Expansion Should it Take Place?

[Woodman]

The NFL would like to increase inventory, as evidenced by the expansion of the regular season from 16 to 17 games in 2021. At some point, 18 games will arrive. The next step would be expansion.

And that’s the step the league should not take, for one important reason. There aren’t enough good quarterbacks to go around for 32 teams.

There aren’t enough good quarterbacks to go around in part because there aren’t enough healthy quarterbacks. There aren’t enough healthy quarterbacks even though the league is bending over backwards to protect them, from aggressively flagging roughing the passer to not aggressively penalizing intentional grounding to not calling offensive holding as often as it happens, to allowing tackles to get a slight head start as they prepare to keep the quarterback from getting hit.





Expansion should be off the table for the NFL, indefinitely - NBC Sports

[OpIv37]

Ummmm no. First, as the article mentioned, there aren’t enough good QB’s to go around as it is.

Second, what city that could support an NFL team doesn’t already have one? St. Louis already lost the Rams twice. San Diego couldn’t keep the Chargers. Maybe San Antonio but the Cowboys and Texans aren’t going to support a 3rd team in the state.

International expansion isn’t viable. Canadians like the NFL but they want it on our side of the border skit doesn’t compete with the CFL. The interest just isn’t there in Europe and even if it was, the travel times and time zone differences just aren’t feasible. It’s bad enough for one game, let alone a whole season.

[Woodman]

Ummmm no. First, as the article mentioned, there aren’t enough good QB’s to go around as it is.

Second, what city that could support an NFL team doesn’t already have one? St. Louis already lost the Rams twice. San Diego couldn’t keep the Chargers. Maybe San Antonio but the Cowboys and Texans aren’t going to support a 3rd team in the state.

International expansion isn’t viable. Canadians like the NFL but they want it on our side of the border skit doesn’t compete with the CFL. The interest just isn’t there in Europe and even if it was, the travel times and time zone differences just aren’t feasible. It’s bad enough for one game, let alone a whole season.

Excellent Post

Maybe in about 100 years or so

[OpIv37]

Excellent Post

Maybe in about 100 years or so

It may not take that long. I've read some things about trying to revive supersonic jets. If supersonic travel becomes readily available, the distance to Europe won't be an issue.

Of course, that does nothing to solve the QB problem. Just look at our division. NE lucked into Brady for nearly two decades and Bledsoe put up stats even though he didn't win much, but those are the only 2 good QB's that franchise has ever had. The Fins had Marino then went two decades until they found Tua. We had Kelly and then went two decades until we found Josh. The Jets are on what? Year 30 of trying to replace Boomer Esiason (who wasn't even that good either)?

I could go on and on about teams with QB issues that stretch on for Years. The Broncos had one good year with Peyton at the end of his career, but other than that, they haven't had a good one since Elway retired. The Bears and Washington really haven't had good QB's in my lifetime. When they won, they did it with running and D, which doesn't really work anymore. The Browns.... don't get me started.

Adding teams will only water the QB pool down further, as the position becomes increasingly more important. Unless HS's and colleges get better about developing QB's, expansion doesn't make sense.

[Woodman]

Point made special QB's are very rare and right now today there's not enough when the league considers expansion. The win now mentality is the way it is and forever will be and that makes things even tougher. Then you rarely you stumble onto somebody that's in the right system and can flourish quickly. Brock Purdy would be my example of that.

[ticatfan]

We have a 18 game sked, I prefer 16.

[Woodman]

We have a 18 game sked, I prefer 16.

100% in agreement 17 games is too many .. I'd start the season 2 weeks earlier as well.

[YardRat]

Sure, why not. Put 4 in Europe and 4 in Central/South America/Canada, cut back to 16 games and three bye weeks and let 'er rip. 16 team playoffs.

[Woodman]

Sure, why not. Put 4 in Europe and 4 in Central/South America/Canada, cut back to 16 games and three bye weeks and let 'er rip. 16 team playoffs.

That's the spirit .....

[Mike13]

Maybe dont stick a second team in LA?