A Better "Division" of NFL Talent

[wthigoot]

They should also rename the divisions like they used to in the NHL, so nobody except diehard fans had any clue who was where.
e.g., the Madden, Nagurski, Graham, Brown divisions. Of course, they'd find a way to screw it up and have a Rozelle/Goodell division that nobody'd want to be in.

I think in keeping with the NHL the Rozelle and Goodell would be conferences so that no one could avoid them. Not sure which one the Raiders would choose if they were allowed to choose.

NFC = Rozelle Conference
AFC = Goodell Conference

Radagast is being way too sensible putting teams together geographically. It will never (be allowed to) work.

[wthigoot]

TV money runs the league. All other money is almost an order of magnitude less.

How does Jerry make more money if he is on TV less because he gets smaller TV markets?

I agree that ticket pricing and attendance are issues, but the solution won't be to move Dallas. Its been brought up before and none of the Division wants them to move.

Isn't that why long ago Atlanta and New Orleans were in the NFC "West"? I think that was pre-Jerry even.

Well maybe part of it was that only the Rams and 49ers were actually out west then. Seattle was in the AFC where (I think) they should have stayed, and the Cardinals were in St. Louis.

[Radagast]

Isn't that why long ago Atlanta and New Orleans were in the NFC "West"? I think that was pre-Jerry even.

Well maybe part of it was that only the Rams and 49ers were actually out west then. Seattle was in the AFC where (I think) they should have stayed, and the Cardinals were in St. Louis.

Yes, the NFL does have a long history of adding new teams, reorganizing both the Conferences/Divisions and the markets that they play in. Before the AFL and the NFL merged, the Pittsburgh Steelers were one of the oldest NFL teams and they landed in the AFC, as did Cleveland and Cincinnati. In addition, teams relocate as well. The Cardinals, Oilers, Colts, Raiders, Rams, and the Chargers come to mind.

Change has and will continue to be a part of the NFL. Will small market teams like Buffalo and Jacksonville survive. A Miami/Jacksonville rivalry could put new life into these teams.

[KYPack]

Yes, the NFL does have a long history of adding new teams, reorganizing both the Conferences/Divisions and the markets that they play in. Before the AFL and the NFL merged, the Pittsburgh Steelers were one of the oldest NFL teams and they landed in the AFC, as did Cleveland and Cincinnati. In addition, teams relocate as well. The Cardinals, Oilers, Colts, Raiders, Rams, and the Chargers come to mind.

Change has and will continue to be a part of the NFL. Will small market teams like Buffalo and Jacksonville survive. A Miami/Jacksonville rivalry could put new life into these teams.

This is a pretty cool thread, Rad. Baltimore, Cleveland, and Pittsburgh moved from the NFL to the AFC. Cincinnati was an AFL expansion team What the hell, it is all the NFL anyway. They moved to make the Conferences (NFC AFC) even with 13 teams each in '70 .

In the 3 seasons prior, the NFL had 16 teams. So they went to four 4 team divisions. This created one of the goofiest, most bastardized alignments in NFL history. The Coastal Division - SF, LA, Baltimore, & Atlanta. This made no sense and was the main reason Baltimore was happy to move to the AFC. That realignment also created the Capitol division. The blood feud between the Cowboys and Redskins was forged in that alignment.

A current re-alignment based on the thoughts in this thread? Maybe, but I don't see much of a revenue bump that would cause that to happen.

[Radagast]

This is a pretty cool thread, Rad. Baltimore, Cleveland, and Pittsburgh moved from the NFL to the AFC. Cincinnati was an AFL expansion team What the hell, it is all the NFL anyway. They moved to make the Conferences (NFC AFC) even with 13 teams each in '70 .

Your right, the Bengals played their 1st AFL season in 1968 and were a part of the AFL/NFL merger in 1970.

Change has always been a part of the NFL's history. Expansion teams, teams relocating, competing leagues and more are a part of it. I used to enjoy NFL Europe before it folded. Will the future see NFL teams in London, Barsalonia, and Mexico City? Will the NFL ever see a 40 team League? Could we someday see the Super Bowl played outside of the United States? If the past is any vision of the future, then anything is possible.

[pbmax]

Isn't that why long ago Atlanta and New Orleans were in the NFC "West"? I think that was pre-Jerry even.

Well maybe part of it was that only the Rams and 49ers were actually out west then. Seattle was in the AFC where (I think) they should have stayed, and the Cardinals were in St. Louis.

Yep. Part of that is Washington though. That franchise saw itself as the team of the South for a long time. So they were happy to try to limit the competition for those eyeballs.

[mraynrand]

If they're going to rename any divisions, I would prefer they call it the Leaders and the Legends. Yup, that is the winning ticket.

Now pass me another New Coke.

lol

[Radagast]

Moving Baltimore to the AFC East might just shake up that "NE" division. In addition, if Miami were in the AFC South. they might just turn their team around as well.

There is always a way to persuade people to change and Jerry Jones is no different. Show him that moving to the NFC South would be in his benefit and even he would accept a division change.

Here's another idea, an 8 team expansion to 40 teams. Cities like St.Louis, San Diego, Oklahoma City, Portland, and others may be interested in being an NFL city. Some have had some practice and could do better this time around. Just think of it a new team for each division. Could London and/or Mexico City come on board?

[Cheesehead Craig]

Moving Baltimore to the AFC East might just shake up that "NE" division. In addition, if Miami were in the AFC South. they might just turn their team around as well.

There is always a way to persuade people to change and Jerry Jones is no different. Show him that moving to the NFC South would be in his benefit and even he would accept a division change.

Here's another idea, an 8 team expansion to 40 teams. Cities like St.Louis, San Diego, Oklahoma City, Portland, and others may be interested in being an NFL city. Some have had some practice and could do better this time around. Just think of it a new team for each division. Could London and/or Mexico City come on board?

No evidence that Jerry would make more money. He would probably hate losing the exposure to the NY TV market, which gets a lot of national exposure.

Hell no to 8 more teams. There's enough crappy teams already and an even bigger no to London or Mexico City as locations. London is a completely non-viable location due to travel issues and Mexico City hasn't seem to host a game without major issues. Plus, good luck getting players to want to live there.

[Radagast]

No evidence that Jerry would make more money. He would probably hate losing the exposure to the NY TV market, which gets a lot of national exposure.

There's no evidence to say that he would not make more money either. A market study would need to be made. The NY Region gets no more exposure than the Atlanta Region or the LA Region or any other. Also, TV revenues are paid to the league and divided equally among all of the teams. In addition, NY watches Giants and Jets focused broadcast. Now Jerry may get great regional exposure in the Dallas Region, but his team programing is not seen outside of his region unless it is through some expensive satellite or internet source. At this point expanding Dallas team gear sales would depend on either winning a SB or marketing his team in new markets like London or Mexico City.

Switching Dallas to the NFL South could get more exposure to market areas closer to Dallas. Atlanta, New Orleans, and The Tampa Bay Region are not small markets and a new rivalry or two could foster old/new Cowboy fans to want to buy new hats and jerseys and more.

Posting your opinion and expecting me to accept it as fact just won't work. At least I allow that a study would need to be made.

[mraynrand]

There's no evidence to say....
Posting your opinion and expecting me to accept it as fact just won't work.

we're all guessing/estimating here, no?

[Anti-Polar Bear]

I am in favor of a 40 teams, 20 weeks, 18 playoffs teams, conference-less NFL. Win your division and receive prom invitation. Use the Moby-Iverson Formula to determine wildcard tiebreakers and playoffs seedings. Or just create a playoff committee that includes Barry Alvarez.

It has been, what, 52 years since Loving vs Virginia. Time to get rid of conference segregation. I, for one, would like to see a Packers-Lions Super Bowl.

[SudsMcBucky]

There's no evidence to say that he would not make more money either. A market study would need to be made. The NY Region gets no more exposure than the Atlanta Region or the LA Region or any other. Also, TV revenues are paid to the league and divided equally among all of the teams. In addition, NY watches Giants and Jets focused broadcast. Now Jerry may get great regional exposure in the Dallas Region, but his team programing is not seen outside of his region unless it is through some expensive satellite or internet source. At this point expanding Dallas team gear sales would depend on either winning a SB or marketing his team in new markets like London or Mexico City.

Switching Dallas to the NFL South could get more exposure to market areas closer to Dallas. Atlanta, New Orleans, and The Tampa Bay Region are not small markets and a new rivalry or two could foster old/new Cowboy fans to want to buy new hats and jerseys and more.

Posting your opinion and expecting me to accept it as fact just won't work. At least I allow that a study would need to be made.

Except that the current NFC South is true rivalries already. They bleed over from college football with Georgia, Carolina, Florida, and Louisiana. Swapping out Carolina for Dallas would only actually dilute both the current TRUE NFC South rivalry that already exists AND weaken the NFC East rivalry between Dallas and the Skins/Giants/Iggles.

[Cheesehead Craig]

There's no evidence to say that he would not make more money either. A market study would need to be made. The NY Region gets no more exposure than the Atlanta Region or the LA Region or any other. Also, TV revenues are paid to the league and divided equally among all of the teams. In addition, NY watches Giants and Jets focused broadcast. Now Jerry may get great regional exposure in the Dallas Region, but his team programing is not seen outside of his region unless it is through some expensive satellite or internet source. At this point expanding Dallas team gear sales would depend on either winning a SB or marketing his team in new markets like London or Mexico City.

Switching Dallas to the NFL South could get more exposure to market areas closer to Dallas. Atlanta, New Orleans, and The Tampa Bay Region are not small markets and a new rivalry or two could foster old/new Cowboy fans to want to buy new hats and jerseys and more.

Posting your opinion and expecting me to accept it as fact just won't work. At least I allow that a study would need to be made.

You're ripping me on posting my opinion on an internet forum? Did you just get the internet?

Assuming the Cowboys join a new division will increase team apparel sales is faulty logic. Fans will buy apparel of their favorite teams regardless. I can't imagine the fan that says "Wow, the Cowboys are now in the NFC South, they are now my favorite team and I want to buy all new stuff of theirs". Doesn't happen. Guess what vast majority of gear is sold at stadiums, it's the home teams gear. There's no financial incentive for the Cowboys to switch stadiums and teams when their gear sales would be the same. They make their money at home games and primarily over the internet for sales of their gear. Rumor is you can get that stuff regardless of where you live and at any time of the day/night too.

It absolutely helps the Cowboys that they get to be broadcast in the NY/DC/Philly TV markets 2x season in each locale (those are the #1, 4 and 6 TV markets). The Cowboys are also quite often involved in the 3:30 CST TV slot which is broadcast over the majority of the country. This upcoming season they are the 3:30 game 6 times, the SNF game 3 times, and his annual Thanksgiving Day game and that's 10 games where his team is the national darling of NFL TV broadcasting w/o any special TV service. So there's no truth that he's not seen outside of his region. The NFC South offers nothing of an improvement for Dallas.

[ThunderDan]

we're all guessing/estimating here, no?

One thing we don't have to guess at is TV market.

NY, Phil, and DC vs. NO, Tampa and ATL.

I am picking group 1.