22 replies to this topic

[warthog]

Neutral Sites For Conference Title Games?
Posted by Mike Florio on March 30, 2009, 10:24 a.m.

With the NFL possibly expanding the regular season and with the NFL not inclined to start the regular season earlier than it already does, the conference championship games could be moved deeper into each new year.

As Liz Mullen of SportsBusiness Journal reports, there’s a chance that the AFC and NFC title games could land in February, during one of the all-important ratings “sweeps” periods.

(As we’ve previously pointed out, the Super Bowl also could end up being played on President’s Day weekend, giving many football fans the ability to stay up late and/or get snockered without having to worry about getting up for work the next day. Reports surfaced last week that such a move likely would prompt NASCAR to move the Daytona 500, which historically occurs that same day.)

Given that the weather only gets worse in cities like Green Bay and Chicago and New York and Foxborough and Pittsburgh and Buffalo as January gives way to early February, Mullen points out that the championship games could be moved to a neutral site.

We don’t like this possibility. Not one bit. Especially since the teams that regularly play in the potential neutral sites would potentiall have an unfair advantage, if they qualify for one of the games.

The only way to avoid such an outcome would be to send the AFC game to stadiums in which an NFC team normally plays its home games, and to send the NFC game to an AFC stadium.

Even then, it might be a challenge to sell the games out in a neutral location — and it would be grossly unfair to the fans of the team that secures the right to host the championship game.

Besides, winter is football weather. And if anyone thinks that freezing conditions create an unfair advantage for the home team, ask Packers fans what they got in exchange for free-drying their cajones for three-plus hours in January 2008.

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It has been a long time dream of mine to see a AFC Championship game in Arrowhead. I've actually had the tickets in my possession three times that would got me in the gate and we could have actually had it there if we would have won. Thanks L*n El&io(!!!!

[Bru]

Screw that, PO games in Gilette are kick ass. That sucks..

[Lady in Red]

This is BS. As stated football is a sport played in the winter, the players know full well that any week may bring a game in rain, sleet, or snow. Warm, cold, they play in it all. So why take the hard earned home team advantage away. That counts out a lot of teams.

[warthog]

Lady in Red, on Mar 30 2009, 11:05 AM, said:

This is BS. As stated football is a sport played in the winter, the players know full well that any week may bring a game in rain, sleet, or snow. Warm, cold, they play in it all. So why take the hard earned home team advantage away. That counts out a lot of teams.

You're right. If the warm weather teams want it to be fair then they should make sure they have a better record than the cold weather teams.

[Raised on Riots]

Extend the season, suck it up, and play in the weather.

See? That wasn't too difficult.

[Lady in Red]

Last time I checked this was not a sport made up of a bunch of pussies. Although with the frickin whiny players and new rules maybe I am wrong.

[Dom]

this is pretty stupid... extend the season and still have home field advantage

[ChiefsChick23]

This is crap. When did pansies take over the NFL? God forbid somebody have to wear a fucking sweater to a game.

[Lady in Red]

ChiefsChick23, on Mar 30 2009, 12:52 PM, said:

This is crap. When did pansies take over the NFL? God forbid somebody have to wear a fucking sweater to a game.

Didn't you get the memo, Goodell just annouced the NFL is now the NPL

[ChiefsChick23]

Lady in Red, on Mar 30 2009, 12:55 PM, said:

Didn't you get the memo, Goodell just annouced the NFL is now the NPL

I hear next year they are going to make sacking quarterbacks illegal, and a it'll be a 15 yard penalty for cussin' on the field.

[Lady in Red]

ChiefsChick23, on Mar 30 2009, 12:56 PM, said:

I hear next year they are going to make sacking quarterbacks illegal, and a it'll be a 15 yard penalty for cussin' on the field.

2 game suspension if you give the opposing team a dirty look

[Bru]

I think this just gives the softer dome teams a better chance instead of playing in places like Lambeau and all the other "real" football stadiums. The Colts' would have made the SB a lot sooner had they not had to visit NE in Gilette in every PO run..

God forbid they have to play in the elements..

[HG]

Hell, Just get rid of the bye week during the season and that damn week off the week before the SB, Problem solved,

[ChiefsChick23]

Bru, on Mar 30 2009, 01:00 PM, said:

I think this just gives the softer dome teams a better chance instead of playing in places like Lambeau and all the other "real" football stadiums. The Colts' would have made the SB a lot sooner had they not had to visit NE in Gilette in every PO run..

God forbid they have to play in the elements..

Yep, god forbid they get their tootsies wet or their uniforms dirty, eh?

[OctoberLady]

ChiefsChick23, on Mar 30 2009, 04:07 PM, said:

Yep, god forbid they get their tootsies wet or their uniforms dirty, eh?

It's their shoes they're worried about getting dirty. Must be it.

[Lady in Red]

OctoberLady, on Mar 30 2009, 04:23 PM, said:

It's their shoes they're worried about getting dirty. Must be it.

They don't want to break a nail, they pay good money on those manicures. The sad thing is mos players aren't whiny bitches, but as with everything a few ruin it for the whole group

[Zig]

I never thought I'd miss Tagliabue but Goodell really needs to go. I hate every last one of his ideas. Teams fight all year to get HFA and now that might get taken away?

[Lady in Red]

Zig, on Mar 30 2009, 06:15 PM, said:

I never thought I'd miss Tagliabue but Goodell really needs to go. I hate every last one of his ideas. Teams fight all year to get HFA and now that might get taken away?

Only if you live where it gets cold or snows...THAT'S DISCREMANATION

[Bru]

ChiefsChick23, on Mar 30 2009, 04:07 PM, said:

Yep, god forbid they get their tootsies wet or their uniforms dirty, eh?

Not to mention playing in the cold and with wind and snow?? Good grief what do they expect from them?