Larger text
Smaller text
Print
E-mail
Rooney opposed to NFL playoff expansion
Jerry DiPaola is the Tribune-Review high school sports editor. He can be reached via e-mail.
The NFL competition committee -- headed by Tampa Bay Buccaneers general manager Rich McKay and Tennessee Titans coach Jeff Fisher -- has discussed altering the playoff format to allow 14 of the 32 teams in the playoffs. Presently, only 12 qualify. The committee will present its arguments for expansion to the owners next week.
Rooney wants to maintain the integrity of the regular season and avoid a situation such as what occurs in the NHL and NBA, where 16 of 30 and 16 of 29 teams, respectively, advance to the postseason. Further, he said allowing seven teams per conference in the playoffs could lead to eight, a scenario where there will be no first-round byes.
"Our game is such that each game in the season means so much," he said. "The season is important. It's not like you media types who think hockey has really got it down pat where every team, unless you lose 12 games in a row, you make the playoffs. It's the same in basketball. I don't think we should be like hockey or basketball.
"Everybody is looking at it because of money. Colleges, even high schools, they all play too many games. Now, you start bringing in all those playoff teams, you lessen what the regular season means."
Some NFL leaders are upset that the issue has been raised only one season after the league realigned to its eight-division, four-team format in 2002. Commissioner Paul Tagliabue said at the time that the plan was to keep the present system for an unspecified time, assumed to be more than a year.
"I don't think one year is a good enough test," Rooney said. "There are some people who said we should (expand) then, but we said let's see how we are and let's see what it is."
The Kansas City Chiefs and New England Patriots are two of the teams supporting playoff expansion. Support from 24 teams is needed for passage of the proposal.
Rooney said he wouldn't rule out that expansion might be approved.
"But I don't think it will," he said.
One hurdle could be that the NFL's contract with the television networks doesn't expire until after the 2005 season.
"I'd be for keeping (the status quo)," Rooney said, "but I'm just one voice."
There also will be a vote on a proposed change to the overtime format in which both teams would have the football. Rooney supports such a proposal, but there is significant opposition to it on the competition committee. The Steelers lost an overtime playoff game to Titans last season without an offensive possession.
"If the people who are for it can put on a good presentation," he said, "I think you could pass that."
