NFL owners did not vote this morning on expanding the playoffs, a fully expected development. That all but rules out an expanded slate for the '14 season. While playoff expansion was discussed at the owners meeting in Atlanta, no action was taken to increase the number of playoff teams from 12, likely to 14. The next chance for owners to vote is the fall meeting in October, barring an unscheduled gathering. Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones yesterday said a majority of owners supported expansion. The NFLPA has said it must approve expansion, though the league has yet to make its position clear whether it agrees. Jones has said that it is his understanding the union does not have a formal say. In any event, the league is expected to reach out to the union before it would move forward (Daniel Kaplan, Staff Writer). In N.Y., Gary Myers writes expanding the playoffs is "inevitable," but it hinges on whether NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell "believes all the logistics can be worked out with the networks and the players’ union." The vote would need 75% to gain approval, and the "only 'no' votes will be from those concerned about watering down the playoffs" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 5/20). FOXSPORTS.com's Mike Garafolo wrote deciding on playoff expansion "won't be a big battle." The players "see the value in the increased revenue two more playoff games would bring both them and the owners." It is "just that's how these things have gone between the sides in recent years: One wants to make a change, and the other wonders what it can get in return." Garafolo: "In the end, expect the expansion. And expect it to begin in 2015" (FOXSPORTS.com, 5/19). ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert lists 10 questions about the "benefits, costs and possible repercussions" of expansion (ESPN.com, 5/19).
CAN UNION BLOCK PLAYOFF EXPANSION? Jones said it is not "his understanding" that the NFLPA has a say in whether the league expands the number of teams eligible for postseason play. His comment to reporters yesterday in Atlanta came on the heels of the union telling USA Today that it would block playoff expansion because of a workers' compensation bill in Louisiana supported by the Saints. The NFL has yet to propose expansion to the union, but Jones said it is matter of “when and not if." The NFLPA objects to a workers' compensation bill aimed at athletes in Louisiana that would pay claims based only on the player’s pay at the time of injury, and not an average of their overall pay. So a player injured in training camp would receive less than one injured during the regular season (Kaplan). NFLPA Exec Dir DeMaurice Smith said, "A credible commitment to player health and safety has to include more than a group of Owners voting to recommend playing more games." USA TODAY's Tom Pelissero cites sources as saying that the union "believes an expanded playoff field would qualify as a change in working conditions and thus could block the plan in response to the workers' comp bill." Smith asked NFL player agents to "advise your players of the potential consequences of the Saints' efforts should they sign with the Saints" (USA TODAY, 5/20). ESPN’s Sal Paolantonio said, "There’s a lot of revenue on the line and the players will eventually come around, but they want to be consulted" (“SportsCenter,” ESPN, 5/20).
FACILITIES UPDATES: In this week's SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, Kaplan notes the Dolphins will "update owners this week on their long-running quest for a renovated stadium that could host the Super Bowl, suggesting the club has finally turned the corner and thus will bid" on Super Bowl LIII in '19. A Dolphins source said that there is "likely to be a vote and that owners would learn about sales tax benefits the Dolphins may have coming to them." Owners also will "hear about ticket pricing models." The Steelers and Eagles also will "have stadium renovation projects before the owners" (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 5/19 issue).
FEELING A DRAFT: YAHOO SPORTS' Dan Wetzel reported there is "strong belief the league will decide to take the draft on the road, moving it out of midtown Manhattan to one of the other 30 NFL cities." The Draft "could rotate, sort of like a mini-Super Bowl," starting as soon as next year. The NFL is "always about money, and the idea that cities are willing to bid to host this thing will not be ignored." A rotating Draft would "generate huge excitement in the city it visits, exponentially more than seen-it-all New York." Anyone who "attends the draft realizes it's not nearly that thrilling -- so, like P.T. Barnum, it might be best for the league to pack up and move onto the next unsuspecting town." If the Draft "goes national, it will almost certainly move to NBA/NHL arenas, where demand will fill the place." The NFL said that no decision "has yet been made." But, "add the NFL's frustrations with Radio City Music Hall as a facility ... and this feels like fait accompli" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 5/19).
