The final 8 rule is designed to maintain competitive balance. It prevents the teams that made it to the division round or better from buying up a bunch of unrestricted free agents. That's at least the NFL's justification
In theory, it doesn’t work. Ever since the Rams won the Super Bowl out of nowhere in 1999 (I think they were 4-12 the year prior), the NFL has turned into a series of "one year" dynasties. Teams go from good to bad overnight and vice versa. So the teams that made the final 8 this past year, may not even make the playoffs the following year. There is no way to predict anymore for how teams will do from year to year.
I agree with your thoughts. To penalize the teams that made the divisional round or better last year is ridiculous. They may be terrible this year, and as such, should have had the same opportunity to partake in the free agent market.
I am not sure we have to worry about the NFL turning into MLB (with the haves and the have nots) History has proven that those teams that spend heavily on free agents do not actually succeed. Football success is really based on how well you draft and the ability to fill in some holes with select free agents.
Of course, if Danny or Jerry ever decide to spend 400 million on player salaries, and they actually win a title, we are all in trouble!
-- Modified on 3/5/2010 9:12:54 AM
all this turn out, and who will get Julius Peppers? Stay tuned, because this could get interesting.
The worse thing that a team could do is to completely go out of control with player salaries. You dont want to spend 300 million dollars on player salaries and then be left holding the proverbial bag if an agreement is reached and you find yourself WAY over the new cap. It would be an economic diaster.
I think teams will proceed with caution at first to see what the market will dictate. The only thing that could escalate salaries is that in this uncapped year, demand is far greater than supply. Those players in the 5 to 6 year service range (guys really in their prime) who would have been unrestricted free agents are now restricted free agents. This severely limits the free agent pool. There would have been major bidding wars for some of these high talented players (i.e. Brandon Marshall, Elvis Dumerville, Miles Austin, etc.) Now the only players avaialble are the guys who have played in the league a long time (i.e. 28-32 year olds). While they are good players, they definitely are on the downside of their careers.
A player like Julius Peppers would have been paid even if there was a salary cap in place, so expect him to receive a very large contract.
But there should be some excitement...more trades could happen (i.e. Jets/Chargers with Cromartie) especially with the restrictions on what the final 8 playoff teams are allowed to do in free agency