~~~~
LMAO!
Participation Trophy.
February 20th, 2020 at 9:19 am
What is interesting is that it is now theoretically possible for an Entire Division to make the Playoffs.
February 20th, 2020 at 9:20 am
Since my previous post has disappeared into the ‘special’ archives. I’ll repost.
They are removing one preseason game.
They are adding two teams to the playoffs. I’ve always felt it was an injustice for a team with more wins and a better quality team than a conference champ in a crap division with a mediocre record not get a chance.
This solves that. But sure, whine about other leagues and create a false comparison.
In BA I Trust!
February 20th, 2020 at 11:21 am
No problem from me. Then all division winners get at least one bye.
February 20th, 2020 at 1:03 pm
^^ Actually, Cobraboy, it would mean only 1 division winner would get a bye.