So much for parity, parity... watered down league

[LittleBoyBlue]

All the talk about parity and watered league.... and.... Pats are once again in contention for a chance at another title.... Colts are in it too....

 

[Eddie]

All the talk about parity and watered league.... and.... Pats are once again in contention for a chance at another title.... Colts are in it too....

Yep ... good coaching, excellent player evaluation, unselfish team players. Makes a big difference.

 

[Aikbach]

They are the creme of parity, I don't understand this assertion. Put them in another era and they would flounder like a live turducken.

 

[burmafrd]

One play - and the chargers win instead. Maybe two plays and the Ravens are in as well. NOW THAT IS PARITY.

 

[burmafrd]

And there is no doubt that even the 90's Bills would eat any of these teams for a snack.

 

[smarta5150]

The final scores are more evidence of the league's parity.

 

[windward]

All the talk about parity and watered league.... and.... Pats are once again in contention for a chance at another title.... Colts are in it too....

There are still elite, consistent championship contender teams like: The Pats and Colts Followed by a solid corps of consistent playoff contenders like the Eagles, Steelers, Chargers, Seahawks, Broncos, etc.... Parcells has brought us to the level where we are a borderline contender. A few more additions should imo put us in the upper echelon of NFL franchises.

These teams, though don't hold a candle to teams in the 70s 80s and early 90s

 

[dbair1967]

All the talk about parity and watered league.... and.... Pats are once again in contention for a chance at another title.... Colts are in it too....

when one conference's 1 and 2 seeds both lose, and the others barely win...that IS parity

David

 

[windward]

The final scores are more evidence of the league's parity.

Well, the games were entertaining this week.....

 

[smarta5150]

Well, the games were entertaining this week.....

I agree.

 

[burmafrd]

Ratings should be good- all games basically went down to the last minute and one went to OT. This is supposedly what the NFL wants.

 

[Aikbach]

Ratings should be good- all games basically went down to the last minute and one went to OT. This is supposedly what the NFL wants.

Until Cowboy fans secede from the league and develop a whole new league designed to play the Dallas Cowboys.

Seriously though, the league has more one hit wonders than a 1980s mix tape.

 

[CATCH17]

All the talk about parity and watered league.... and.... Pats are once again in contention for a chance at another title.... Colts are in it too....

Pretty sure the team that drafted #2 a year ago is playing in the NFC championship game.

If thats not parity then I dont know what is.

 

[dbair1967]

Seriously though, the league has more one hit wonders than a 1980s mix tape.

yeah it happens every yr...wonder when it will be our turn?

David

 

[windward]

yeah it happens every yr...wonder when it will be our turn?

David

2037.

 

[Aikbach]

2037.

That wouldn't be an act of parity, just a law of averages.

 

[dbair1967]

2037.

I think the correct answer will be:

a) the yr after Parcells leaves

David

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

Pretty sure the team that drafted #2 a year ago is playing in the NFC championship game.

If thats not parity then I dont know what is.

Actually.. thanks you helped make part of my point... our 2 assistant coaches move on to new team, new system and are one game away from SB.

Knocking the Pats for "one play here or one play there and they lose" or "they win all close games" is flat out ridiculous... they should be applauded for staying in games long enough to win them in the end... isnt that what matters ultimately... THE WIN??

 

[windward]

I think the correct answer will be:

a) the yr after Parcells leaves

David

you may be right. much more preferable than my attempt at the macabre.

 

[EastDallasCowboy]

Parity, atleast as far as potential to acquire talent, exists in this league.

Every team faces the same cap, gets to draft, gets a crack at FAs, etc.

Parity does not, however, exist in the two most crucial fields:

Talent evaluation and coaching.

The IND, SD, NE, PHI, and SEA's of the world are prennial contenders because they've got good talent evaluators (which has allowed them to draft blue chip guys and quality backups) and excellent coaching (not to mention, stable coaching).

On the flipside, you've got the OAK, ARI, WAS, HOU, and DET's of the league which suffer from chronicly bad talent evaluation (or a lack of picks to acquire talent such as WAS) and have a total lack of stability on the coaching staffs.

And in the middle of the league, you've got the teams in the middle of the pack. The teams with average talent acquisition and some level of coaching but certainly not on par with the top tier. This tier can be de-railed by injuries (CAR), can be sunk by poor coaching (NYG, ATL) or can catch lightning in a bottle (TEN, NO) on a result of an excellent pickup for their roster (V. Young, Brees, R. Bush) and some luck regarding injuries.

Each year you get a couple middle tier teams that make a temporary jump. Rarely are they able to maintain their elite status (it will be fascinating to see what NO can do next year)-but if the talent acquired is good enough, then it is possible for them to jump to the elite tier.

The point though is this. While any team can beat any other team "any given sunday" as they say, if you compare the body of work over the course of a season and then compare trends between seasons it becomes clear where a team falls. Sure Houston might beat Indianapolis one week....but there's no doubt that Indy is the superior franchise at this moment.

That's how I've been approaching the last few seasons.