Why not contract NFL by 2 Teams? MLB and NBA thinking about it?

[88Comrade2000]

I was reading in the local paper about possible baseball contraction:

http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20110403/COLUMNISTS0306/104030336/1065/SPORTS/Peter-Kerasotis-Opening-Day-attendance-not-good-sign-Rays

We know the NBA has talked about it:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=5715816

So, why not the NFL? Do we really need 32 teams? Going back to 30 teams and 6 divisions wouldn't be so bad. You would have 8 division games again, putting real meaning into winning the division again. You can still come up with a formula where all the teams play each other regularly.

Jacksonville and another franchise like Buffalo or Tampa Bay would be good choices. You would still have a team or two you can move to LA.

That would give more owners a little more money to spread around and you can expand the roster to accomdate the loss of 2 teams.

[Chicken Fried]

You forgot to mention Buffalo.

[88Comrade2000]

You forgot to mention Buffalo.

I said " another franchise like Buffalo or Tampa Bay." The moment Ralph Wilson dies, that team is up for sale. Highly unlikely, local group will be able to raise the money to keep it there. This team is likely sold to a group either in LA or Toronto.

---------- Post added April-4th-2011 at 05:12 PM ----------

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[@DCGoldPants]

The NFL needs to stop building insane huge stadiums. 70K is fine. They don't need to retract. They need to relocate a few teams.

The NBA and NHL need to retract teams.

[Chicken Fried]

I said " another franchise like Buffalo or Tampa Bay." The moment Ralph Wilson dies, that team is up for sale. Highly unlikely, local group will be able to raise the money to keep it there. This team is likely sold to a group either in LA or Toronto.

---------- Post added April-4th-2011 at 05:12 PM ----------

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Oops. Sorry about that. I like Buffalo and hope they stay. The Jags need to relocate though. I don't think they have many fans at all.

[Kosher Ham]

Several teams could move.

Jags, Bengals, Bills, Tampa, San Diego, Arizona, etc.

As far as contraction, Buffalo and Jacksonville seem like the most obvious options.

[Bubble Screen]

The NFL needs to stop building insane huge stadiums. 70K is fine. They don't need to retract. They need to relocate a few teams.

The NBA and NHL need to retract teams.

I think you meant 'contract'. But I agree with you about relocating. I definitely think its time to put another team back in LA. Its stupid to not have a team in the country's 2nd biggest market. Jacksonville doesn't deserve an NFL franchise. I think that is evident.

NBA definitely needs to contract. Toronto is just not working out. Not sure a crappy city like Sacramento deserves one either. Lebron is a douche, and says some really stupid things, but he was spot on about the NBA needing to get rid of a few teams. And if I were him, I wouldn't have taken those comments back. Screw the players association.

The NHL needs to go away altogether.

[@DCGoldPants]

you're right. My bad.

Teams like AZ aren't moving. That stadium is still new.

Buffalo, Jax could move easily I think.

[Bubble Screen]

you're right. My bad.

Teams like AZ aren't moving. That stadium is still new.

Buffalo, Jax could move easily I think.

Yeah, I agree about Arizona. I was gonna mention that about the stadium, too.

[Kosher Ham]

you're right. My bad.

Teams like AZ aren't moving. That stadium is still new.

Buffalo, Jax could move easily I think.

Forgot about that new stadium, and they are supposed to be a growing market. On a side note, I do want to check out that place, looks really nice.

[Bubble Screen]

Forgot about that new stadium, and they are supposed to be a growing market. On a side note, I do want to check out that place, looks really nice.

Btw, speaking of stadiums, I was watching the Final Four the other night and they kept showing the outside of Reliant. The Astrodome is right beside it. Why is it still there? It looks pretty ****ty next to the new one. Do they even use it for anything? Seems like a waste to me. They could make that a nice parking lot or something.

[Hubbs]

No way the NFL contracts. It's got the closest thing in professional sports to a perfect organizational structure.

Now, relocation, that's different. If I had my druthers, I'd swap Jacksonville for L.A., but I would do it by moving the Rams back west and moving the Jaguars to St. Louis. The Rams would stay the Rams, because there's history there, while the Jaguars could be the St. Louis... I don't know, the St. Louis Football Pujolses or something. Just a pipe dream, I know, but I've never felt like the Rams belonged to St. Louis, and I've never gotten the impression that St. Louis does, either. Might as well kill two problems (Rams in the wrong place, L.A./Jax swap) with one stone.

I hope Buffalo somehow comes up with a way to go the Packers route and have the citizens of the city own the team.

[Bubble Screen]

No way the NFL contracts. It's got the closest thing in professional sports to a perfect organizational structure.

Now, relocation, that's different. If I had my druthers, I'd swap Jacksonville for L.A., but I would do it by moving the Rams back west and moving the Jaguars to St. Louis. The Rams would stay the Rams, because there's history there, while the Jaguars could be the St. Louis... I don't know, the St. Louis Football Pujolses or something. Just a pipe dream, I know, but I've never felt like the Rams belonged to St. Louis, and I've never gotten the impression that St. Louis does, either. Might as well kill two problems (Rams in the wrong place, L.A./Jax swap) with one stone.

I hope Buffalo somehow comes up with a way to go the Packers route and have the citizens of the city own the team.

Dude, no offense, but what you're suggesting is silly. Its not feasible to move the Rams to LA and the Jags to St. Louis. This isn't a Monopoly game or something we're dealing with. If a team is relocated, it would almost certainly be the Jags going to LA, or possibly the Vikings. Although I've heard alot less of the Vikings moving lately. The other scenario you painted would never happen. Nor should it even be considered.

[Hubbs]

Dude, no offense, but what you're suggesting is silly. Its not feasible to move the Rams to LA and the Jags to St. Louis. This isn't a Monopoly game or something we're dealing with. If a team is relocated, it would almost certainly be the Jags going to LA, or possibly the Vikings. Although I've heard alot less of the Vikings moving lately. The other scenario you painted would never happen. Nor should it even be considered.

Um... I know that. That's probably why I talked about druthers and pipe dreams.

[BRAVEONTHEWARPATH93]

People still go to Bucs and Cards games so take them off. I'd to see the Bills go cuz their fans are PASSIONATE.

But these teams can go:

NFL

Jags

Chargers if they start to suck

NBA

Grizzlies (move them to Seattle)

Kings

Raptors

Warriors

NHL

Coyotes

Thrashers

(Move em to Canada)

MLB

I don't think they need to do anything at the moment

[Major Harris]

i know ralph wilson sucks and the bills suck right now, but that is one of the most passionate fan bases in the league. KEEP THE BILLS IN BUFFALO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Spec138]

Btw, speaking of stadiums, I was watching the Final Four the other night and they kept showing the outside of Reliant. The Astrodome is right beside it. Why is it still there? It looks pretty ****ty next to the new one. Do they even use it for anything? Seems like a waste to me. They could make that a nice parking lot or something.

It's still used for large events, I believe they had a rodeo there at some point recently.

[DRSmith]

The NFL needs to stop building insane huge stadiums. 70K is fine. They don't need to retract. They need to relocate a few teams.

The NBA and NHL need to retract teams.

I think the NHL needs to move teams you could put 3 more in Canada

[DieselPwr44]

Last in first out:

Charlotte and Jacksonville.

Redskins football is back on local TV in NC like it should be.

Jerry Richardson can suck it.

[DarrellsMyHero28]

Last in first out:

Charlotte and Jacksonville.

Redskins football is back on local TV in NC like it should be.

Jerry Richardson can suck it.

I have a feeling you live in NC...

Teams like Buffalo should stay. Too much history, despite the lack of Super Bowl success.

Jacksonville is definitely a possibility. No one goes to their games.

[Warhead36]

The NFL is fine with 32 teams, but the Jags should be moved to LA. You can also move the Bills to Toronto, Buffalo just can not support that franchise.

The NBA needs to contract at least four teams. The product is so watered down it's ridiculous, even more so now with the best players grouping up and forming super teams. The four teams I'd nominate are Sacramento, Toronto, Charlotte, and the LA Clippers.

[DRSmith]

The NFL is fine with 32 teams, but the Jags should be moved to LA. You can also move the Bills to Toronto, Buffalo just can not support that franchise.

The NBA needs to contract at least four teams. The product is so watered down it's ridiculous, even more so now with the best players grouping up and forming super teams. The four teams I'd nominate are Sacramento, Toronto, Charlotte, and the LA Clippers.

Buffalo needs to get a better tv contract they could be working out deals with Canadian channels that are in the Toronto area since they get fans going to games from the area

[Mickalino]

They don't need to retract.

Yes they do.

Excessive Expansion = Excessive Parity

Excessive parity sucks

Time to retract, contract, whatever you want to call it.

Even though it almost surely won't happen.

The NFL is fine with 32 teams, but the Jags should be moved to LA. You can also move the Bills to Toronto,

While they're moving to Toronto, you can also move them to the CFL, as well.

[Bubble Screen]

Last in first out:

Charlotte and Jacksonville.

Redskins football is back on local TV in NC like it should be.

Jerry Richardson can suck it.

Dude, don't be ridiculous. I'm as big a hater of the Panthers as anyone (mainly because of their idiot fans), but they aren't going anywhere. Jerry has the PSL thing going for him there. So whether the people come or not, he's still getting his. Its a horrible pro sports town, though. It used to be great when the Hornets were there. But the Panther and Bobcat fans are too fairweather. They only support the team when they're winning.

And not sure what you mean by the Redskins being on local tv there. No they're not. The Panthers are always on FOX. The only time the Redskins play locally there is when the Redskins play at a different time. And even then teams like the Cowboys are on before us.

---------- Post added April-5th-2011 at 03:20 AM ----------

The NFL is fine with 32 teams, but the Jags should be moved to LA. You can also move the Bills to Toronto, Buffalo just can not support that franchise.

The NBA needs to contract at least four teams. The product is so watered down it's ridiculous, even more so now with the best players grouping up and forming super teams. The four teams I'd nominate are Sacramento, Toronto, Charlotte, and the LA Clippers.

I agree with everything here.

[KDawg]

As someone who lives in Bills country, the Bills leaving upstate NY would CRIPPLE Buffalo.

Not only that, but the Bills fans are extremely passionate, and over the years I've developed a liking for them and their team. Obviously not to the level of the 'Skins, but when the 'Skins aren't playing them I always pull for the Bills. Moving them or contracting them would be a major mistake.

And I wouldn't count out a local group raising money to keep them around here.

Jim Kelly is trying his best... And Golisano just sold the Sabres, so there's a chance he'd be willing to jump in on the Bills. Golisano is a major Upstate New York guy. I'm sure he'd throw in if it meant keeping the team around. I hope we don't lose them.

For the record, saying Buffalo can't support the Bills is asinine. They can. But the product has been horrendous and people have not gone to games. They managed to support that team through the 90's with no problem, but now that they've hit a rough patch they somehow can't support them?