When Jerry Jones talks, people listen. And in the NFL, those people include Roger Goodell.
And now that Jerry and Roger and the league are considering expanding the playoffs, it’s likely going to happen. Which, in my book, doesn’t necessarily make it a good thing.
As in, if ain’t broke don’t fix it.
The NFL, per the commish, is seriously considering adding a 7th seed to each the playoff field in each conference beginning in 2015. The 7th seed would play its first-round game at the No. 2 seed, meaning only the two teams with the best record in each conference would receive first-round byes.
I get it. Bigger is better and more bigger is even more better. But why monkey with a system that last weekend delivered such dramatic entertainment in the form of three games decided by three points or less? Add a No. 7 playing at a No. 2 and we might see ugly blowouts. Because we all know that – unless you’re the ’07 Mavericks – top seeds don’t lose in the first round of the post-season.
The current system works. And, besides, even the new tweaked system wouldn’t help Jones’ Cowboys.
Another home game means more revenue and an expanded field allows mediocre teams like Dallas more hope. But during their 8-8 malaise the Cowboys wouldn’t have made the playoffs even via expansion.
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In 2008 the 8-8 Cowboys finished 8th in the NFC. In ’11 they finished 10th. In ’12 they were ninth. And after this year’s 8-8 the Cowboys wound up ninth.
So expanded playoffs or not, the Cowboys have to be better. We don’t need Jones and Goodell to tell us that.
A native Texan who was born in Duncanville and graduated from UT-Arlington, Richie Whitt has been a mainstay in the Metroplex media since 1986. He’s held prominent roles on all media platforms including newspaper (Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Dallas Observer), radio (105.3 The Fan) and TV (co-host on TXA 21 and numerous guest appearances, including NBC 5). He currently writes a sports/guy stuff blog at DFWSportatorium.com and lives in McKinney with his fiancee, Sybil, and two very spoiled dogs.
