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I thought we'd create a general catch all thread as the new CBA comes to reality and along with it, some significant changes. To the surprise of many around the NFL, significant progress is already being made.

Among the things that seem to be pretty much agreed to:

If and when a transformational collective bargaining agreement is finalized -- and there is now mounting optimism it could be done sometime in the next week -- it is expected to change the NFL's playoff structure as it is currently constituted for next season, league sources told ESPN.

Under the current CBA proposal that NFL owners are pushing for, the playoff field would be expanded to seven teams from each conference, while the regular season would be increased to 17 games per team and the preseason shortened to three games per team, sources said.

As part of the proposed playoff format, only one team from each conference would receive a first-round bye as opposed to the two that currently do, league sources said. That would mean a revised postseason schedule that includes six games on wild-card weekend, with three on Saturday and three on Sunday.

The changes to the NFL's playoff format would take effect for the 2020 season, assuming the new CBA is ratified beforehand. Had the proposed format been in place this past season, the Los Angeles Rams and Pittsburgh Steelers would have been the next teams included in the expanded playoff field.

"That's been agreed to for a long time," one source familiar with the CBA talks said about the NFL's new playoff structure. "There wasn't a lot of disagreement to that issue."

Additionally, the players on teams that earn a first-round bye will receive postseason pay for that weekend. That was not the case under the current CBA, which has always rankled some players.

Now the sides are trying to work through the final issues, including getting the players to sign off on a 17-game regular season. That has yet to be agreed to, and it would not take effect until 2021 at the earliest.

As part of the deal now on the table, players would go from a 47% revenue share under the current deal to 48% share at 16 games, and then to a 48.5% share if they go to 17 games, shifting $5 billion of revenue to the players' side.



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So with the NFL expanding playoff teams to 14, that means you have roughly a 43-44 percent chance of making the playoffs no matter what. 

In the NBA, 16 out of 30 teams make the playoffs. 

The new playoff format would mean more 8-8 and maybe even 7-9 teams get in. I am not sure I am thrilled with that, but surprise, surprise, it's all about $$$

Oh, and 3 preseason game is still way the fuck too many. 

Last edited by packerboi

I have heard more then once that RB's need their own union. That won't be happening, unfortunately for Jones.



packerboi posted:

So with the NFL expanding playoff teams to 14, that means you have roughly a 43-44 percent chance of making the playoffs no matter what. 

In the NBA, 16 out of 30 teams make the playoffs. 

The new playoff format would mean more 8-8 and maybe even 7-9 teams get in. I am not sure I am thrilled with that, but surprise, surprise, it's all about $$$

Oh, and 3 preseason game is still way the fuck too many. 

I am solidly on the fence if I really want to see more playoff teams.  Sure some years you will get the occasional 10-6 or 11-5 team get in but you are right we are going to be seeing potentially quite a few average teams making it. One of the main reasons I am not a huge NBA fan is because the regular season is watered down and more than half the teams make the playoffs.  So I don't want the NFL going in that direction but you are right its all about the $$$$$.  

Paying RBs is such a tough quandary for teams.  Their careers are so short so giving them a cap crippling contact is a tough decision.  I would love to see Jones get extended I think he deserves it but you have to decide if you put that money into a RB or not.  

I’m actually opposed to increasing to 17 games.  Mostly because of health reasons and also while the players get a little more money, it’s the already rich owners who line their pockets.  I wrote Mark Murphy about this and received a prompt response from him. Basically he said he’s concerned about the quality of pre-season play and they need to do something about it.  Reading between the lines - there’s more money to be made with a regular season game.  

I tried to write Roger Goodell. There is absolutely no way on the nfl website to contact the commissioner.  I was really upset at the comment made by both the commissioner and Michael Bidwell ‘we have listened to the fans and they want another game.’  There have been no surveys, open discussion, etc with anyone.  After trying several search engines, I found an email address for the commissioner and wrote him. I’ve heard nothing back.  

My big problem is that the owners want the 17th game as a cash grab, but will make further concessions to the players when it comes to minicamp, OTA's, training camp and in season practices. Probably going to see even fewer padded or full contact practices and a lot different offseason schedule. Maybe that will work, but I tend to think any reduction in quality practice time will water down the product in games. 

I see lots of problems with the 17th game.  16 teams get an extra home game, how much will that factor into the playoffs?   Sure they will rotate the extra home game each season but the guys won't be happy.  And when it comes to the playoffs, will they reseed after each round?  What about rosters? The players have always said they want an expanded roster if the NFL goes to 17 games.  I see lots of work to get this CBA finalized.

ammo posted:

I see lots of problems with the 17th game.  16 teams get an extra home game, how much will that factor into the playoffs?   Sure they will rotate the extra home game each season but the guys won't be happy.  And when it comes to the playoffs, will they reseed after each round?  What about rosters? The players have always said they want an expanded roster if the NFL goes to 17 games.  I see lots of work to get this CBA finalized.

Maybe they'll do one neutral site game for each team? 16 chances to expand the fanbase. 

The problem with the NBA isn’t that the regular season is watered down.  The problem is it’s extremely rare for underdog road teams to score upsets in round one due to it being a best of 7 series.   I still love the NBA playoffs, but the NFL is set up to get more upsets. 

Baby Steps -- They want 18 games but players are probably flat out against it.

When is the bye week? Yeah that's gone I guess. The best team in each conference has a YOOOOOGE advantage when receiving the playoff bye now. Best is, if seed #7 upsets seed #2, then has to go play #1 after #1 had 1 week of rest. Pretty unlikely a #7 seed can make it to & win it all.

Why not 18 games? 2 pre-season games & 16 teams (8 in each conference) At least that evens it all out instead of this odd 7th team.

Like I said......Baby Steps

ammo posted:

I see lots of problems with the 17th game.  16 teams get an extra home game, how much will that factor into the playoffs? ....

MichiganPacker2 posted: 

Maybe they'll do one neutral site game for each team? 16 chances to expand the fanbase. 

My immediate thought is the league will use the extra game to play in international venues. Mexico City, London, Toronto perhaps?
Granted, the logistics would likely mean nothing additional than what is already scheduled this upcoming season, but in the future, it would sure seem to be right down ol' Rog's alley. I think that's the legacy he seeks.

packerboi posted:

GD, what it means is weeks 1-3 are essentially pre season. It’s what we are already seeing. 

I was wondering about that. Will the NFL add another game or will they just shorten the preseason by one game and make, what is now, the 4th preseason game the actual season opener? If they did that, how would that affect the Players' Union arguments? 

MichiganPacker2 posted:
ammo posted:

I see lots of problems with the 17th game.  16 teams get an extra home game, how much will that factor into the playoffs?   Sure they will rotate the extra home game each season but the guys won't be happy.  And when it comes to the playoffs, will they reseed after each round?  What about rosters? The players have always said they want an expanded roster if the NFL goes to 17 games.  I see lots of work to get this CBA finalized.

Maybe they'll do one neutral site game for each team? 16 chances to expand the fanbase. 

I do not think they will do a neutral site game as the home team would lose out on the revenue generated in ticket, merchandise and beverage sales. If they want to expand fan bases they should eliminate the cable exclusivity mandates so other teams can be seen in one team's home area.

Last edited by mrtundra
Timmy! posted:
ammo posted:

I see lots of problems with the 17th game.  16 teams get an extra home game, how much will that factor into the playoffs? ....

MichiganPacker2 posted: 

Maybe they'll do one neutral site game for each team? 16 chances to expand the fanbase. 

My immediate thought is the league will use the extra game to play in international venues. Mexico City, London, Toronto perhaps?
Granted, the logistics would likely mean nothing additional than what is already scheduled this upcoming season, but in the future, it would sure seem to be right down ol' Rog's alley. I think that's the legacy he seeks.

I think you are spot on, Timmy! Watch that extra game be played outside the USA. Goodell's real agenda, IMO, is for the NFL to be a year round spectacle, trying to supplant Soccer, with no real off season and it's presence expanded across the globe. Europe, Japan, China, Mexico, Australia, Canada and South America....

Last edited by mrtundra
PA green & gold posted:

I’m actually opposed to increasing to 17 games.  Mostly because of health reasons and also while the players get a little more money, it’s the already rich owners who line their pockets.  I wrote Mark Murphy about this and received a prompt response from him. Basically he said he’s concerned about the quality of pre-season play and they need to do something about it.  Reading between the lines - there’s more money to be made with a regular season game.  

I tried to write Roger Goodell. There is absolutely no way on the nfl website to contact the commissioner.  I was really upset at the comment made by both the commissioner and Michael Bidwell ‘we have listened to the fans and they want another game.’  There have been no surveys, open discussion, etc with anyone.  After trying several search engines, I found an email address for the commissioner and wrote him. I’ve heard nothing back.  

No way Goodall has listened to the fans. He listens to the owners.

There is also the issue of the calendar.  Does this push opening weekend before Labor day or weekend of?  Or the SB into the second weekend of Feb? 

Everything about the current format works very well and fits together cleanly.  32 teams -2 conferences, 4 divisions of 4 teams, 16 games.  That's nice math.  Kickoff the fall season the weekend after labor day when everyone's done with summer, wrap it up a month after the holidays.  I think anything beyond this starts to really stretch the majority of viewers' football attention span.

Last edited by DH13

The math doesn’t work out for the players to add another game.  It probably should be 50/50 revenue. 


I also don’t see a mention of roster expansion.  You start adding more regular season games and there will be more injuries. 

Rosters are expected to increase. 



With the 17th game I don't see anyone getting an extra home game, still the 8. The 17th game goes to neutral sites - Mexico City, London, Tokyo, Montreal, San Antonio,  Salt Lake City,  Portland, Memphis, Austin, Minneapolis. You know, cities without a NFL team now. 

ammo posted:

I see lots of problems with the 17th game.  16 teams get an extra home game, how much will that factor into the playoffs?   Sure they will rotate the extra home game each season but the guys won't be happy.  And when it comes to the playoffs, will they reseed after each round?  What about rosters? The players have always said they want an expanded roster if the NFL goes to 17 games.  I see lots of work to get this CBA finalized.

The league is bargaining for 17 games because they can't sell going from 16 to 18 games in one step.  Seventeen is a stepping stone to the next CBA, so the warts of a 17 game season with 3 preseason games is a temporary indisposition in the NFL's eyes.

Hungry5 posted:

With the 17th game I don't see anyone getting an extra home game, still the 8. The 17th game goes to neutral sites - Mexico City, London, Tokyo, Montreal, San Antonio,  Salt Lake City,  Portland, Memphis, Austin, Minneapolis. You know, cities without a NFL team now. 

That’s gonna piss Chitcago and Detoilet right off

I feel another reason the owners want a new deal in place this year that no one is talking about, the TV contracts are up after this year.  Adding a 17th game automatically bumps the price by 5.8%. If you also consider a 2% inflation per year. That would be a 21.89% increase in price from the previous TV contract 10 years ago. Multiply those 2 together and you get a 29% increase, probably at the least. To put into context, ESPN paid 15.2 billion in 2011 just for MNF through 2021, a 29% increase for the next contract would mean 19.6 billion just for MNF.

Hungry5 posted:

With the 17th game I don't see anyone getting an extra home game, still the 8. The 17th game goes to neutral sites - Mexico City, London, Tokyo, Montreal, San Antonio,  Salt Lake City,  Portland, Memphis, Austin, Minneapolis. You know, cities without a NFL team now. 

Minneapolis wants an 80 yrd. field like Winnepeg so Cousins can pad his TD pass stats.

I’d love that extra game to be played at a “neutral” site in the area of the home team.  Packers could play at Camp Randall.  Lions could play at the Big House.   Bears could play at Notre Dame.  Vikings could play at Mankato State :-) 

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