NFL Parity: Like it or hate it?

[kreepy]

This year it seems to me there is more parity among NFL teams than ever. On any given Sunday it seems a team with a bad record has a real shot against a team with a good record. There are many close games. Parity has been talked about for several years and maybe it is just me, but it seems more obvious this year than in past seasons.

I admit I am on the fence with parity still. I have been watching NFL games for decades and go back to the dynasty eras among teams like the Cowboys, Packers, Steelers, etc. That's not to say there aren't other, or more recent, dynasties as well (listing all of them is not the purpose of my post).

In many ways I liked it when you knew the Cowboys were going to steam over certain teams in their schedule each year. I could also tell which games were going to be THE critical games in a given year. I would get up for those games weeks in advance. It also seemd like the players were a lot more dedicated to their teams and fans.

I really enjoy the parity today too, though. It's great to see the new teams that seem to pop up as power houses each year. There are soooo many upsets and close, exciting games.

So here's my question. Do you think true parity exists today and do you like it over those "dynasty years"?

 

[big dog cowboy]

Do you think true parity exists today and do you like it over those "dynasty years"?

Yes and no.

 

[jgboys1]

It is good if your team is a dynasty (Yankees) or bad if your team is not (Royals). It would suck if you live in KC during baseball season and your team is out of it by May 1st, but KC during football season, the Chiefs are on there way back to being good again. That would never happen with out a cap.
So yes, I like parity.

 

[STSINAZ]

look at how many teams that won their division last year that wont make the playoffs....san fran, us, vikings, chargers, bengals...thats crazy, its like except for a few teams the records are inverted right now comparing this year to last...

 

[SkinsandTerps]

The Cowboys don't have a good record.

Am I missing something here ?

 

[dadymat]

i dont like it mainly because it has produced bad football.....i dont want bad teams to be able to beat good teams

 

[Royal Laegotti]

I think the NFL has the best balance between having parity and having a dynasty in the midst of it. I wish the NBA and MLB had alittle more balance as the NFL does. I get sick of the Lakers and the Yankees.

 

[Tusan_Homichi]

Parity in the NFL doesn't turn the game into a crapshoot. Some teams, like the Patriots, are good consistently. It just takes good personnel guys and coaching to maintain it.

I like it the way it is now.

 

[Hoofbite]

Good franchises overcome parity.

Patriots
Colts
Eagles
Steelers

I couldn't care less about it. If Dallas isn't winning, I don't care who is.

 

[Tusan_Homichi]

Good franchises overcome parity.

Patriots
Colts
Eagles
Steelers

I couldn't care less about it. If Dallas isn't winning, I don't care who is.

Exactly. The system rewards teams that are well-run and doesn't allow someone to buy a championship.

I like it.

 

[Royal Laegotti]

Exactly. The system rewards teams that are well-run and doesn't allow someone to buy a championship.

I like it.

That's really a good way of putting it. I like it.

 

[VACowboy]

I think "parity" is actually the wrong word. "Parity" in the NFL would mean all 32 teams are equally good, which is obviously not the case. There are no dominant dynasties anymore, but, as some have pointed out, some NFL organizations are consistently better than most of the others.

A better word is "fairness," upon which I believe the NFL system is built. Everyone has the exact same opportunities to win, with market size and resources minimized as factors as far as they can be.

I really don't give a rat's *** either way, though. The only team I care about is the Cowboys.

 

[Mash]

Year after year......teams in baseball like the Yanks can buy a playoff spot.....when they fail to win a championship....they go out and buy more players.

I dont want the NFL to be like that....sure the Cowboys and other high market teams would benefit but I actually like watching a sport that every team has a equal chance....and championships are won buy good mangements..solid drafts...and some luck.

What I dont want to see is a sport that is watered down with too many teams. The NHL is a perfect example on having too many teams...

I think the NFL is doing it right.....sure it needs to work on the rookie salary cap...and I hope the CBA gets resolved...but overall.....it has the best system in the top 4 sports here in North America.

 

[Patton]

It is good if your team is a dynasty (Yankees) or bad if your team is not (Royals). It would suck if you live in KC during baseball season and your team is out of it by May 1st, but KC during football season, the Chiefs are on there way back to being good again. That would never happen with out a cap.
So yes, I like parity.

The Royals don't suck because of a lack of parity, they suck because they are poorly run. Their organization is pretty much a knock off of the Braves and they'll take any of their old cast offs. They're also mired in "old school" think and one of the teams that places little value on sabermetrics/advanced statistical analysis. Year after year, organizations that are run well prove you can win without a bloated payroll in baseball. I'm not arguing that having money doesn't help, but it's not essential and the game doesn't lack parity because of the lack of a cap.

 

[STSINAZ]

the nfl cant be like any other sport...there are too many positions at risk and the only way to play football successfully is through teamwork...you cant buy a team because of several reasons:

1-those players usually get paid alot and they become individualistic based off of their proposed selfworth....sound familiar at all?

2-it takes time to mesh per say...and if you keep buying teams they dont have time to do that...i.e. the Commanders....

so these stupid owners that get involved in their teams...this is what they do...they try and buy a championship and it hasnt worked yet...skins, cowboys, raiders and bengals....and it will never work in football...basketball is a different story because there are only 5 positions to worry about on o and d....in football you have to worry about 22 and pretty much 26 ---- bill parcells, bill belichek have it right...we just got parcells at the end ...if we would have had him 10 years earlier and had an owner that stayed out of the way, we would probably have another superbowl...oh thats right 10 years earlier we did have a bill parcells type of coach...and an owner that stayed out of the way...and we won 3! isnt that something....we just need a team and a coach that will bring it all together with accountability and we can do it...

 

[Clove]

I like the parity, teaches you to spend wisely, get great coaching, it just forces you to do things the right way.

 

[Venger]

I hate parity, hate what it's becoming in the NFL, but parity does not explain this utter abortion of a football team that is your... Dallas... Cowboys...

 

[PullMyFinger]

I hate parity, hate what it's becoming in the NFL, but parity does not explain this utter abortion of a football team that is your... Dallas... Cowboys...

Amen, I hate it also. Parity is a dynasty destroyer, Dallas and San Fran comes to mind. Teams shouldnt be punished for being good, thats what parity does. I really miss those old Dallas teams.

 

[Royal Laegotti]

Amen, I hate it also. Parity is a dynasty destroyer, Dallas and San Fran comes to mind. Teams shouldnt be punished for being good, thats what parity does. I really miss those old Dallas teams.

I don't think parity destroyed the Cowboys dynasty as much as Jerry's bone headed decisions did. New England built a dynasty and did it with smart decisions, good coaching and good management which translated onto the field. The Cowboys have none of that.

 

[Rogah]

This year it seems to me there is more parity among NFL teams than ever.

With all due respect, people say that every year.

In many ways I liked it when you knew the Cowboys were going to steam over certain teams in their schedule each year. I could also tell which games were going to be THE critical games in a given year. I would get up for those games weeks in advance. It also seemd like the players were a lot more dedicated to their teams and fans.

I think that's a bit naive. The players weren't dedicated to fans or a certain team. It was a simple matter that there was the reserve clause so a player was essentially the indentured property of whatever team drafted him for his entire career (or until they no longer want him). Such a system simply can not exist in today's sports world.

And also, even during the "dynasty years" - no matter who's dynasty we are talking about - you would still see upsets.