The NFL’s competition committee has long held the belief that teams who win enough games early in the season to clinch their spot in the playoffs have earned the right to do as they please with their starters as the season comes to an end.

That said, the commissioner’s office is pushing for the committee to reexamine their position on the topic this off-season, in light of several teams deciding to pack it in late instead of playing their best players in an effort to win every game on their schedule.

The biggest offender (depending on how you see it) in that regard this year is the Colts, who chose to sit quarterback Peyton Manning and the rest of their frontline players in the second half of last week’s contest against the visiting Jets. New York went on to win the game, setting themselves up to be in the driver seat for their playoff position this week against Cincinnati, while Indianapolis lost out on a golden opportunity to make history with a run towards a perfect season.

It’s doubtful that any meaningful changes will take place this year towards this issue, as the committee has been loathe to do anything that would force teams to play when they have so little to play for. But it is possible that they could address things in a way that gives teams the incentive to play their starters through the whole season, as opposed to mandating it, appeasing purists of the game while still allowing for teams to get the rest they need headed into the postseason.

No related posts.