Originally posted by HessianDud:
...I like the divisions the way they are.
Your feelings are understandable. However, about 3 seasons ago, I did a similar realignment
which I actually intended to send to the NFL offices in NYC. It's the second time I'd done a
realignment of the league. The 1st time, was when the NFC West, consisted of:
I personally feel the league dropped the ball, when they offered the current set-up now used.
OK to Good - but it could be much better. My alignment was lost in a major computer crash,
of which I was only able to recover some of my data.
I stated that change has been constant during the history of the NFL, and the league needed
to evolve as such. I'd imagine, there were people all throughout the history of the NFL, who
have liked things as they were. So, my proposal was based on:
- proximity in terms of air miles
- creating new and obvious rivalries
A lot of time and effort went into the project, as far as, research goes. Just too busy,
to start the process all over again. My angle, was to show the NFL they could generate
and tap into revenues they could not imagine under the current system, keeping certain
rivalries going with well thought out scheduling, with less air travel, resulting in less pollution.
The Green approach so to speak.
In reality, it's all generational when it comes down to it, as far as the alignment is concerned.
Some fans, are old enough to remember, when the Browns, Colts, and Steelers, played in another
league, yet alone another division. The merger changed all of that. I'm sure there were many a fan
not too happy with that at first.
There are (IMO), teams that should be in the same division based on their proximity to one
another. For some of the teams, I found it hard to realign them in a manner I felt would best please
the majority.
On the West Coast though, in regard to travel and creating rivalries (with us fans) beyond mere words:
Oakland, San Francisco, Seattle, and San Diego just makes sense. They (the NFL office/owners)
could agree to call the new conferences/ division what they want...it's only a title/words anyway.
Certain regions of the USA, have teams (in areas) where there is no excuse for them no being in the
same division. It could work, while still scheduling certain old rivals to play each other every season,
until the fan base became accustomed to the the changes. As I stated earlier, how you view the NFL,
is relative to your generation.
Here are; just from memory, other teams I felt should be in the same division:
Miami, Tampa Bay, Jacksonville
NYG, NYJ, Philadelpia,
Dallas, Houston, New Orleans
Denver, Kansas City, Saint Louis
Of course, and because of location, some of the alignments were, and would be more difficult
to complete. Certain teams need not be bothered i.e. the Black and Blue division. I wish I could
remember more from my work on the alignment I did, I'd post it to see what others thoughts are.
[ Edited by FlayvaMeister on Mar 20, 2011 at 19:12:31 ]
