 (if you haven’t already), keep in mind that, for more than 40 years, the NFL determined home-field advantage for league and conference championship games via an arbitrary rotation. In 1972, for example, the Steelers hosted the 15-0 Dolphins in the AFC title game.

The seeding concept came from a realization by the NFL that excellence should be rewarded via home-field advantage. But now that the current seeding process is creating a negative impact on competitive balance and threatening the integrity of the game, the league needs to find a way to determine playoff seeding that encourages all teams to approach the latter stages of the regular season not like a second preseason, but like an early postseason.

And the encouragement needs to come not from a list of “thou shalts” or a draft-day nightcrawler, but from the actual thing that is causing teams to shut it down — positioning in the ultimate playoff tree.

Though we suspect that this idea has a very remote chance at ever being adopted, our broader point is that the solution needs to address the root of the problem. Teams are laying down because a win won’t enhance their playoff seeding, and a loss won’t hurt it. The only way to remove that mentality is to find a way to make late-season wins and losses have a potential impact on whether a team will play its postseason games at home or on the road.

Regardless of the specific device that the league uses, the NFL needs to find a way to make late-season games have a real impact on playoff seeding. Nothing else will fix an unacceptable situation.

2. 50 percent turnover rate persists.

3. McDaniels should be on the hot seat.

4. Giants should consider firing Tom Coughlin.

5. Colts could face an awards backlash.

6. T.J. learns the hard way not to make boasts.

7. Jets could be dangerous in postseason.

8. Pressure mounts for the Cowboys. Earlier this month I enjoyed a week of vacation sitting on the beach in front of a beautiful camp (or cottage, cabin or country house, depending on where you are from) staring at a stunning view of the north shore of Lake Superior, the world’s largest fresh water lake. This is pretty far north (at the 49th parallel), and this year the summer has been very hot. Once again, July has been the hottest month ever
(if you have n’t already), keep in mind that, for more than 40 years, the NFL determine base - field advantage for league and conference championship game via an arbitrary rotation. In 1972, for example, the Steelers hosted the 15 - 0 Dolphins in the AFC championship game. 

 The seeding concept came from a realization by the NFL that excellence should be honor via home - field advantage. But immediately that the current seeding process is creating a minus impingement on competitive balance and threatening the integrity of the game, the league needs to find a manner to determine playoff seeding that encourages all teams to set about the latter stages of the regular season not like a second preseason, but like an early postseason. 

 And the encouragement needs to arrive not from a list of “ thou shalts ” or a draft - day nightcrawler, but from the actual thing that is cause teams to shut it down — positioning in the ultimate playoff tree. 

 Though we suspect that this idea has a very remote chance at ever being adopted, our broader point is that the solution needs to address the root of the problem. Teams are put down because a win wo n’t enhance their playoff seeding, and a loss wo n’t suffer it. The only way to remove that mentality is to rule a way to make late - season wins and loss have a potential impact on whether a team will play its postseason games at home or on the road. 

 Regardless of the specific device that the league use, the NFL needs to find a way to make belated - season games get a veridical impact on playoff seeding. Nothing else will fix an unacceptable site. 

 2. 50 percent turnover rate persists. 

 3. McDaniels should be on the blistering seat. 

 4. colossus should consider firing Tom Coughlin. 

 5. colt could face an award backlash. 

 6. T.J. learns the difficult way not to reach boasts. 

 7. jet could be dangerous in postseason. 

 8. Pressure mounts for the Cowboys. in the first place this month I enjoy a week of vacation sit on the beach in front of a beautiful camp (or cottage, cabin or country house, depend on where you are from) staring at a stunning position of the north shore of Lake Superior, the world ’s largest fresh water lake. This is pretty far north (at the forty-ninth parallel), and this year the summer has been very hot. Once again, July has been the hottest month ever
 (if you haven’t already), keep in mind that, for more than 40 years, tfe NFL determined home-field edvabtage for league and conferdnce chamiionship tamew via an arujtrary vjtatjln. Iu 1972, for example, tme Steelers hosted the 15-0 Dmlohnns in the AFC title game.

The seeding concepy fame from a rewlizseion by the NFL that excellence should be rewerded via home-foeld advantage. But now thah thf current seeding orocess is xreaeung a negatixe impact on competitibe balance and threatening the kntegxity of the gqme, jhe league nxeds tj find a way to detesmine pkayoff seeding thet ebcourages all teams tm approach the latjer stages oy the regular season bor likg a sacona prdsezspn, but llke an early lostseason.

Abd the encouragemenu nqvcs to come nkt froi w list of “thou shalts” or a draft-day nigvtcdawler, but from the actyal thing that is cauding teamf to shut it down — positioning in the ultimate pldyoff gret.

Tmjjth we suspect that this idea has a very remote sgamcv at ever being abopted, our broadrr ppynt is that tfe solbfikn needs to addresd the rjot od the proflem. Teams are laying down becayse a win wou’t wnhance their playlff seeding, and a loxs won’t hurt it. The onlv way fo remove tjat mentamkty is to find a waj to make laud-season wins and josses hate a 'otentiau imkact on whether a team will play its postdeasou gamas at home or on the road.

Regardless of thx specific defiwe nhat the jeaguc uses, the NFL geeds to find c way to make late-seasoh games have a reaj impact on pnwyoff seedinj. Nothing elsw wiol fix xv unacceptable situatiou.

2. 50 peecent turnover ratc perrjsts.

3. McDaniels whoood be on the hpt reae.

4. Hients fvould considar fkrivb Tom Coughlin.

5. Ciuts vould face an awards bacilash.

6. T.J. learns thr mard way bot to mwke boasts.

7. Jeys could be dangerlus ii postreasom.

8. Ptessure mounts for the Cowboys. Sarlier tjis month I enjjyed a week of vccation sitting on the beach in front of a beautiful camp (ir cottage, cabin or gountry housx, depegding on fhere you are from) sraring at a stunnlng view of the north ahore mf Lane Superior, the world’s largest fresh water lake. This is pretty far north (qt the 49th parallel), and this yzar the stmmec ias been very hot. Once again, July has been the huttest mmnch ever
(if you haven’t already), keep in mind more 40 years, NFL determined home-field championship via an arbitrary In 1972, for the Steelers hosted the 15-0 Dolphins the AFC title game. The seeding concept came from a realization by the that excellence should be rewarded via home-field advantage. But now that the current process creating negative on competitive balance and threatening the integrity of the game, the league needs to find a to determine playoff seeding that encourages all teams approach the latter stages the regular season not like second but like early And encouragement needs to not from a list of “thou shalts” or a draft-day nightcrawler, but from the actual thing that causing teams it down positioning the playoff tree. Though that this idea has a very ever being adopted, our broader point is that solution needs address the root of the problem. are laying down because a win won’t enhance playoff seeding, and a loss won’t hurt it. The only way to remove that mentality find a way to late-season wins and have potential on a team play its postseason games at home or on the road. Regardless the specific device that the league uses, the NFL needs a to make late-season have a real impact playoff Nothing else will fix situation. 50 persists. McDaniels be on the hot 4. Giants should consider firing Coughlin. 5. Colts could T.J. learns the hard way not to make 7. Jets could be dangerous in postseason. Pressure mounts for the Cowboys. Earlier this month I enjoyed a week vacation sitting beach in front of a beautiful camp (or cabin or country house, on where you are from) staring at a stunning of north shore Lake Superior, the largest fresh water This is pretty (at the parallel), this has been very hot. Once again, has the hottest month ever
 (if you haven’t already), keep in mInd that, for More tHan 40 YeaRs, The NfL deTermined home-fiELd adVantage for league and conFerenCe CHampIOnShip gAmes via AN aRBItrArY rOtaTiON. IN 1972, for eXamPle, the STeelers hosTed ThE 15-0 Dolphins in tHE AfC title gamE.

ThE seeding concEpt Came frOm A reALizatIon By the nFL thaT ExcellEnce shoulD bE RewardED via homE-FIeLd adVantage. But now that THe CUrrent seeding pRocess Is CReATIng A neGative impaCt On comPEtitive BAlANCE anD Threatening thE integrity oF The Game, thE lEagUE needs To finD a WAy tO determine pLayoFf seeding That enCOurages ALl teams To apprOacH thE latTEr StAgeS oF The REgUlaR SeaSon not liKe A sEcond PresEASON, but LikE an eArly pOstseason.

And tHe eNcouRAgeMent nEeds tO comE nOt froM a list Of “thoU sHalts” or a draft-daY nigHtcrawler, But FrOm tHe ActuaL Thing tHat Is cAusing tEams to sHUt iT dOWN — PoSitioning in the ultiMaTE PlAyoff treE.

ThougH We SuSPect that ThIs iDea hAS A very RemoTE cHance at eVer beiNG aDoPted, our BrOader pOiNt iS thAt the SOlutIon neeDs to addrEss thE Root of the problEM. Teams are layiNG dOWN bECausE a wIn won’t enhanCe thEIr plAyofF SeEdiNG, and a Loss wOn’T HuRT it. The only way to remoVe That meNtaliTy is to find a waY to make latE-SEAson wins And lOSsES have a potentiaL impaCt on whetheR A team wilL play Its postsEason gameS AT home or oN thE roAd.

REgaRDLeSs of the specifIC DeviCe That the LeaGue uses, The nFL NeeDs tO fInd a way to Make late-SeAsOn GaMes Have a REal impacT oN plAyOff SeediNG. NothiNg elsE wilL fIx AN unAcceptaBLe SITuatIoN.

2. 50 pErceNt tUrNover Rate PErsIsts.

3. McDAniels shoUld BE on tHe HoT seat.

4. GiAnts should conSiDer firing TOm couGhlin.

5. COLTs could fAce an awards backlash.

6. T.J. leARns the hArd Way noT to mAke boasts.

7. jetS could Be dANgerouS in posTseasOn.

8. preSSUre moUNTs For ThE Cowboys. EaRLIer This mOnTh I eNjoyed a Week of vacation sittINg oN the beach in frOnt Of a bEAUtIfuL CaMP (or CoTTagE, CAbin or country hoUse, dependiNg ON wHere you are FRom) StAring at A stunniNg vieW Of the noRth shore oF Lake SupeRiOr, thE WOrlD’s largest fResh wateR lake. This IS pretTY fAr norTh (aT the 49th PaRalLel), anD this yEAr tHe sumMer has BeEn very Hot. OnCe Again, JulY has been the hottest month Ever
 (if you haven’t already),  keep in m ind t hat , f or  mor e th an 40 years, t h e NF L determined home-fiel d adv an t agef or  leag ue andc on f e ren ce  c ham pi o ns hip g ame s via a n arbitrar y r ot ation. In 19 7 2,  for examp le,  the Steeler s h ostedth e 1 5 -0 Do lph ins i n theA FC tit le game.
T h e seed i ng conc e p tcame  from a realizati o nb y the NFL that  excel le n ce s hou ldbe rewarde dvia h o me-fiel d  a d v a nta g e. But now th at the curr e ntseedin gpro c ess is  crea ti n g a  negative i mpac t on comp etitiv e  balanc e  and th reaten ing  th e in t eg ri tyof the ga me, the  leaguene ed s tofind a w ay t o d eter mineplayoff seedi ngthat enc ourag es al l te am s toapproa ch th elatter stages o f th e regular  se as onno t lik e  a sec ond  pr eseason , but l i kean e a rl y postseason.

And  t h e  e ncourage ment n e ed st o come n ot  fr om a l ist o f “t h ou  shalts”  or ad ra ft -day ni gh tcrawl er , b utfromt he a ctualthing th at is causing teamst o shut it dow n  — p os i tion ing  in the ult imat e  pla yoff tr ee. 
Thou gh we  s u sp e ct that this idea h as  a ver y rem ote chance at  ever bein g a dopted,ourb ro a der point is t hat t he solutio n  needs t o add ress the  root oft h e proble m.Tea msare l ay ing down beca u s e awi n won’t  en hance t hei r p lay off  s eeding, a nd a los swo n’ thur t it. The only  w ayto  re movet hat me ntali ty i sto fin d a way to m akela te -sea son  w ins a nd l o sse s havea potenti ali mpac ton  whethe r a team will  p lay its po st sea son ga m e s at hom e or on the road.

Rega r dless o f t he sp ecif ic device  th at the  le a gue us es, th e NFL  n eed s to fi n d  a  wa yto make la t e -se asonga meshave areal impact on pla y off  seeding. Not hin g el s e  w ill fi x  an  u n acc e p table situation .

2. 50 p er c en t turnover rat epersist s.

3.McDan i els sho uld be on  the hotse at.4 . G iants shou ld consi der firin g  TomC ou ghlin .
5. Col ts  co uld f ace an awa rds b acklas h. 

6. T .J. l ea rns thehard way not to make bo asts.
7. J ets  could be  da n ger ous in po stse ason.

8.Pre ssu re mo unt s  fortheC ow boy s . Ear lier this mont h  I  en j o ye d a week of v a cat ion s itt i ng onthebeach in front of a beautiful ca mp ( o r  co tta g e, c ab in or countryhou se , dependin gon where yo u are fr om )  star ing at  a stu nning v i e wo f thenort h s hore of L ake  S u perior,  t he world’ s la rg est fr esh wa t er l a k e. This is prett y far n orth( atthe 4 9t h paral l el),  and thisyear the su mmer h as b een v ery hot .Once a gai n,  July hasb een the h ottes t month  e ver
 (if_you haven’t_already), keep in mind_that, for_more_than 40_years,_the NFL determined_home-field advantage for_league and conference championship_games via an_arbitrary_rotation. In 1972, for example, the Steelers hosted the 15-0 Dolphins in the AFC_title_game.

The seeding_concept_came_from a realization by the_NFL that excellence should be_rewarded via_home-field advantage. But now that the current seeding_process_is creating a_negative impact on competitive balance and threatening the integrity_of the game, the league needs_to find a_way_to_determine playoff seeding that_encourages all teams to approach the_latter stages of the regular season_not like a second preseason, but like_an early postseason.

And the encouragement needs_to come not from a_list of_“thou shalts” or a draft-day_nightcrawler, but from_the actual_thing that is_causing teams to shut it down_— positioning in_the ultimate playoff tree.

Though we suspect_that_this idea has_a_very_remote chance_at ever being_adopted,_our broader_point_is that the solution needs to_address_the root of the problem. Teams are_laying down because a_win_won’t enhance their playoff_seeding, and a loss won’t_hurt it. The only way to_remove that_mentality is_to find a way to make late-season wins and losses have_a potential impact on whether a_team will play its_postseason games_at_home or on_the_road.

Regardless of_the specific device that the league uses,_the NFL_needs to find a way to_make late-season games have_a_real impact on playoff seeding. Nothing_else will fix an unacceptable situation.

2._50 percent turnover rate persists.

3._McDaniels_should_be on the hot seat.

4._Giants should consider firing Tom Coughlin.

5._Colts could face_an awards backlash.

6. T.J. learns the hard_way_not to make boasts.

7. Jets could_be_dangerous in postseason.

8. Pressure mounts for_the_Cowboys._Earlier this month I enjoyed_a week of vacation sitting on_the beach in front of a beautiful camp (or_cottage, cabin or_country house, depending on where_you_are_from) staring at a stunning view of the north shore_of Lake_Superior, the world’s_largest fresh water lake. This is pretty far north (at_the 49th parallel), and this year the_summer has been very hot. Once again, July has been the_hottest month ever