Hoofbite
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I'm pretty sure I've harped on a lot of this stuff over time but I don't think I have ever collected it into a single spot. These are things I think need to be changed for one reason or another. I initially thought about trying to collaborate with T-RO and see if we would could turn this into a multi-thread series, shamelessly self promoted with release dates and autographed print outs given to a select few of the members...........kidding.
Of course, this whole "vision" is dependent on the owners giving up on their "bait and switch" 18 game season.
Anyway, here goes.
Home/Away Divisional Alternating
I don't know how else to phrase this but I think the league needs to start alternating home and away games between divisional teams.
What I mean is, Dallas played @Philly for the second meeting this season. Next season, the second meeting should be in Dallas.
There was a period for a couple years where I swore that Dallas had to go to Philly for the second game. 03-05, I'm pretty sure Dallas went to Philly for the second meeting. It needs to alternate. Not really gonna elaborate too much. I think it just makes sense and would be an incredibly easy fix.
Bye Weeks
One of the biggest problems with current NFL scheduling is the bye week system.
Some teams have a bye week during week 4. Others have it during week 10.
Almost two months of bye weeks which is ridiculous long. Nobody can make a valid argument that it is beneficial to have it stretch out so long. I'd say a team having a bye around midseason is automatically at an advantage. Play 3 games and get to recover, or play 9 games and get to recover? Seems pretty simple.
Additionally, some weeks there are 4 teams on a bye, some weeks there are 6. It doesn't really make sense as to why the bye system is set up the way it is.
Lastly, the by should have some sort of system to determine WHEN a team has a bye and it should be as close to midseason as possible. One year you could get your bye early, the next you could get it late. It doesn't make sense to have it be dropped in whenever and where ever.
So here's what you do. Starting week 7, one team from each division gets a bye week. 8 teams per week for 4 weeks. That still leaves 24 teams to play 12 games.
Weeks 7, 8, 9 and 10 are the only weeks teams can have byes. They are about as close to the middle as you'd be able to get them and going any later then 10 kind of lets a team get a break too late.
Essentially you have 1 team from each division sitting out each week. Works out real nice because you still get a good number of games and you still have plenty of potential match ups to create.
But, here's the best part. The worst-place finisher from each division gets 1st pick of when they want their bye. Give some scheduling power to the teams. Let the teams that need the most help have a shot at controlling their fate a little bit.
3rd place gets second pick, 2nd place gets third pick and the division winner gets whatever is left over.
It's consistent, it's fair to the teams involved and it lets teams have a little say over what goes on.
Uniforms
This is one that has absolutely no shot of changing because it's a money-grab issue.
Is it just me or do some teams have a half a dozen uniforms? Maybe not that many but not counting throwbacks, some teams have like 3 or 4. Too damn many.
Teams need 3 jerseys. Home, Away and Throwback and if your team doesn't have enough history to have Throwbacks, you don't get them until you change your uniform and at which time you can use the jersey being replaced as a throwback.
3 uniforms, MAX.
And speaking of throwbacks (and here's why this idea will never work), how about we stop seeing a quarter of the league with throwbacks on every week.
They aren't throwbacks if they are worn almost every week. It's ridiculous and at times confusing. At other times the throwbacks are just so damn ugly they shouldn't be out there.
You get 1 week of throwbacks. ENTIRE LEAGUE (obviously not during weeks 7-10 because of the byes) wears them.
And hey, I've got an idea......Week 12 (rarely week 13) looks awfully good to me.
That's right. Thanksgiving week. What better day to bring the throwbacks out? Historical day where the whole country is stuffing their faces and watching football, I can't think of a better day. Plus, here's the bonus.
With 3 games on T-Day, you get to see A LOT of teams throwbacks. 3 games Thursday, 4 games Sunday and 1 game monday. Half the league sounds pretty good to me.
But, like I said. This is a money issue. 1 week of throwbacks would probably kill the throwback jersey sales.
Now, before I get to this next part about uniforms I want to put out a disclaimer that I am not anti-cancer awareness. That isn't what this is about.
Another thing about uniforms that I think needs to be changed is the entire cancer awareness, pink jerseys for a month stuff. I don't like it.
I've heard some people ask, "who isn't aware about cancer"? (I've even thought that myself in the past but after talking with some who are involved in cancer awareness programs I have quit thinking along those lines). To that I have to respond by saying that simple "awareness" isn't the whole story. It's also about reminding people to take care of themselves and get screened. Let's be honest, how many people have regular checkups to start with and of those who don't, how many are prioritizing a cancer screening enough to go in? It's more than just asking, "did you know"?
So that's not why I don't like it. I fully support it. We've all been impacted by it and I don't think there's really anyone who doesn't think the NFL should do something to help the cause.
My issue comes back to the pink awareness materials spanning for an entire week. Although I don't think any player would refuse, it's not mandatory. So what I have been seeing is a lot of pink to start the month of October and then a decline as the weeks go by until you're almost to November and only a couple players are wearing it and it looks a little out of place.
That's my only gripe. It just seems too long and is so weakly represented by the end of the month that it looks out of place. Plus, I guess a part of me is a traditionalist. I want the teams to look like they are supposed to look and wear their colors.
So, my suggestion is that Week 6 become a league-wide cancer awareness week. Works good because every team would play (unlike now). Also works good because it's almost always dead center of the month. And, here's what you do. Up the pink.......BIG TIME!
I'm talking significantly more pink during this week and that it be made mandatory. I want it to be known that the league is raising awareness and I want them to do it in a manner that leaves no doubt. As is I think gloves, towels, shoes and wristbands are what the players wear. Maybe more, I'm not sure but I would throw in socks, decals on the back of the helmets and belts. Maybe even go as far as changing the numbering on the jerseys to that pink color. I know I said I am a traditionalist but I believe in the old mantra, "if it's worth doing, it's worth doing right". Field paint. I'm talking endzones in pink. Benches on the sidelines in pink. I'd even go as far as handing out a pink towels or T-shirts with team logos on it to every fan that comes through. Graphics on the TV, pink. The first down line on TV, pink.
And I'd go one step further. Apparel in press conferences would be pink. I'd make the entire week SOLID PINK. I'd invite people who are battling cancer to come out and flip the coin before a game. I'd invite celebrities who have beaten cancer to accompany the coin flip.
Seriously, what is going to catch more attention? An entire month of tapering representation or 1 solid week where the entire league blitzes the hell out of people with the color pink? As is, I know it's a great gesture but it seems a little bit like lip service. I know they haven't been doing it all that long but there's definitely room for improvement. Wasn't it DeAngelo Williams who brought out the shoes? I mean, they could do more if they got their heads together and thought about it.
And I'll tell you one thing that would make the entire thing better. The league gets serious and works with DirecTV to let people stream (on DTV's site so they can get their advertising dough) any game for free during that week. DTV already does it for the first week of the season. At least they have in the past. Let everyone see any game they want in an effort to get the highest amount of viewers you can. I know this is a long shot because money is involved but when you're talking about doing stuff for a good cause, it can get done.
Divisional Weeks
Back to scheduling a little bit. When I first heard of the NFL's plan to make week 17 a division week to discourage resting, I thought it was kind of cheesy.
I didn't think it would really work but I ended up liking those games being divisional games. Seemed like a good way to kick off the playoffs.
Anyway, I've thought about divisional weeks as well.
I think having some divisional weeks will kind of cut down on the back-to-back divisional games and prevent back-to-back-to-back instances. I think it was last year that the Giants had to play the rest of the NFCE in a three week span, within the last 5 weeks of the season.
That's just shoddy scheduling. No team should have to do that. Divisional games are more heated, often times more closely contested and nearly always more physical. They went 2-1 during that stretch and then were blown out in back to back games to end the season. I believe they were borderline playoff-bound, it ended up not matter but still.....that's not what should have happened.
So, I think the NFL should have a few weeks that are solely divisional weeks.
I'll keep 17 as it is because I like it.
To that, I'd like to add weeks 2, 4, 6, 13 and 15.
I would really love to kick the season off with a divisional week but there's a couple reasons why I also think it is bad. I like the big time opening night Thursday rematch. Secondly, most teams aren't in full swing week 1. I don't think a teams should go into a divisional game sloppy. Teams are pretty sloppy week 1 so lets hold off until week 2.
I love week 6 as a divisional game because it's also the cancer awareness game. You're going to have HIGH, HIGH ratings and maximum exposure.
I like week 13. I like week 12 more but that's not really gonna work well with Dallas ALWAYS (like it should be) having a home game on T-Day.
But, what you would have is 3 divisional games early in the year and three divisional games late in the year. You'd have teams getting through their bye week, making adjustments and coming back for revenge late in the season.
Also, you keep those divisional races close towards the end of the year.
Well, just a few thoughts I've had for a while but never took the time to get em out.
Of course, this whole "vision" is dependent on the owners giving up on their "bait and switch" 18 game season.
Anyway, here goes.
Home/Away Divisional Alternating
I don't know how else to phrase this but I think the league needs to start alternating home and away games between divisional teams.
What I mean is, Dallas played @Philly for the second meeting this season. Next season, the second meeting should be in Dallas.
There was a period for a couple years where I swore that Dallas had to go to Philly for the second game. 03-05, I'm pretty sure Dallas went to Philly for the second meeting. It needs to alternate. Not really gonna elaborate too much. I think it just makes sense and would be an incredibly easy fix.
Bye Weeks
One of the biggest problems with current NFL scheduling is the bye week system.
Some teams have a bye week during week 4. Others have it during week 10.
Almost two months of bye weeks which is ridiculous long. Nobody can make a valid argument that it is beneficial to have it stretch out so long. I'd say a team having a bye around midseason is automatically at an advantage. Play 3 games and get to recover, or play 9 games and get to recover? Seems pretty simple.
Additionally, some weeks there are 4 teams on a bye, some weeks there are 6. It doesn't really make sense as to why the bye system is set up the way it is.
Lastly, the by should have some sort of system to determine WHEN a team has a bye and it should be as close to midseason as possible. One year you could get your bye early, the next you could get it late. It doesn't make sense to have it be dropped in whenever and where ever.
So here's what you do. Starting week 7, one team from each division gets a bye week. 8 teams per week for 4 weeks. That still leaves 24 teams to play 12 games.
Weeks 7, 8, 9 and 10 are the only weeks teams can have byes. They are about as close to the middle as you'd be able to get them and going any later then 10 kind of lets a team get a break too late.
Essentially you have 1 team from each division sitting out each week. Works out real nice because you still get a good number of games and you still have plenty of potential match ups to create.
But, here's the best part. The worst-place finisher from each division gets 1st pick of when they want their bye. Give some scheduling power to the teams. Let the teams that need the most help have a shot at controlling their fate a little bit.
3rd place gets second pick, 2nd place gets third pick and the division winner gets whatever is left over.
It's consistent, it's fair to the teams involved and it lets teams have a little say over what goes on.
Uniforms
This is one that has absolutely no shot of changing because it's a money-grab issue.
Is it just me or do some teams have a half a dozen uniforms? Maybe not that many but not counting throwbacks, some teams have like 3 or 4. Too damn many.
Teams need 3 jerseys. Home, Away and Throwback and if your team doesn't have enough history to have Throwbacks, you don't get them until you change your uniform and at which time you can use the jersey being replaced as a throwback.
3 uniforms, MAX.
And speaking of throwbacks (and here's why this idea will never work), how about we stop seeing a quarter of the league with throwbacks on every week.
They aren't throwbacks if they are worn almost every week. It's ridiculous and at times confusing. At other times the throwbacks are just so damn ugly they shouldn't be out there.
You get 1 week of throwbacks. ENTIRE LEAGUE (obviously not during weeks 7-10 because of the byes) wears them.
And hey, I've got an idea......Week 12 (rarely week 13) looks awfully good to me.
That's right. Thanksgiving week. What better day to bring the throwbacks out? Historical day where the whole country is stuffing their faces and watching football, I can't think of a better day. Plus, here's the bonus.
With 3 games on T-Day, you get to see A LOT of teams throwbacks. 3 games Thursday, 4 games Sunday and 1 game monday. Half the league sounds pretty good to me.
But, like I said. This is a money issue. 1 week of throwbacks would probably kill the throwback jersey sales.
Now, before I get to this next part about uniforms I want to put out a disclaimer that I am not anti-cancer awareness. That isn't what this is about.
Another thing about uniforms that I think needs to be changed is the entire cancer awareness, pink jerseys for a month stuff. I don't like it.
I've heard some people ask, "who isn't aware about cancer"? (I've even thought that myself in the past but after talking with some who are involved in cancer awareness programs I have quit thinking along those lines). To that I have to respond by saying that simple "awareness" isn't the whole story. It's also about reminding people to take care of themselves and get screened. Let's be honest, how many people have regular checkups to start with and of those who don't, how many are prioritizing a cancer screening enough to go in? It's more than just asking, "did you know"?
So that's not why I don't like it. I fully support it. We've all been impacted by it and I don't think there's really anyone who doesn't think the NFL should do something to help the cause.
My issue comes back to the pink awareness materials spanning for an entire week. Although I don't think any player would refuse, it's not mandatory. So what I have been seeing is a lot of pink to start the month of October and then a decline as the weeks go by until you're almost to November and only a couple players are wearing it and it looks a little out of place.
That's my only gripe. It just seems too long and is so weakly represented by the end of the month that it looks out of place. Plus, I guess a part of me is a traditionalist. I want the teams to look like they are supposed to look and wear their colors.
So, my suggestion is that Week 6 become a league-wide cancer awareness week. Works good because every team would play (unlike now). Also works good because it's almost always dead center of the month. And, here's what you do. Up the pink.......BIG TIME!
I'm talking significantly more pink during this week and that it be made mandatory. I want it to be known that the league is raising awareness and I want them to do it in a manner that leaves no doubt. As is I think gloves, towels, shoes and wristbands are what the players wear. Maybe more, I'm not sure but I would throw in socks, decals on the back of the helmets and belts. Maybe even go as far as changing the numbering on the jerseys to that pink color. I know I said I am a traditionalist but I believe in the old mantra, "if it's worth doing, it's worth doing right". Field paint. I'm talking endzones in pink. Benches on the sidelines in pink. I'd even go as far as handing out a pink towels or T-shirts with team logos on it to every fan that comes through. Graphics on the TV, pink. The first down line on TV, pink.
And I'd go one step further. Apparel in press conferences would be pink. I'd make the entire week SOLID PINK. I'd invite people who are battling cancer to come out and flip the coin before a game. I'd invite celebrities who have beaten cancer to accompany the coin flip.
Seriously, what is going to catch more attention? An entire month of tapering representation or 1 solid week where the entire league blitzes the hell out of people with the color pink? As is, I know it's a great gesture but it seems a little bit like lip service. I know they haven't been doing it all that long but there's definitely room for improvement. Wasn't it DeAngelo Williams who brought out the shoes? I mean, they could do more if they got their heads together and thought about it.
And I'll tell you one thing that would make the entire thing better. The league gets serious and works with DirecTV to let people stream (on DTV's site so they can get their advertising dough) any game for free during that week. DTV already does it for the first week of the season. At least they have in the past. Let everyone see any game they want in an effort to get the highest amount of viewers you can. I know this is a long shot because money is involved but when you're talking about doing stuff for a good cause, it can get done.
Divisional Weeks
Back to scheduling a little bit. When I first heard of the NFL's plan to make week 17 a division week to discourage resting, I thought it was kind of cheesy.
I didn't think it would really work but I ended up liking those games being divisional games. Seemed like a good way to kick off the playoffs.
Anyway, I've thought about divisional weeks as well.
I think having some divisional weeks will kind of cut down on the back-to-back divisional games and prevent back-to-back-to-back instances. I think it was last year that the Giants had to play the rest of the NFCE in a three week span, within the last 5 weeks of the season.
That's just shoddy scheduling. No team should have to do that. Divisional games are more heated, often times more closely contested and nearly always more physical. They went 2-1 during that stretch and then were blown out in back to back games to end the season. I believe they were borderline playoff-bound, it ended up not matter but still.....that's not what should have happened.
So, I think the NFL should have a few weeks that are solely divisional weeks.
I'll keep 17 as it is because I like it.
To that, I'd like to add weeks 2, 4, 6, 13 and 15.
I would really love to kick the season off with a divisional week but there's a couple reasons why I also think it is bad. I like the big time opening night Thursday rematch. Secondly, most teams aren't in full swing week 1. I don't think a teams should go into a divisional game sloppy. Teams are pretty sloppy week 1 so lets hold off until week 2.
I love week 6 as a divisional game because it's also the cancer awareness game. You're going to have HIGH, HIGH ratings and maximum exposure.
I like week 13. I like week 12 more but that's not really gonna work well with Dallas ALWAYS (like it should be) having a home game on T-Day.
But, what you would have is 3 divisional games early in the year and three divisional games late in the year. You'd have teams getting through their bye week, making adjustments and coming back for revenge late in the season.
Also, you keep those divisional races close towards the end of the year.
Well, just a few thoughts I've had for a while but never took the time to get em out.
