NFL officially calls BUF-CIN no contest

[The Cooler King]

The owners will be voting on this today.



There was no perfect solution. I think compared to some of the ideas that were floated (remaking the game in week 1 and eliminating the SB bye week.addinf and 8th playoff team, trying to make them play 3 games in 2 weeks, etc) this is the least heavy handed. Nothing here is crazy. Weird yes. But a weird sitauation.

And a lot of people are still not happy.

Thoughts?

[UOK]

Should've called the game a tie and let that be that.

[The Cooler King]

Should've called the game a tie and let that be that.

I think tie has a lot more impact than no contest. No contest leaves more games impactful for week 18 than a tie would (for example the AFC North crown). And I don't know if you can draw a logical case for one or the other - so why not go less impact one?

[The Cooler King]

This is a helpful chart too:



Two observations:

1) If CIN-BAL WC matchup is subject to a coin flip for HFA I don't know why a possible KC-CIN divisional round isn't given that treatment. Other than one being a division matchup, it's basically the same situation.
2) I don't think they gamed out the KC loss, BUF loss, CIN win scenario. KC will get the bye, but had BUF and CIN completed their game, one of them would have passed KC. Obviously they're taking away KCs HFA advantage there, but not sure that's enough with the bye. Not sure what they could have done there, but feels like it should be one of BUF or CIN there. Perhaps should be CIN as they'd have normal tiebreaker over BUF?

[The Marshall Plan]

The owners will be voting on this today.



There was no perfect solution. I think compared to some of the ideas that were floated (remaking the game in week 1 and eliminating the SB bye week.addinf and 8th playoff team, trying to make them play 3 games in 2 weeks, etc) this is the least heavy handed. Nothing here is crazy. Weird yes. But a weird sitauation.

And a lot of people are still not happy.

Thoughts?

The league, players, owners and fans need to understand that this is a GAME first and for profit gladiatorial combat for our entertainment second.

Calling the game a no contest is fine by me. I could give two shits if this throws a monkey wrench into the playoff mapping or where games will be played.

We are literally talking about the life of another human being.

Anybody who feels that the location of a playoff game being changed over a human life is a problem can feel free to sacrifice themselves for it instead.

It’s football. We aren’t fighting for the freedom of the human race here. Folks need to lighten up and go with the flow.

[The Cooler King]

Well said TMP. I suppose I should probably feel some level of shame for debating it endlessly on Twitter today with people rather than just telling everyone to pound sand. But I do get to some degree why people care.

[Moriarty]

Well, Damar isn't going to get better or get worse based on whether they come up with a good solution or a bad solution.

They still have to decide on something and there's no reason not to strive for the best blend of fair/practical/finances/respectful you can come up with.

[The Marshall Plan]

Well said TMP. I suppose I should probably feel some level of shame for debating it endlessly on Twitter today with people rather than just telling everyone to pound sand. But I do get to some degree why people care.

I wasn’t trying to communicate that YOU were doing anything wrong. I’m talking about the concept of a playoff game being impacted because the league called a game no contest due to a game related life threatening injury.

People are going to discuss things. But to your point I do think everybody involved with the NFL needs to take a step back and be like OK this is someone’s son. It’s my understanding his mother was at the game. How would somebody like to be this guy’s mother and hear on the radio other people bitch about a game being moved or whatever because her son almost died?

You aren’t the only one with feelings of guilt here. I have NFL Game Pass and the day after I tried watching the game but they had it blocked off. That was not my best moment either.

[The Marshall Plan]

Well, Damar isn't going to get better or get worse based on whether they come up with a good solution or a bad solution.

They still have to decide on something and there's no reason not to strive for the best blend of fair/practical/finances/respectful you can come up with.

There’s a need for decorum here though. This game wasn’t called off because of the weather or whatever. Let’s have some class. There’s a guy literally clinging to life right now so others can eat chicken wings and watch football.

Yes the league needs to make a decision. That’s why Gooddell gets the big bucks. After that this doesn’t need to be a thing. And people in the media need to have some class, for a change, and shut down the appropriate playoff structure amongst the Chet From Oak Park crowd.

[The Cooler King]

And decorum is nice but you have to figure revenue and cost decisions were weighing strong here too (just realistically)

Anyways apparently NFL did have a cancelation policy in their rules, but was kind of hilariously short. I suspect NFL is gonna clean up the rules over who gets to decide cancellations/postponements in the future.

Underlying all of this is the likliehood that both teams kind of forced a cancelation that the league wasn't necessarily on board with and now we're getting negotiations due to that.

I think Taylor and McDermott likely made the right call to pack up and go home, but perhaps the league is going to want to have more pull in the future to force the issue in a similar circumstance (God forbid we see something like this again).

[Otis Day]

The owners will be voting on this today.



There was no perfect solution. I think compared to some of the ideas that were floated (remaking the game in week 1 and eliminating the SB bye week.addinf and 8th playoff team, trying to make them play 3 games in 2 weeks, etc) this is the least heavy handed. Nothing here is crazy. Weird yes. But a weird sitauation.

And a lot of people are still not happy.

Thoughts?

The league, players, owners and fans need to understand that this is a GAME first and for profit gladiatorial combat for our entertainment second.

Calling the game a no contest is fine by me. I could give two shits if this throws a monkey wrench into the playoff mapping or where games will be played.

We are literally talking about the life of another human being.

Anybody who feels that the location of a playoff game being changed over a human life is a problem can feel free to sacrifice themselves for it instead.

It’s football. We aren’t fighting for the freedom of the human race here.Folks need to lighten up and go with the flow.

I think this on a lot of topics. To be the best you have to beat the best, wherever that may be/take place.

[Ditka’s dictaphone]

It’s just the whole soap opera of professional sports entertainment and sports journalism.
However, what happened to Hamlin is real life and in my opinion this didn’t need to be chewed over until Damar is out of the woods.

[The Cooler King]

It’s just the whole soap opera of professional sports entertainment and sports journalism.
However, what happened to Hamlin is real life and in my opinion this didn’t need to be chewed over until Damar is out of the woods.

And then to that I say I hope the outcome is one where God forbid something like this happens in the future, some team doesn't feel like they have to trot out there and play. I feel like the decision to postpone and ultimately cancel were the right ones, but very likely were the result of the coaches/teams stepping up.

[o-pus #40 in B major]

There's no doubt that the actions of the teams were the correct and respectful things to do. My thought - and my hope - is that this sets a precedent for the league to follow if/and/or when such an unfortunate, life-threatening scenario should repeat itself.

Further, the real-time response that unfolded in the immediate aftermath of the event does illustrate the significant progress that the league has made toward increasing the safety of the game. As one who followed my initial career path as an ER Orderly, as a Respiratory Therapist, and as an ambulance EMT, I can state that an effective resuscitation - especially in the case of an acute and deadly heart arrythmia - is the result of a well-trained and well-equipped team of emergency health care specialists who are ready to go at a moment's notice and apparently that was the case - I believe that this is highly commendable.

There's certainly much more that the NFL should do to protect the health of the players in a violent sport, and it's obvious that progress has been made way too slowly. But if the game of tackle football is to survive as a national pastime and passion, it must continue to evolve into something with an overall better outcome for these tough and dedicated young fellows who put their bodies on the line for the entertainment of folks like us.

Just my two cents.

[HisRoyalSweetness]

The owners will be voting on this today.



There was no perfect solution. I think compared to some of the ideas that were floated (remaking the game in week 1 and eliminating the SB bye week.addinf and 8th playoff team, trying to make them play 3 games in 2 weeks, etc) this is the least heavy handed. Nothing here is crazy. Weird yes. But a weird sitauation.

And a lot of people are still not happy.

Thoughts?

This is an unprecedented situation and it was undoubtedly right the game was stopped and everyone wishes Damar Hamlin nothing but the very best and hope he recovers and recovers fully.

The league now has to figure out what to do next to see the season through to a conclusion whilst doing everything possible to ensure competitive integrity and fairness.

The idea of playing the Conference Championship Games at a neutral venue is an interesting one that perhaps they should consider adopting permanently.

In the FA Cup, the oldest Association Football cup tournament in the world dating back to 1872, the semi-finals have always been played at neutral venues. It used to be any large stadium that wasn't the home stadium of a team playing in that semi-final. Since 2008 the neutral venue for the semi-finals has been Wembley Stadium where the final is also played, a move made after it was rebuilt and one I've never liked because it diminishes the specialness of playing the final there, but the principle remains.

Now that the number one seeds in the NFL are the only teams that earn a bye week they get a double-advantage playing at home throughout the playoffs. The Conference's number one seed makes the Super Bowl 50% of the time and having home field advantage for every game is obviously a major factor. Playing the Conference Championship Games at neutral venues would lessen the beneficial impact on seeding if a game does have to be cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances and also make the playoffs a tad more unpredictable.

[The Cooler King]

The owners will be voting on this today.



There was no perfect solution. I think compared to some of the ideas that were floated (remaking the game in week 1 and eliminating the SB bye week.addinf and 8th playoff team, trying to make them play 3 games in 2 weeks, etc) this is the least heavy handed. Nothing here is crazy. Weird yes. But a weird sitauation.

And a lot of people are still not happy.

Thoughts?

This is an unprecedented situation and it was undoubtedly right the game was stopped and everyone wishes Damar Hamlin nothing but the very best and hope he recovers and recovers fully.

The league now has to figure out what to do next to see the season through to a conclusion whilst doing everything possible to ensure competitive integrity and fairness.

The idea of playing the Conference Championship Games at a neutral venue is an interesting one that perhaps they should consider adopting permanently.

In the FA Cup, the oldest Association Football cup tournament in the world dating back to 1872, the semi-finals have always been played at neutral venues. It used to be any large stadium that wasn't the home stadium of a team playing in that semi-final. Since 2008 the neutral venue for the semi-finals has been Wembley Stadium where the final is also played, a move made after it was rebuilt and one I've never liked because it diminishes the specialness of playing the final there, but the principle remains.

Now that the number one seeds in the NFL are the only teams that earn a bye week they get a double-advantage playing at home throughout the playoffs. The Conference's number one seed makes the Super Bowl 50% of the time and having home field advantage for every game is obviously a major factor. Playing the Conference Championship Games at neutral venues would lessen the beneficial impact on seeding if a game does have to be cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances and also make the playoffs a tad more unpredictable.

The idea of neutral site championships seems so stale and impersonal. I know it's done for the SB, and for the FA cup where at least both team fan bases are going to be relatively close, okay maybe. But I don't won't the championships to turn into mini-Super Bowls.

As for the HFA I think the bye is way bigger of a factor. Even a heavily favored playoff team is probably a 70% favorite at most. So given equal odds after the WC round the bye team probably has a 30% boost minimum, not even considering any value of resting up while your next opponent plays a tough game.

But in any case let's assume that 30% advantage is legit... Well I doubt HFA is worth that much.

Anyways, bit of a sidetrack. Hopefully it's a one time thing, for one thing, that a on-field scare like that never happens again.

[HisRoyalSweetness]

NFL owners approve resolution to adjust AFC playoffs, including potential neutral title game site

NFL owners approved a resolution Friday during a Special League Meeting to potentially adjust the AFC postseason, including possibly playing a conference championship game at a neutral site, the league announced on Friday.

Friday's resolution consists of two main elements:

1) The AFC Championship Game will be played at a neutral site if:

Buffalo (12-3) and Kansas City (13-3) both win or tie in Week 18 + both teams advance to the AFC title game.
Buffalo (12-3) and Kansas City (13-3) both lose + Cincinnati (11-4) also loses or ties in Week 18 + Buffalo and Kansas City advance to the AFC title game.
Buffalo (12-3) and Kansas City (13-3) both lose + Cincinnati (11-4) wins + the AFC title game is either Bills-Chiefs or Bengals-Chiefs.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell will determine the neutral site of the title game, if one is required.

2) If the Ravens (10-6) defeat Cincinnati in Week 18 and the Chargers (10-6) beat the Denver Broncos, and if Baltimore and Cincinnati are scheduled to play a wild-card game against one another, the site for that game would be determined by a coin toss. If Cincinnati wins the Week 18 game or if Baltimore and Cincinnati are not scheduled to play one another in the wild-card round, the game sites would be determined by the regular scheduling procedures.

"We believe this is a focused approach that will only affect four teams, and directly address the potential for competitive inequity resulting from 30 teams playing 17 games and two playing 16 games," Goodell said during a Friday conference call. "It was critical for the owners to vote today so that clubs know going into this weekend what they're playing for."
...

Monday night's game had major playoff implications going into it, with the AFC North title, the top seed in the conference and a first-round bye potentially at stake. Its cancellation forced the NFL to assess how to mitigate potential competitive inequities as the postseason nears.

Bengals head coach Zac Taylor talked to the media on Friday prior to the resolution's passing, and expressed his displeasure.

"As far as I'm concerned, we just want the rules to be followed," Taylor said, per the Cincinnati Enquirer. "When a game is canceled, you just turn to winning percentage to clarify everything so we don't have to make up rules."

NFL Competition Committee chair Rich McKay explained the Ravens-Bengals aspect of the league's resolution during Friday's conference call.

"Because you're in a situation where Baltimore is going to play one more game than Cincinnati and you're getting into a situation where they actually are going to play this weekend," McKay said, "it's hard to figure out. There's no perfect equity result here.

"But what we recommended and what the membership passed was allow this game to obviously have the ultimate meaning this weekend."

McKay said that the league gave the teams affected by the changes enacted on Friday "a lot" of input.

"There was plenty given to [the Bengals] because they are the affected team, so you wanted to hear from them," McKay said.

As to why the league didn't stick to the rules which state that winning percentage is the determining factor in seeding, McKay demurred.

"I would say it's not necessarily (rules) weren't followed," he said. "We don't capture everything in every rule and every policy manual. Sometimes when you face situations, you have to try to make adjustments."
...

Full article: https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-owners-app ... tial-neutr

You can understand the Bengals' frustrations if there was a rule in place and the NFL decided to ignore it in favour of implementing another solution.

[Atkins&Rebel]

Should've called the game a tie and let that be that.

This. Both teams agree to forfeit and the game ends in a tie.

[UOK]

Should've called the game a tie and let that be that.

This. Both teams agree to forfeit and the game ends in a tie.

Which is pretty much what happened. Both coaches agreed to end the game. I guess technically that would've resulted in the final score being 7-3, but for the sake of decorum a tie would've been the best route. Instead everybody's pissed off about this neutral site crap.

[Rusty Trombagent]

Yeah, and it's extremely funny to see anybody's gripes shut down with "HEY MAN JUST BE GLAD DAMAR IS ALIVE." It's just extremely weird... they are two separate issues!

One is that we all watch (and enjoy) a bloodsport and we very nearly had to actually reckon with this. Crisis averted!

The other is that the Bengals kinda got screwed, and just barely too (needing 24 votes and getting 25).

Personally, I love it whenever the curtain gets pulled back a tiny bit and you once again see that the people running this multi-billion dollar enterprise are the dumbest people alive.