NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell hinted that the number of playoff teams may be increased from 12 to 14 saying there are a lot of benefits that would be derived from the change.
''We think we can make the league more competitive. We think we can make the matchups more competitive toward the end of the season. There will be more excitement, more memorable moments for our fans. And that's something that attracts us,'' Goodell said during the State of the NFL address as quoted by the Associated Press and reported by Yahoo! Sports. ''We think we can do it properly from a competitive standpoint. So this will continue to get very serious consideration by the competition committee.''
However, such proposal would require the approval of at least 24 out of the 32 team owners according to Goodell.
Philadelphia Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie is among those who seemed receptive to the idea, although he wants to hear more about the scheduling before agreeing to the proposal. He explained: ''We don't want to become like some other sports, where it's too easy to make the playoffs. Adding one team would not put us in a counterproductive situation. But when you would play the games, I think, is very important, so that the following games, you have virtually an equal time to prepare.'
On Thursday, Cardinals president Michael Bidwill declared his support to the proposal. As he said during an interview on Arizona Sports 98.7 as quoted by Cardinals Blog: "I am in favor conceptually of expanding the playoffs. The question of how and where and all that stuff, I don't want to get ahead of seeing the analysis. I want to make sure we look at the data and listen to the debate. I want to see and hear what is best for the game. But I think we should have an expanded playoffs, and not just because it was us that didn't get in this year. Because it is the right thing for the game."
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