when an nfl team has been eliminiated from playoff

**theyork** · 12-26-2010, 02:43 PM

contention, is there are reason for them not to just blow the season and get a better draft pick. what is the point of my dolphins trying to beat the lions when they could just lose and benefit from it come draft day.

am i missing something? is it simply the coach trying to save his ***? i could see trying to build for the next season, but that also hurts on draft day. you would think the owners would want their team to lose in order to gain.

similarly, if the lions win they could take themselves out of the #1 draft spot.

**CycloneErik** · 12-26-2010, 02:45 PM

Haven't they named the #1 draft spot after the Lions by now?

I don't think anyone can knock the Lions out of that spot these days.

**Clones85'** · 12-26-2010, 02:46 PM

There are 3 or 4 teams with worse records than the Lions

**CycloneRulzzz** · 12-26-2010, 02:53 PM

Race for number 1 is Carolina 2 L, Cincy 3 L and my Broncos 3 L. I'm cheering for losses at this point. Just lose baby! Carolina has Atl next week so they are assured the #1 But we are still in play for number 2.

**HiltonMagic** · 12-26-2010, 02:56 PM

Pride and for their jobs.

**everyyard** · 12-26-2010, 02:58 PM

Originally Posted by theyork

contention, is there are reason for them not to just blow the season and get a better draft pick. what is the point of my dolphins trying to beat the lions when they could just lose and benefit from it come draft day.

am i missing something? is it simply the coach trying to save his ***? i could see trying to build for the next season, but that also hurts on draft day. you would think the owners would want their team to lose in order to gain.

similarly, if the lions win they could take themselves out of the #1 draft spot.

How many fans would be left if some teams only played half the season.

**deadeyededric** · 12-26-2010, 03:14 PM

Coaches job. Momentum for next year(ask Kansas City). The new schedules that came out this year intended for the games to be be division games late in the season that are meaningful no matter the record. Example. Oakland is eliminated. What better way to stick it to the chiefs then possibly knocking them out of the playoffs and punking them at arrowhead next week.

**theyork** · 12-26-2010, 03:19 PM

Originally Posted by everyyard

How many fans would be left if some teams only played half the season.

good point, although i can't imagine (as a general rule) that many teams are eliminated prior to about 3/4 of the season being over. risk reward i suppose at that point though as you may keep some people in the seats if your team is trying. however if you lose and get a better drafted player you may win twice as many games the next season and make up for lack of fans the previous season. imagine the lions with suh this season. i bet his addition helped them win a game or two extra.

**ISUAlum2002** · 12-26-2010, 03:20 PM

If NFL players had guaranteed contracts, you're right, there would probably be a lot of lollygagging going on out there today. But that's what makes the NFL great, and the MLB suck sometimes.....these guys are playing for their jobs every freaking week, and every day in practice. The coaches aren't going to let up because their jobs are on the line as well, and the players know that if they don't perform, the GM and coaches will find someone else to do the job.

It seriously is one of the big reasons that the NFL is so good compared to all of the other major sports.

**ISUAlum2002** · 12-26-2010, 03:21 PM

And the 'Skins just practically punked the Jaguars out of the playoffs by going there and beating them today when they had nothing to play for.

**CloneCone21** · 12-26-2010, 03:32 PM

I wouldn't be surprised if Chad Henne went a long way toward Miami taking a quarterback early in the draft due to his performance today. Big picks are killing him, this game definitely mattered for his job status next year. He's been booed for many weeks now at home.

**dabears32** · 12-26-2010, 03:42 PM

Originally Posted by theyork

contention, is there are reason for them not to just blow the season and get a better draft pick. what is the point of my dolphins trying to beat the lions when they could just lose and benefit from it come draft day.

am i missing something? is it simply the coach trying to save his ***? i could see trying to build for the next season, but that also hurts on draft day. you would think the owners would want their team to lose in order to gain.

similarly, if the lions win they could take themselves out of the #1 draft spot.

Integrity.

**jdoggivjc** · 12-26-2010, 04:13 PM

Haven't they named the #1 draft spot after the Lions by now? <br> <br>
I don't think anyone can knock the Lions out of that spot these days.

Really? You haven't been paying attention to the Lions this season then. By no means have they arrived yet, but these aren't the hapless Lions that Millen drove into the ground and then kept his foot on the accelerator. They have shown signs of life all year, and had it not been for some bad breaks and youthful mistakes, the Lions could have a much better record than they have. In a couple of years the Lions are going to be a team that no one wants to play.

**CycloneRulzzz** · 12-26-2010, 04:35 PM

Nice to nice Denver losing 17-0. Full quit mode baby, I love it

**demoncore1031** · 12-26-2010, 04:46 PM

as a vikings fan, i say lose! get a higher draft pick and go after a QB!! whats the point of winning? it wont help anything. a loss benefits the team more