burmafrd;1785248 said:
One of the complaints I have always had about this so called parity BS is that the league works so hard to bring down teams that were built carefully and with great skill just so that they do not embarrass the teams that stink it up because of greed and stupidity (Bungles, Cards). If they wanted real parity they would get rid of the Bidwells, Bensons and SNYDERS.
A whole bunch of teams all 7-9, 8-8, 9-7 is not a very exciting prospect. We need 3-4 teams in each conference to be 11-5 or better. The worst thing to me would be some 8-8 team getting all the way to the SB. It lowers the bar way too much.
I have said the same for years. Teams like the Cardinals, Bengals, Lions, etc. who never win anything should be sold off and their players put into a draft/lottery for the other teams. I wish the league would get rid of 8 teams and keep the number at 24 teams forever. If they want a team in a new market then that means someone has to go or move there, no new franchises as it has watered down the talent level throughout the league.
Of course, this will NEVER happen because the prime directive is about dollars not the quality of the games. More teams = more dollars for the league and owners.
To me, the heyday of the NFL was from the late 60s - mid 80s when there were a handful of teams who dominated the league and were in the playoffs nearly every year. They changed over time but usually didn't fall too far.
From the mid 80s on we have had a couple of dynasties but for the most part it has been the flavor-of-the-month, whatever team was hot that year.
Look at the 70s in particular: In the NFC you had the Cowboys, Vikings, Rams, & Commanders as the dominant teams (with the 49ERs & Cards thrown in for a couple of playoff years). Those 4 teams represented the NFC in ever SB and were in the playoffs almost every season of the decade.
In the AFC you had the Steelers, Dolphins, & Raiders (with the Colts & Broncos representing once each). There were a couple of other teams who made things interesting at times (Oilers, Patriots, Browns, & Bengals) but for the most part, those 3 teams dominated the playoffs.
In this decade you have the Patriots, Colts, & Eagles and that is about it. The NFC in particular has been a mishmash of teams every year (Rams, Giants, Falcons, Bucs, Eagles, Panthers, Seahawks, Bears, etc.).
The NFL is too watered down now and the inability of teams to retain quality players or to develop project players is killing the quality of the play on the field.
