NFL to consider incentives for teams to play starters in late-season games

[Auggie]

1-4-10: Associated Press

Commissioner Roger Goodell says the NFL will consider offering incentives to teams playing late-season games to discourage them from resting their starters for the playoffs. Then the Patriots' leading receiver, Wes Welker, made the case against the idea by going down in a meaningless game against the Texans and will miss the playoffs.

:eyes:

Goodell said the league was sensitive to criticism of the Colts' decision to use backups the previous Sunday in a game they lost, ending their bid for a perfect season.

<snip>

Later, in an interview with CBS, Goodell said various incentives to prevent teams from benching starters will be considered. Such incentives could include awarding draft choices.

:wtf:

"We are considering a lot of different things," Goodell said. "I don't think you can punish them for not playing. The other thing that has to happen is you have to make it clear to the public that you are not going to be playing someone, like we do with our injury reports."

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/01/04/SPIV1BD21K.DTL#ixzz0bf0zeETA
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Fans aren't stupid. They understand the need to rest and protect players for the playoffs.

Draft choices? They can't be serious...

[joeybee12]

1. Wes Welker...

...that says it all about this stupid idea.

[Goblinmonger]

2. Allow me to play devil's advocate for a minute

I really don't know where I land on this issue, but I do see the other side. Yes, I love the NFL and absolutely understanding resting/saving for the playoff. But, what about the seat paying fan. Let's say I shell out $100+ for a seat many weeks in advance only to show up at the game to find that Stumpy, the third string QB, will be throwing the ball and not my fan favorite. That kind of sucks. Maybe they should let you know a week ahead that they aren't starting the names that bring people to the stadium and then give refunds on the tickets if you want. It would be kind of depressing for an NFL team that is headed for the playoffs to play to an empty stadium and not have local coverage. There are only 16 games, not like baseball of the NBA where one game doesn't mean all that much.

[caraher]

3. I don't like what the Colts did but

I have very hard time imagining what the league can realistically do about this. I don't think draft choices will make any difference - if you're a top Super Bowl contender it's all about THIS season!

[flvegan]

4. So, under such a program the hopeless Bucs could have sat

what they call their "starters" for this last game and maybe picked up a draft pick or two? Yeah, brilliant.

[trotsky]

5. I think the issue here is not so much teams like the Colts or Saints mailing it in...

but how teams in those positions mailing it in essentially gives other teams a "gimme" win to help them into the playoffs. That threatens the integrity of the postseason. If the Texans had gotten to face the Colts in one of those last two games, they would be in the playoffs right now instead of the Jets.

[BOSSHOG]

7. I don't know if the Saints were mailing it in

They have a fairly substantial injury list. Those on the bench more resembled a MASH unit then a football team. Drew Brees was probably the only legitimate protectee.

[Auggie]

8. I can't understand how the NFL would ever police such a thing

Who's to define what "mailing it in" is? There are legitimate reasons why you play late season games the way you play them.

[BOSSHOG]

6. What about the advertisers?

An NFL teams decides to play the scrubs which might turn off TV viewers?? If I were an advertiser I'd want a scrublike special rate and if I were a fan, say a loyal season ticket fan, I'd want a scrublike discount for my trouble in going to a non-game.

[Auggie]

9. Advertisers used to get rebates if estimated viewership did not materialize.

I think was the case in the 70's and 80's. Maybe it's still true today.

[Awsi Dooger]

10. Seed #3-#6 based on best record

That would take care of the vast majority of the problems. Get rid of the guaranteed home game for the #3 and #4 seeds.

It's rare for teams to sew up best record in the conference very early, so don't overreact to a situation like the Colts.

Every year the teams slotted toward #3 or #4 don't have much incentive in the final weeks. They correctly don't prioritize #3 above #4, and aren't worried about wild card teams who can't wrangle away the home field in the first round.

With only four teams in every division there's no reason to reward a home game. A playoff berth is enough.