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AN ABSOLUTE DISGRACE

Beaufort, SC Real Estate 2008 will long be remembered as a year of financial turmoil, one in which stalwart financial institutions vaporized into thin air, and venerable American institutions like General Motors sailed perilously close to the rocks.

It is the year we saw friends, neighbors and relatives struggle to keep their homes amidst a real estate meltdown. But 2008 may have one more dubious distinction before it runs its course.

There is a very good chance that by day's end, two teams will have reached the NFL playoffs with a .500 record. So much for "earning" your way into the post-season.

If the 7-8 San Diego Chargers beat the 8-7 Denver Broncos (a very good likelihood) this afternoon, the Chargers will reach the playoffs as an 8-8 team. Meanwhile, the free-falling Arizona Cardinals, losers of four of their last five games, have already locked up their playoff spot by virtue of "winning" the miserable NFC West. They lose today (a decent likelihood), and the Cardinals also enter the playoffs at 8-8.

If this scenario unfolds, there will eight (one quarter of the league) teams who miss the playoffs despite having better records than these two pretenders who owe their "success" to playing in lousy divisions. The New England Patriots can win today, finish 11-5, and miss the playoffs.

This, my friends, is a disgrace, and an embarrassment to the notion of "playing" your way into the playoffs. This isn't even "backing" into the playoffs. This is being carried into the playoffs on a stretcher.

It's time to implement a simple change in NFL policy. Starting next year, if you can do no better than .500, you don't go to the playoffs. Just because you have the best record in a lousy division does not entitle you to a berth in the playoffs, while excellent 10-6 and 11-5 teams from strong divisions miss out.

This would be the most logical move in the world, and I can't imagine why any team owner, coach or fan would have a problem with it.

The only positive to come out of today's nightmare scenario would be the opportunity to see a bunch of guys give their coach a Gatorade bath and pop the bubbly in the locker room after an 8-8 season.

Posted by Keith Strawn on 12/28/2008 08:07 AM

Comments (16)

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16 Comments on AN ABSOLUTE DISGRACE

DEC

It is unfortunate a team with a less than stellar record can make the playoffs and a 10 or 11 win team not!

It was a strange 2008 and may 2009 give us better playoff teams, more stability in the real estate market, and an economy that is settled down. Have a wonderful 2009!

Hey...I'm a Giants and Jets fan but actually hope the Dolphins win so I can go to the game but then again...I wouldn't mind seeing both NY teams play ...I have tickets.

Just the nature of the beast... I'm not too shook up about it. I have heard both sides of the argument on ESPN but ultimately, a lot of the situation depends on the season and the teams non-conference schedule... i.e. -- AFC EAST v. NFC WEST this season... last year it the AFC CENTRAL v. NFC WEST (see Browns 10-6 missing playoffs to 2008 Browns 4-11)

To Summarize, a lot of these teams with winning records got wins due to weak opponents.

I am a huge fan of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who may very well miss the playoffs and look to finish the season 10-6. Oh well... they should have beat Atlanta or Carolina in the past 3 weeks...

Best Regards,

Sean

I love watching a good football game and like the underdogs to win (like last years Giants). I have to admit I'm a fair weather fan. I'm looking forward to the play-offs and some great match-ups.

I like watching football but really don't give much attention to how the playoffs are decided. Maybe they need a points system like college football, although that doesn't seem to work out very well all the time either...

As a Charger Fan, my husband is thrilled with this posibility.

I didn't realize all that about the bad teams making their way in to the top, but that's kind of like life and real estate isn't it? We've seen one really bad agent get lucky and sell a multi milllion dollar house and then get agent of the year!

Have fun today watching football!

Gary, Connie, Sean, Jean, Mark and Neal,

Thanks for the feedback. Let's all hope we avoid this playoff Doomsday scenario, and that my beloved Dolphins win (sorry Neal) today so they'll be in the playoffs for the first time in years. Then, we can all turn our attention to being the most effective Realtors we can in 2009.

Linda,

Thanks for the comment. I knew there was a good real estate analogy in there somewhere.

Why not just make the playoffs last all year? If anyone can get in, start the season as a playoff, and start eliminating the bad teams over the months, sort of like the Nascar chase does. It might make football more exiting and more people would watch if their team has a chance of being eliminated each week. What do you think?

You forgot the fact that wild card teams have won the Super Bowl in the past beating teams with better records in the playoffs. In essence you are saying that the team with the best record is going to or expected to win it all.

I guess if your 8-8 team won the division you would be ok with them not going to the playoffs?

Tony, Thanks for the comments.

Brian, thanks for the comment. The system needs to be tweaked somehow.

DEC

Gatorade is extremely sticky...I don't really envy them.

I'm going to the playoffs!

Neal, I'm not going to the playoffs, but my team (the Dolphins) is. Who's your team?

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