The NFL is urgently discussing a new scheduling formula that would include a three-game preseason and could also feature an expanded postseason field from 12 to 14 teams, sources league sources told ESPN NFL Insider Chris Mortensen. The expanded postseason proposal would offset teams' lost revenue from the elimination of a preseason game, and it also could lead to additional television revenues for the league. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell alluded to the league's interest in the new scheduling model during an interview this past week, although he said the changes likely would not happen in 2014. But sources told ESPN that the changes could still be implemented as early as 2014 if the NFL can procure the necessary votes from team owners. The league also would need to establish a new preseason scheduling formula, get sponsorship agreements and resolves a few stadium lease issues, sources said. The NFL's competition committee recommended the three-game preseason model as the minimum necessary period for player evaluation and development, sources said. NFL considering expanded postseason format and 3-game preseason, sources say - ESPN
i think 6 teams is the ideal number but 7 wouldn't be the end of the world. currently, sometimes 7 or 8- win teams get in but sometimes 10 and 11-win teams don't get in, which kind of sucks and adding a 7th team would help avoid that. i'm not sure how they would plan on doing 7 teams in each conference, though. only 1 team with a first round bye? that's really the only option i can see with 7 teams from each conference. and, if they went to 8 teams, about the only logical way you could do it is with no first round byes.
adding more teams to the playoffs just takes away from the importance of winning your division. and ya, who wants to see a 7--9 team in the playoffs?
I refuse to see how 14 teams would work. A 12 team playoffs works just fine. IF it's not broke, (which it's not) than don't fix it.
