Proposed playoff expansion and return of Roger Goodell – NFL Feature
National Football League (NFL) commissioner Roger Goodell is the most wanted executive in the league, although another aspect of his personality is that he is the least popular. Also, it is a fact that his actions are being equally discussed on both sides
of the opinion. Take the latest hot topic of the playoff expansion, for example.
The commissioner brought back the idea into the limelight that had been buried unnoticed since being presented for the first time in 2006, and it has led to a huge debate in the entire league. It was presented again for consideration in front of the league’s
franchise ownership committee recently.
It was just a glimpse of the proposal that the owner of Kansas City Chiefs thought in 2006 that it was to expand the playoffs phase to 16 teams, instead of 14 games at present. None form the owners took it seriously then and they were taken by surprise to
know that it had survived so long underneath the league office’s files.
Although the proposal was not for discussion in December (2012) meeting, a view is that it was clever of the NFL boss to make it public for two reasons: First, to see how it is received among the owners. Second, it nevertheless set a tone for a probably
heated debate at the committee’s formal and lengthy meetings in March next year (2013).
It is difficult to say a final word whether it will receive the owners’ approval. At the moment, the reaction to it is both positive and negative.
A particular point here to note is that one view is that the commissioner has brought the idea back in perspective of his consideration to reduce the number of preseason games from four to two in future. The commissioner thinks preseason games have lost
their competitiveness and it is more or less a mock competition.
The proposal to reduce the number of preseason games will also be presented for discussions and approval at the committee’s meeting next year. It nevertheless has set tone of the NFL’s boss priorities next year.
Another aspect of the league’s stance about number or quality of games is that the commissioner has already warned to wrap up Pro Bowl game on the same reason of quality. The idea has not been welcomed by certain quarters who believe the commissioner was
taking the issue of quality too far.
As far as support to the commissioner’s actions is concerned, he has very few voices in his favour. He is nevertheless not afraid of throwing out his proposals and ideas into the air, no matter what sort of actions they are met with.
From bounty scandal to some actions regarding promoting safety of players, he is met with severe criticism. His recent statement that the game of professional American football was evolving to a safer era was hit hard by some who claimed that that fights
and some sort of aggression were essential to keep spirit of the game alive. At the same time, his office is in court facing allegations of compromising former NFL players’ on-field safety and mishandling of concussions and other injuries.
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