Allen's take on seeding proposal

Had a quick chat with general manager Bruce Allen earlier today, and it's clear where the Bucs stand on the league's proposal that calls for a dramatic change to the way teams are seeded in the playoffs.

The proposal, if passed at the owners meetings next week, would mean seeds 3 through 6 in each conference would be determined by overall record. That means the division champs would no longer be assured a top-four seed in the postseason. It also means the Bucs would have been seeded behind the Giants and played on the road in 2007.

The Bucs are not going to vote in favor of this and are likely to try to influence others, too.

"It's a strange time to make this proposal," Allen said. "Two of the last three Super Bowl winners (the Steelers and Giants) have (gotten there) by playing on the road. We've always, as a league, treated division champs as special. I really don't know what they hope to accomplish."

The Bucs are clearly protecting their interests here, which is their right. The NFC South is often won by a large margin, so the winner would have the luxury of resting key players like the Bucs did in '07. The fear is the Bucs could be in a similar position this fall and have this rule be applied to them. Knowing their position on resting starters heading into the playoffs, guess it's kind of predictable where they'd come down on this issue.

Comments

[mkurbo]

It would be a major mistake for the league (with an ever growing audience) to lessen the importance of division champions.

Everyone is pointing to the games that are "less" competitive at the end of the year, but there have always been teams that win early in the season and pull back towards the end of the season through-out the history of the NFL.

It will take away from division rivalries and if the Bucs win the division next year and don't gain a home playoff game - people will be mad as hell ! I say to those teams that are proponents of this change – go win your own division !!!

[John P]

It'd be nice to see a team try to win every game they play - and if they've got to change seeding rules to get that to happen then go right ahead. I'm sure ticket holders aren't thrilled with watching 3rd stringers play the last couple of games when they're paying full price to sit and watch it.

[Roger H]

Yep, have to agree with John P. Would be nice to see the team try to win every game for the seedings. Let's see, 2 meaningless preseason games you pay full price for, then the last 2 home games the team plays mainly back-ups and reserves to rest the stars, so 2 more games that get "thrown" at customers expense. If I still had my season tickets, those 4 meaningless games would still cost me $600 in ticket prices, $100 in parking costs, and gas money from Orlando to Tampa four times ... too much money to pay to watch chump games.

[What's Clackalackin]

Good or bad this will be a plus for Fantasy leagues. Nothing worse than starting someone who gets taken out after 1/4 or at halftime.

[Steve M]

Seeding teams by record, what a novel concept. No wonder they would be against it, I mean, how fair is that, determining it by wins and losses?

It's all about the money... the owners make a bundle for the extra game(s) in the playoffs.

Division Championships are what each team strives for during the season. To take that away would diminish the achievement...... I know it's tough for the fans that have paid hard earned money to attend the games and want to see the best possible product on the field,

....but I think the owners will vote this one down, by a large margin.

[Winston Richards]

So with this rule would it be possible for division winners to miss the playoffs completely?

[RD]

This is an intarded proposal. They might as well just eliminate conferences and divisions altogether, generate schedules involving all teams based on last years standings, and have a playoff tournament for the top 16 teams with seedings based on total wins and losses with consideration for strength of schedule included. Otherwise, just leave it alone!

[Stephen_Holder]

I should have been more clear. Here's the deal: the top two division champs in each conference get bye weeks. And the remaining two division champs are assured playoff spots, just not home games. That's really the only difference as far as I can tell. Check out the Sunday paper for some more detail.

[Stephen]

The playoff adjustment was gonna happen being alot of teams went into the last 2 games of the season with nothing to win or loose. I dont think this system needs to be messed with as this playoff structure has been in place for many years and in my opionion has not hurt the overall integrity of the game or changed the inevitable outcome. You normally would not get the flexibility the Bucs did last season if the other teams would have won a few more games and not been hit with the injury bug or legal system(FALCONS). I would agree that all games should count toward something but penalizing teams that have played great ball and put themselfs in a position to have the option to sit players is a reward for having a good regular season. I dont believe win an loss margins are always going to be so far apart which will negate the reasoning to alter the structure.

[Shane]

rd your propsoal is somewhat like how the college system works (notice how bad that system works) and I'm all for that new rule getting passed because if you've won more games than the team your playing in the wild card round you should play at home. who knows what would have happened to the Giants if they had played the Buccaneers at Giants stadium(Giants went 3-5 at home) maybe the bucs would have gotten past the first round, but then again maybe not.

[DR]

This is a new playoff system since the NFL went to the new 4 division alignment in the early 2000's. Going to the 4 division alignment lessened the impact of winning the division itself. Winning a division in this new format is far easier than winning a division in a 3 division format so winning a division realy isn't a big deal. It was quite obvious last year that the Giants winning 10 games in the toughest division in the league should have deserved a spot over a team that won 9 games in a weak division. That would have worked in favor of the Bucs since the Giants couldn't win at home.
This decision would be in the best interest of the fan, who can almost guarantee he/she will see a meaningful game at the end of the season. I hope this goes through.
Stephen, March 29, 2008 at 03:55 PM
, division winners with 10 or fewer wins in a season can't be considered to be playing great ball.

[Joe Simmons (Slow Joe)]

I hope it goes through. I hated that the Bucs tanked it the last three games. The Giants played their butts off in a meaningless game against the Patriots at the end of the regular season, and look what happened to them. The football gods smiled upon them.

You should have to play to win every single game.

[Kurt]

DR, when you understand the concept of seeing the forest through the trees, please feel free to post again. Until then, keep your infantile comments to yourself. You truly have no concept of dignity and utterly no understanding of the game. We won 9 games because we basically took the last 4 games off bozo without numerous starters in the line-up. Get a grip and worry about how your Cowboys will be tailspinning right out of the playoff picture with the eminent signing of Pac-Booty Snack-Man Jones! Such integrity there in big D! You must be proud! I'm just saying...

[DR]

What you're saying is you're a complete moron. It went from taking 2 games off to 4 now. Great call for a coach to have his low rated offense take time off. That makes sense.
No integruty for going after Pacman Jones? What did he do that was so bad? He made it rain in a strip club and people went crazy, that's his fault? That's been done many times. He's not even being charged anymore. His lawyer may sue the NFL for taking harsh action with no backing. You criticize the 'Boys for going after a talented player with minor troubles but support the Bucs for signing a r@pist who will serve jail time for a flagrant DUI with no talent. Yeah, you're an idiot.

[John]

Here we go with the Gruden bashing again. Dr, you are a complete tool. You are defending pac-man?....Dude you need help.

[Kurt]

Wow! And I thought you couldn't get any dumberer DR. I guess my pet name (Doofus Ray) suits you well. I'm pretty sure I don't need to say anything; you pretty much shot yourself in the foot...again!!!

HAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

[DR]

And again, Kurt provides nothing to back any of her statements. Name a Cowboys player that could not be handled in the locker room or on the field?
The Cowboys will be tailspinning out of the playoffs? What moronic reasoning could you possibly have? Last time I checked, the Cowboys have been to the playoffs the last two years? When was the last time the Bucs have made back to back playoff appearances? Oh yeah, that wasn't under the "great" coach Gruden.
Go ahead and come back with another stupid statement. You provide nothing to these blogs.

[DR]

Did you know that "DR" stands for "Dallas Retard"? I bet you didn't!!! I love weiners too.

[Kurt]

Stupid.