Rumor...

USAFSkinFan · Post by **USAFSkinFan** » Tue Dec 21, 2004 5:11 pm

Rumor here (according to local radio show) is that the NFL is very upset at the possibility of a team with a losing record, making the playoffs. Apparently they do not want to answer questions about how parity has resulted in mediocre teams competing in the playoffs. Sources "close" to the NFL have said that NFL minions have been sent out to teams "with nothing to play for" (i.e. Philly and Atlanta) and suggest that they rest their stars (i.e. McNabb and Vick) under the guise of healing nagging minor injuries. That way the current 6-win teams (i.e. N.O. and StL) will have a chance to finish 8-8.

I believe the NFL doesn't like the thought of a 7-9 team in the playoffs, but I can't believe they would actually have someone "suggest" this to the team... It would be just the 'Skins luck though to get eliminated like that...

DiRTyHoG3026 · Post by **DiRTyHoG3026** » Tue Dec 21, 2004 5:22 pm

I don't think the NFL need to get too upset over it. its just a down year for the nfc.

DEHog · Post by **DEHog** » Tue Dec 21, 2004 5:23 pm

Wow that's a 180 from the NFL of the past. Tags was always adamant that teams didn't take the week off when playing for nothing.

redskincity · Post by **redskincity** » Tue Dec 21, 2004 5:24 pm

I thought it was the other way around.

I thought that the 'talking heads' were saying "isn't wrong to sit starters with the playoff race being this close" and should the commish step in and make the starters play.

DEHog · Post by **DEHog** » Tue Dec 21, 2004 5:30 pm

Yep...He know the NFL is big business..don't forget about Fantasy Football. The NFL will never admit it but there're well aware of it.

redskincity · Post by **redskincity** » Tue Dec 21, 2004 5:35 pm

DEHog wrote:Yep...He know the NFL is big business..don't forget about Fantasy Football. The NFL will never admit it but there're well aware of it.

I never thought of that... That would create an uproar!!!

I could see the Headlines;

"Star Trekkies kill NFL Commissioner." :lol:

Redskins1974 · Post by **Redskins1974** » Tue Dec 21, 2004 5:39 pm

I wouldn't doubt it but this states the opposite:

So with a laundry list of injuries, and despite the annual memo from the league office that all teams must field a competitive lineup in the season's final weeks, Mora appears ready to favor discretion over valor on Sunday afternoon.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/s ... id=1950713

Redskin in Canada · Post by **Redskin in Canada** » Tue Dec 21, 2004 5:53 pm

DiRTyHoG3026 wrote:I don't think the NFL need to get too upset over it. its just a down year for the nfc.

Hey, hey, hey, ...

You know what? I do not know who will represent the NFC in the SB. However, if it was the Philly, Atlanta, Carolina, Green Bay, Minnesota or the Redskins, -ANY- of them will give the AFC team a run for their money.

Look, only one of Pittsburgh, New England or Indy will remain alive for the SB. -Any- of these can be had if the NFC puts a team with the right match-up against them.

Just look at what the hopeless Dolphins did to New England last night! Enough about this nonsense that teams with losing records are bad teams. Some of the NFC teams with losing records are -very- dangerous.

I say: AFC be careful, be very careful. There is a team in the NFC with a losing record that just might surprise one and all AFC teams with "winning" records. Just give me a week or two and I will name it. :wink:

USAFSkinFan · Post by **USAFSkinFan** » Tue Dec 21, 2004 6:10 pm

Fans here in St Louis are actually upset that the Rams (who are playing terrible) could end up backing into the playoffs by playing teams with nothing to play for the last two weeks...

Redskin in Canada · Post by **Redskin in Canada** » Tue Dec 21, 2004 6:15 pm

USAFSkinFan wrote:Fans here in St Louis are actually upset that the Rams (who are playing terrible) could ...

But shouldn't. I pray that they keep going on a downturn. But I will not get excited until we have a realistic chance...

Gibbs4Life · Post by **Gibbs4Life** » Tue Dec 21, 2004 7:04 pm

"NFL minions have been sent out to teams "with nothing to play for" (i.e. Philly and Atlanta) and suggest that they rest their stars (i.e. McNabb and Vick) under the guise of healing nagging minor injuries. That way the current 6-win teams (i.e. N.O. and StL) will have a chance to finish 8-8."

THAT REALLY P'S ME OFF. WHAT A TOTAL SPIT IN THE FACE OF ALL LOYAL FANS TO THOSE TEAMS STILL ALIVE. EVERY TEAM SHOULD TRY ITS BEST TO WIN EVERY GAME because as Joe says THATS THE BEST WAY TO BUILD. THOSE NFL MF'rs need to mind there own buisness...like the officiating.

Sincerely a skeptical NFL fan

Gibbs4Life · Post by **Gibbs4Life** » Tue Dec 21, 2004 7:09 pm

I also fear we may see officiating this weekend in all the games esp. WAS @ DAL & St. Louis @ PHI that reflect the wishes of the powers that be in the NFL. What a travesty, I need a xanax

BringThePain! · Post by **BringThePain!** » Tue Dec 21, 2004 7:27 pm

Where is everybody getting these "rumors" from? are there links? newspapers?

Gibbs4Life · Post by **Gibbs4Life** » Tue Dec 21, 2004 7:28 pm

Just wrote ESPN, I doubt they'll take it serious or even read it, but I think that is a serious allegation pertaining to the integrity of the game. All I can feel is outrage.

Gibbs4Life · Post by **Gibbs4Life** » Tue Dec 21, 2004 7:30 pm

It should be easy to verify! ASK ANDY REID, ASK JIM MORA, ASK TAGLIABUE!

BringThePain! · Post by **BringThePain!** » Tue Dec 21, 2004 7:33 pm

what are you talking about? your getting aggravated over something that there is no verification of it being true....

Gibbs4Life · Post by **Gibbs4Life** » Wed Dec 22, 2004 12:06 am

your right there is no proof, but look at the calls we've gotten against us all year! One could make a case that the NFL wants the skins on the outside looking in. Go Skins.

General Failure · Post by **General Failure** » Wed Dec 22, 2004 1:37 am

The NFL doesn't want the national media salivating over Joe Gibbs and his miraculous turn around in DC? I don't buy that at all.

DEHog · Post by **DEHog** » Wed Dec 22, 2004 7:51 am

Good point GF wouldn't it be a feel good story to see a 7-9 team go deep into the playoffs?? Like they say...that's why they play the games!

BossHog · Post by **BossHog** » Wed Dec 22, 2004 9:25 am

I think it's hilarious that everyone wants these 'offending' teams to field their 'best 'team.

... if the Redskins were already in the playoffs, and had 2 games left that meant absolutely NOTHING to the final outcome... I would be FREAKING OUT if our 'stars' took the field.

Bench Patrick, bench Coles, bench Arrington, bench Washington, bench Taylor, bench Griffin.... hell.... bench Coach if you think he might needlessly take a shot.

Nothing kills super bowl aspirations like injuries do.

It's quite funny how perspective taints judgement.

It's easy to sit here and say 'I just want the NFL to field the best teams', but I wonder how many of you would feel differently this week if WE were the ones that were already guranteed a playoff berth.

BringThePain! · Post by **BringThePain!** » Wed Dec 22, 2004 9:43 am

BossHog wrote:I think it's hilarious that everyone wants these 'offending' teams to field their 'best 'team.

... if the Redskins were already in the playoffs, and had 2 games left that meant absolutely NOTHING to the final outcome... I would be FREAKING OUT if our 'stars' took the field.

Bench Patrick, bench Coles, bench Arrington, bench Washington, bench Taylor, bench Griffin.... hell.... bench Coach if you think he might needlessly take a shot.

Nothing kills super bowl aspirations like injuries do.

It's quite funny how perspective taints judgement.

It's easy to sit here and say 'I just want the NFL to field the best teams', but I wonder how many of you would feel differently this week if WE were the ones that were already guranteed a playoff berth.

I agree that alot of this community would be saying sit our stars.. the only thing I would worry about in that situation would be "too much" rest.... Atlanta and Philly both have byes the first week of the playoffs so if they bench their stars for the rest of the regular season... That means they wouldn't play until mid January (about 4 weeks)....

Also the thing that makes the NFL so great, especially late season, is those teams that are fighting for a playoff spot... It doesn't make it very fun for the fans (the NFL's life blood) except that team and it's fans who gets the "free pass" just because another team has nothing to play for...

I believe, not just because I want the Redskins to have a chance to get in, it would hurt the league and the great games that usually go on at the end of the season...

It's understandable that a team would want to rest players, but I believe they should play a majority of the game... There's still 2 weeks before the playoffs even start... and though injuries do kill superbowl/playoff hopes.... we can't have teams not play the games because they're afraid that players are going to get injured... what about the 49ers, who are out of the playoffs... Why should they risk a major injury that could hurt a player for next year, or his entire career? They have nothing to play for either.....

BossHog · Post by **BossHog** » Wed Dec 22, 2004 10:09 am

I agree with almost everything you said, except maybe:

BringThePain! wrote:... what about the 49ers, who are out of the playoffs... Why should they risk a major injury that could hurt a player for next year, or his entire career? They have nothing to play for either.....

They should play for both their paycheques and more importantly, for their fans. I think if you sit a guy when you're out of it, unless you're going to give a rebate on each ticket for the appropriate amount of watered down talent that they're watching... then you're cheating the fan.

You sit a guy when you're already in FOR the fans, so that your marquee talent is healthy and available for the fans to watch in the PLAYOFF games... thus giving the fan and his/her team their best chance to win.

My 2 cents

Deadskins · Post by **Deadskins** » Wed Dec 22, 2004 10:17 am

General Failure wrote:The NFL doesn't want the national media salivating over Joe Gibbs and his miraculous turn around in DC? I don't buy that at all.

Actually, I don't think they do. I think they are too invested in the Bills (Belichick and Parcells)as the best coaches in the NFL. The returning coach bit has been done already (Vermeil, Parcells) and the fact that Joe is back in the game after already being in the HOF pisses some people off.

BringThePain! · Post by **BringThePain!** » Wed Dec 22, 2004 10:23 am

it's a debate that could go on forever, because there are good points on each side...

Like you said, If we were in the Falcons shoes, we'd probably be wanting to sit our stars too... but the Falcons should also look at their actions in our shoes, for one day in the future... they could be in them...

REDEEMEDSKIN · Post by **REDEEMEDSKIN** » Wed Dec 22, 2004 10:26 am

I wouldn't want Michael Vick to be rusty going into the playoffs. While his team is doing great, his performance has been shaky throughout the season. I am confident Matt Mauck, his backup could come in and run the offense weel, but that would be detrimental to the team. Vick needs the reps. Playoff football is different from regular season, and he shouldn't take time off.