Support has "eroded for a proposal to expand the NFL playoff field from 12 to 14 teams, to the point that the measure no longer is viewed as likely to be enacted" for the '15 season, according Mark Maske of the WASHINGTON POST. A source said, “I’d say at this point it’s 50-50 at best. I think it’s gonna happen eventually, just maybe not for next season. It seems to have lost momentum." Another source said, “I’d say it’s questionable, whereas last year at this time I would have told you it’s gonna happen (in time for next season)." The source added that league leaders "seem reluctant to make another significant change affecting the sport’s television partners at a time when the NFL is on what amounts to a year-to-year arrangement with CBS to broadcast its package of Thursday night regular season games in conjunction with the league-owned NFL Network." Maske notes under the expanded-playoffs proposal, seven teams in each conference "would qualify for the postseason instead of the current six." But some owners have "expressed wariness that expanding the playoffs could diminish the accomplishment of reaching the postseason." Sources said that there also are "concerns about a Monday night playoff game potentially conflicting" with the CFP (WASHINGTON POST, 2/19).
CAP ON THE RISE: ESPN.com's Adam Schefter cited sources as saying that the NFL notified teams yesterday that it "expects this year's salary cap to be between" $140-143M, which is at least $1.5M "higher than projected." The '14 salary cap was set at $133M, up from $123M the previous season (ESPN.com, 2/18). In Newark, Darryl Slater notes the league's salary cap was $120.6M in '12. The big increase is "likely to happen" this coming season, as the NFL "continues to roll in dough" (Newark STAR-LEDGER, 2/19).
