Is the NFL manipulating things, only as so far as other factors throw in their manipulations. For example, the NFL wants a league of winners to draw in people. Some teams are NOT designed to go for the SB. If they win, great, it not, its not their goal. Making money is their goal. Thats the bottom line on that. So the league cant get a winner out of everyone regardless what they try. Thats life.
The NFL has to cater to a ton of factors, workers, players, talent pool, stadiums, its brand, owners, union, rules, future, media and has to tip toe a lot. If the NFL did nto WANT to maniuplate anything, the league of parity would be over, but its not. Its deal is try to make a winner of everyone, yet as i said, not everyone wants to be a winner. They also manipulated rules to get more touch downs to get more fans, but this leads to other factors blinking in their face. Remember, everyone is for equality and the team, until they bring up their contract, than they can care less. (not all players). This is backed by the fact, WR's will tell the QB they get the touchdowns, Qbs tell the team they are the generals, the offensive line says they protect everyone, and the runners tell everyone else they work hard to, but the league doesnt play everyone equal. Than the league says, well, lets try to make everyone as equal as we can, than you have teams winning when people are screaming "how does a 8-8 team win the division and go to the playoffs while my 10-6 team is sitting home"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
There is so much more to discuss, but i dnt think to many want to get into it or argue over it. At least from my stand point, the league will put the league first, and the rest second as best they can.
