Comments on: Should There Be Penalties For Sitting Starters?

By: Week 17 Will Feature Only Divisional Games | Total Packers

Week 17 Will Feature Only Divisional Games | Total Packers — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 18:55:18 +0000

[...] hopefully eliminate some meaningless late-season contests where teams play their B team, something which takes away from both the integrity of the playoffs and the fans’ enjoyment of the [...]

By: No More Meaningless Late-Season Games? | Total Packers

No More Meaningless Late-Season Games? | Total Packers — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 18:21:52 +0000

[...] scheduling divisional matchups in the final two weeks of the season to try to avoid something we’ve railed on before – teams that have clinched playoff berths sitting their [...]

By: No Love For Mike McCarthy | Total Packers

No Love For Mike McCarthy | Total Packers — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 20:39:45 +0000

[...] we didn’t have Caldwell higher in our rankings because we have no respect for a guy who threw meaningful games at the end of the [...]

By: Packers' Victory Shows NFL's Flaws | Total Packers

Packers' Victory Shows NFL's Flaws | Total Packers — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 16:01:58 +0000

[...] teams based on record would not only make sense, it would make some of these late season games that teams are throwing on purpose, meaningful [...]

By: Adam

Adam — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 20:41:46 +0000

There are really only two scenarios in which I would have legitimate reasoning to be upset:

1) I’m a fan in the stadium who paid to see my team play.

2) I’m a member of the Ravens, Texans, Steelers, Dolphins, or Jaguars still fighting for one of the wild card spots that the Jets still remain in control of. Assuming a full strength Indy squad beats the Jets that Sunday, all of a sudden that spot opens up.

But nonetheless, I dont care because I’m neither of those, and the Packers dont play in the AFC.

By: Jeremy

Jeremy — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 18:30:58 +0000

It’s common to hear Baseball managers talking about putting on a performance that is fair to the other teams at the end of the season when they are out of the pennant race. If putting in a cheese lineup is definitely not cool in a sport with 165 games, it has to be 10 times lamer in a sport with only 16 games.

I’ll be pulling for an early exit for the Colts this season. Their antics are not in the spirit of fair play. And, I’ve heard enough of Bill Pollin’s BS rationalizations.

By: Steffen

Steffen — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 18:28:25 +0000

I agree with Matt, teams have to be allowed to run things the way they see fit. That said, I think the notion of sitting starters is preposterous and foolhardy. Before last week the Colts were unstoppable. Now, all of their momentum is gone, their staff is backpedalling and they look vulnerable. So maybe there already is a penalty for sitting starters… one and done?

By: Matt

Matt — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 17:15:43 +0000

I have to disagree a little here. The problem you face is taking control away from coaches and teams to make sovereign decisions about personnel. What else does that open the door for? Should Jay Cutler be fined for running out the clock at the end of the 4th quarter amidst boos against the Vikings, even though they later won in OT?

I will concede that it’s a problem if it cheapens the individual game for the spectators in general. But the Colts fans? Let’s be honest here: though the odds are slim, if Caldwell had left Manning in, and he had been injured, the world would be calling him the biggest idiot in the NFL right now. ESPN would be raining fire on the coaching staff, and he’d be chastised for his “greediness” in going for a perfect season, ESPECIALLY by Colts fans.

As far as the other teams in the AFC go, you said it yourself–they didn’t take care of their own business. If another team dropping a game affects your playoff shots, maybe you don’t really deserve the spot in the first place. What’s that Ravens, you’re one game away? Maybe you shouldn’t have dropped a 3 point game to the Bengals, and a two point game to the Vikings in consecutive weeks. Actually, maybe you shouldn’t have lost every game you played against a formidable team this year (save for the Chargers). All is fair. If you want to make the playoffs, you gotta win.

I think if you wanted to implement a rule like this, it would be a matter of timing. If a team if pulling starters any earlier than week 14, then you have a problem. But after that, you’re protecting for the playoffs. Would you rather see Curtis Painter dickin’ the dog in a meaningless regular season game, or watch him choke out an otherwise strong team in a playoff game?

Just my 2 cents.

By: BrianD

BrianD — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 16:40:11 +0000

If you really want to punish the Colts organization, take away their second round pick. That way all the AFC teams who have directly been affected by the Colts throwing the game get their picks bumped up ahead of the Colts.

By: Robert Narasky

Robert Narasky — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 16:22:57 +0000

I agree. I will be driving from Los Angeles for the game and I wanna see Rodgers, Driver, Jennings, Woodson, Bigby, and the bunnch, not the benchwarmers. And I hope Mccarthy doesn’t bitch out like I think he will. Anyway keep up the good work guys, I love your insight