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PHILADELPHIA (May 20, 2003) -- The NFL playoffs offer plenty of excitement and entertainment in their current form.
Members of the league's Competition Committee came to that realization during a conference call a couple weeks ago. Their 8-0 vote against a proposal to add playoff teams for the 2003 season looks as if it will be enough to convince owners that they don't even have to take a vote of their own on the subject before adjourning their meetings here on May 21.
And that can only be a good thing.
I concede that one can make a legitimate argument that adding an extra playoff team in each conference, thus creating two more playoff games, is a sound business idea. Two more filled stadiums and two more games on television translate into more revenue. Why would any NFL owner oppose that?
Simple. By looking into the not-too-distant future, one can make an equally legitimate argument that the short-term pursuit of more money could have negative long-term repercussions.
Members of the league's Competition Committee came to that realization during a conference call a couple weeks ago. Their 8-0 vote against a proposal to add playoff teams for the 2003 season looks as if it will be enough to convince owners that they don't even have to take a vote of their own on the subject before adjourning their meetings here on May 21.
And that can only be a good thing.
I concede that one can make a legitimate argument that adding an extra playoff team in each conference, thus creating two more playoff games, is a sound business idea. Two more filled stadiums and two more games on television translate into more revenue. Why would any NFL owner oppose that?
Simple. By looking into the not-too-distant future, one can make an equally legitimate argument that the short-term pursuit of more money could have negative long-term repercussions.
