NFL Parity

[flamingrey]

Unlike any other professional sports league, the NFL is built on parity. A number of factors have made it so:

1) The team with the worst record gets the #1 pick, 2nd worst record gets the #2 pick, and so forth...
2) Within a division, each team - based on their divisional ranking from the previous season - faces one team from 2 other divisions with the same divisional ranking, essentially designed to give 2 easier opponents to the worst teams in the division than their divisional rivals.
3) Revenue sharing marginalizes the gap in profits between the larger market teams and the smaller market teams.

Now, the new CBA has only helped further develop the parity:

4) With the new rookie cap, the bottom-feeder teams are no longer held hostage with a massive salary cap hit that would come with signing a top 5-10 pick for 4-6 years, allowing them more money yearly for FA.
5) With the 99% of salary cap rule, all teams are forced to spend around the same amount of money. No longer can smaller market teams or teams that don't expect to compete spend a significant amount of less money than larger market teams or teams that will spend whatever it takes (within the confines of the previous CBA) to win.

However, one has to wonder, with all the rule changes and world-pro athletes turning the tides of the NFL to a passing league, are all those things that have encouraged parity being negated? In the past when the league was more geared towards running the ball, teams with even good QBs that also built the best teams from the trenches on out to solidify their run game, run defense, and pass rush had as good a chance of winning it all as those with the best QBs. Whereas, with the new found emphasis on the pass, will it not be that the teams with the top tier QBs in the league will be the only ones with a "real" chance of winning it all?

Just looking at the last several years in the playoffs, it's been the pass heavy teams with dynamic offenses that have gone on to be the most successful in the playoffs and to win it all. The Steelers were the last team that had a good mix, but since then the Saints and Packers have won it facing more pass heavy teams like the Colts and Cardinals (and Steelers). This season, the trend seems it will continue with the best offensive teams - which just happen to be pass happy teams with great QBs - that are favored to win it all: Packers, Patriots, Saints, Falcons (before they fell off), and the up-and-coming Lions.

As this pertains to the Bengals, it leaves us to question whether drafting Dalton was the best move for the long term future of this franchise. Yes, he's looked eerily vet-like behind center, and he's made some nice plays and reads; however, there aren't many that wouldn't question his accuracy, especially on the long ball, and whether he will ever be able to become efficient enough on all 3 levels of passing to boost himself into one of the elite. That said, coming into the draft with these deficiencies, wouldn't it have been more prudent for the franchise to hold off for the better crop of QB coming in next year's draft?

Personally, I was a huge advocate of rolling with Dan Lefevour and Jordan Palmer, if only to assure ourselves a high pick for the following draft and to buy another year to round off the rest of the roster - particularly the offense - for our QB of the future to step into.

Discuss.

 

[vancelot23]

You have some valid points, but I think it's too early to judge Dalton. He's been accurate for the most part, and is still adjusting and learning. His deep ball is a question, but I don't think that automatically means he can't win it all. As for the league benefitting passing teams, if that's how it shakes out, then the league will adjust and I dont think it'll affect the parity. Teams will just spend more time looking for QBs instead of other things. It'll evolve.

 

[Servo]

"Brevity is the soul of wit" -William Shatner

 

[cincygrad]

While I don't believe Dalton has the arm as many of the prospects in the first rounds of the draft, I also don't believe he is severely limited in any way. I think he can make all of the throws and I think he'll be a good quarterback in this league.

When Drew Brees left Purdue, he was not evaluated as a top prospect given his size and given that he didn't show off a big arm in Tiller's system. I'm certainly not saying that Dalton is Brees, but it does go to show you that the "combine" metrics don't always match up to what you saw on the field.

Plus, we should be happy..... I mean, at least Andy Dalton can read an NFL defense.... Cam Newton will never be able to do that!

 

[DanBengalfan]

you know who had a very strong arm? David Klingler. That dude could toss it a mile. but ya know what, he forever made people doubt any qb that ever comes out of houston university.

 

[Servo]

Alright, Rey I read your post and while last year I woudl've agreed I have no qualms with them drafting Dalton. I've actually been impressed with Dalton and feel confident with him moving forward. He's exceeded my expectations...and while he may never be Aaron Rodgers to be honest Barkley and Landry Jones I have found to be less than impressive this year. So I guess if there were some hypothetical guarantee that we'd land Luck I'd say yeah, hold off. Things being as they are I'm good with Dalton. I think he's shown that he can play in this league and certainly has some much needed moxie that we've been missing at the position. All in all I actually really like the direction (sans ownership) that the franchise is moving. i still think Marv is a terrible HC but actually have no qualms with the job he's doing this year. I think things are looking up...and I could actually see this incarnation of the Bengals winning a playoff game or two in the next few years. Overall, I'm satisfied with the direction that they've gone and I think really as Bengals fans we owe carson a debt of gratitude for forcing MB to scrap trying to recreate 2005 and finally start over and move on.

 

[kramer1]

Dalton stinks. Not sure what you all are watching.

 

[grayghost668]

Unlike any other professional sports league, the NFL is built on parity. A number of factors have made it so:

1) The team with the worst record gets the #1 pick, 2nd worst record gets the #2 pick, and so forth...
2) Within a division, each team - based on their divisional ranking from the previous season - faces one team from 2 other divisions with the same divisional ranking, essentially designed to give 2 easier opponents to the worst teams in the division than their divisional rivals.
3) Revenue sharing marginalizes the gap in profits between the larger market teams and the smaller market teams.

Now, the new CBA has only helped further develop the parity:

4) With the new rookie cap, the bottom-feeder teams are no longer held hostage with a massive salary cap hit that would come with signing a top 5-10 pick for 4-6 years, allowing them more money yearly for FA.
5) With the 99% of salary cap rule, all teams are forced to spend around the same amount of money. No longer can smaller market teams or teams that don't expect to compete spend a significant amount of less money than larger market teams or teams that will spend whatever it takes (within the confines of the previous CBA) to win.

However, one has to wonder, with all the rule changes and world-pro athletes turning the tides of the NFL to a passing league, are all those things that have encouraged parity being negated? In the past when the league was more geared towards running the ball, teams with even good QBs that also built the best teams from the trenches on out to solidify their run game, run defense, and pass rush had as good a chance of winning it all as those with the best QBs. Whereas, with the new found emphasis on the pass, will it not be that the teams with the top tier QBs in the league will be the only ones with a "real" chance of winning it all?

Just looking at the last several years in the playoffs, it's been the pass heavy teams with dynamic offenses that have gone on to be the most successful in the playoffs and to win it all. The Steelers were the last team that had a good mix, but since then the Saints and Packers have won it facing more pass heavy teams like the Colts and Cardinals (and Steelers). This season, the trend seems it will continue with the best offensive teams - which just happen to be pass happy teams with great QBs - that are favored to win it all: Packers, Patriots, Saints, Falcons (before they fell off), and the up-and-coming Lions.

As this pertains to the Bengals, it leaves us to question whether drafting Dalton was the best move for the long term future of this franchise. Yes, he's looked eerily vet-like behind center, and he's made some nice plays and reads; however, there aren't many that wouldn't question his accuracy, especially on the long ball, and whether he will ever be able to become efficient enough on all 3 levels of passing to boost himself into one of the elite. That said, coming into the draft with these deficiencies, wouldn't it have been more prudent for the franchise to hold off for the better crop of QB coming in next year's draft?

Personally, I was a huge advocate of rolling with Dan Lefevour and Jordan Palmer, if only to assure ourselves a high pick for the following draft and to buy another year to round off the rest of the roster - particularly the offense - for our QB of the future to step into.

Discuss.

how can you claim there is any PARITY in the nflJacksonville Jaguars AFC ACS 8 8 0 .500 353 419 -66 41 5-3 3-5 3-3 .500 7-5 .583 1-3 3L 2-3
Oakland Raiders AFC ACW 8 8 0 .500 410 371 39 44 5-3 3-5 6-0 1.000 6-6 .500 2-2 1W 3-2
Miami Dolphins AFC ACE 7 9 0 .438 273 333 -60 26 1-7 6-2 2-4 .333 5-7 .417 2-2 3L 1-4
z- Seattle Seahawks NFC NCW 7 9 0 .438 310 407 -97 33 5-3 2-6 4-2 .667 6-6 .500 1-3 1W 2-3
St. Louis Rams NFC NCW 7 9 0 .438 289 328 -39 27 5-3 2-6 3-3 .500 5-7 .417 2-2 1L 2-3
Dallas Cowboys NFC NCE 6 10 0 .375 394 436 -42 46 2-6 4-4 3-3 .500 4-8 .333 2-2 1W 3-2
Detroit Lions NFC NCN 6 10 0 .375 362 369 -7 41 4-4 2-6 2-4 .333 5-7 .417 1-3 4W 4-1
Houston Texans AFC ACS 6 10 0 .375 390 427 -37 44 4-4 2-6 3-3 .500 5-7 .417 1-3 1W 1-4
Minnesota Vikings NFC NCN 6 10 0 .375 281 348 -67 33 4-4 2-6 1-5 .167 5-7 .417 1-3 1L 2-3
San Francisco 49ers NFC NCW 6 10 0 .375 305 346 -41 34 5-3 1-7 4-2 .667 4-8 .333 2-2 1W 2-3
Tennessee Titans AFC ACS 6 10 0 .375 356 339 17 40 3-5 3-5 2-4 .333 3-9 .250 3-1 2L 1-4
Washington Redskins NFC NCE 6 10 0 .375 302 377 -75 33 2-6 4-4 2-4 .333 4-8 .333 2-2 1L 1-4
Arizona Cardinals NFC NCW 5 11 0 .313 289 434 -145 31 4-4 1-7 1-5 .167 3-9 .250 2-2 1L 2-3
Cleveland Browns AFC ACN 5 11 0 .313 271 332 -61 29 3-5 2-6 1-5 .167 3-9 .250 2-2 4L 1-4
Buffalo Bills AFC ACE 4 12 0 .250 283 425 -142 34 2-6 2-6 1-5 .167 3-9 .250 1-3 2L 2-3
Cincinnati Bengals AFC ACN 4 12 0 .250 322 395 -73 36 3-5 1-7 2-4 .333 3-9 .250 1-3 1L 2-3
Denver Broncos AFC ACW 4 12 0 .250 344 471 -127 40 3-5 1-7 1-5 .167 3-9 .250 1-3 1L 1-4


every one of these teams stunk last year,17 out of 32 and a team under 500 made the playoffs,,,,,,,,,,parity,,,bullshit

 

[BigBlueNation111]

Morning Bengal Nation....

 

[DanBengalfan]

how can you claim there is any PARITY in the nflJacksonville Jaguars AFC ACS 8 8 0 .500 353 419 -66 41 5-3 3-5 3-3 .500 7-5 .583 1-3 3L 2-3
Oakland Raiders AFC ACW 8 8 0 .500 410 371 39 44 5-3 3-5 6-0 1.000 6-6 .500 2-2 1W 3-2
Miami Dolphins AFC ACE 7 9 0 .438 273 333 -60 26 1-7 6-2 2-4 .333 5-7 .417 2-2 3L 1-4
z- Seattle Seahawks NFC NCW 7 9 0 .438 310 407 -97 33 5-3 2-6 4-2 .667 6-6 .500 1-3 1W 2-3
St. Louis Rams NFC NCW 7 9 0 .438 289 328 -39 27 5-3 2-6 3-3 .500 5-7 .417 2-2 1L 2-3
Dallas Cowboys NFC NCE 6 10 0 .375 394 436 -42 46 2-6 4-4 3-3 .500 4-8 .333 2-2 1W 3-2
Detroit Lions NFC NCN 6 10 0 .375 362 369 -7 41 4-4 2-6 2-4 .333 5-7 .417 1-3 4W 4-1
Houston Texans AFC ACS 6 10 0 .375 390 427 -37 44 4-4 2-6 3-3 .500 5-7 .417 1-3 1W 1-4
Minnesota Vikings NFC NCN 6 10 0 .375 281 348 -67 33 4-4 2-6 1-5 .167 5-7 .417 1-3 1L 2-3
San Francisco 49ers NFC NCW 6 10 0 .375 305 346 -41 34 5-3 1-7 4-2 .667 4-8 .333 2-2 1W 2-3
Tennessee Titans AFC ACS 6 10 0 .375 356 339 17 40 3-5 3-5 2-4 .333 3-9 .250 3-1 2L 1-4
Washington Redskins NFC NCE 6 10 0 .375 302 377 -75 33 2-6 4-4 2-4 .333 4-8 .333 2-2 1L 1-4
Arizona Cardinals NFC NCW 5 11 0 .313 289 434 -145 31 4-4 1-7 1-5 .167 3-9 .250 2-2 1L 2-3
Cleveland Browns AFC ACN 5 11 0 .313 271 332 -61 29 3-5 2-6 1-5 .167 3-9 .250 2-2 4L 1-4
Buffalo Bills AFC ACE 4 12 0 .250 283 425 -142 34 2-6 2-6 1-5 .167 3-9 .250 1-3 2L 2-3
Cincinnati Bengals AFC ACN 4 12 0 .250 322 395 -73 36 3-5 1-7 2-4 .333 3-9 .250 1-3 1L 2-3
Denver Broncos AFC ACW 4 12 0 .250 344 471 -127 40 3-5 1-7 1-5 .167 3-9 .250 1-3 1L 1-4


every one of these teams stunk last year,17 out of 32 and a team under 500 made the playoffs,,,,,,,,,,parity,,,bullshit

that chart is really hard to understand.
does it say the bengals are 2-3? I thought we were 3-2!

 

[flamingrey]

You have some valid points, but I think it's too early to judge Dalton. He's been accurate for the most part, and is still adjusting and learning. His deep ball is a question, but I don't think that automatically means he can't win it all. As for the league benefitting passing teams, if that's how it shakes out, then the league will adjust and I dont think it'll affect the parity. Teams will just spend more time looking for QBs instead of other things. It'll evolve.

That's the problem, you can look as hard as you want, but the number of high quality QBs are very low and hard to come by. Each season we get maybe 3-4 good QBs out of the draft of which maybe 1-2 become top-to-middle tier QBs (8-15 range).

As for Dalton, the jury is definitely still out. I'm not saying he's anything one way or the other right now. He's definitely impressed so far. But the general trend that we've been seeing concerns me since we ARE now committed to Dalton for another 4-5 years minimum. It just got me back to thinking what if we had essentially tanked this year and waited another year for a better prospect coming out of the draft. Would we have been better off?

Nobody has commented on it so far, but are we in agreement that the league is going this general direction and the top dogs will have the best chances (90+%) year in and year out to win it all?

 

[flamingrey]

Alright, Rey I read your post and while last year I woudl've agreed I have no qualms with them drafting Dalton. I've actually been impressed with Dalton and feel confident with him moving forward. He's exceeded my expectations...and while he may never be Aaron Rodgers to be honest Barkley and Landry Jones I have found to be less than impressive this year. So I guess if there were some hypothetical guarantee that we'd land Luck I'd say yeah, hold off. Things being as they are I'm good with Dalton. I think he's shown that he can play in this league and certainly has some much needed moxie that we've been missing at the position. All in all I actually really like the direction (sans ownership) that the franchise is moving. i still think Marv is a terrible HC but actually have no qualms with the job he's doing this year. I think things are looking up...and I could actually see this incarnation of the Bengals winning a playoff game or two in the next few years. Overall, I'm satisfied with the direction that they've gone and I think really as Bengals fans we owe carson a debt of gratitude for forcing MB to scrap trying to recreate 2005 and finally start over and move on.

Great post. Can't disagree with most of it. You're more of expert on college QBs. I understand they aren't looking good, but will they come out as better rated QBs than Dalton as far as accuracy goes on all 3 levels of the field?

I'd also like to add, it's nice to see Dalton being able to read defenses. Many times, that's what keeps talented QBs from ever hitting their stride. Though I'll withhold judgement until we play some real defenses (outside of 49ers who made Dalton look bad).

This is the same boat we were in in 2005. And then it all went downhill. Personally, I would hold off on predicting playoff victories at least for now. Don't forget we're still in the same division as the Steelers and Ravens. It's harder for us to even make the playoffs than most teams, let alone win a game.

 

[TrinDaddy]

Great post. Personally, I don't ever want to have a losing season. I hate seeing the team lose and it eats at my soul every Sunday that they do. I'm pleased with Dalton and he looks like he will be a solid NFL QB. If we can use him long enough to set up some great pieces around him, like a better o lineman, an elite safety, and a good running back, we'll be on our way to greater days. We can win with this kid. I'm not asking for a dynasty, I just want one, damn it.

 

[cincygrad]

The idea of tanking the season and hoping for the best in the draft is crazy...... We don't know that Landry Jones or any of the other prospects will be great NFL players. I will grant you that Luck certainly looks like a can't miss prospect, but he's going first overall and with our schedule, I think Jordan Palmer would have even won too many games to get the 1st pick.

 

[huskers1217]

Shit. Troy aikman went 1-15 his first year. Dalton >>>> over that over rated bitch quarterback that held cincy down for years palmer

 

[flamingrey]

The idea of tanking the season and hoping for the best in the draft is crazy...... We don't know that Landry Jones or any of the other prospects will be great NFL players. I will grant you that Luck certainly looks like a can't miss prospect, but he's going first overall and with our schedule, I think Jordan Palmer would have even won too many games to get the 1st pick.

I never imagined the defense would be this good. I was hoping to tank for Luck; however, I was also fine with tanking for one of Jones or Barkley. And I think that would have been guaranteed had we gone with Jordan and/or Lefevour.

Of course you never know how a QB is going to turn out, but this was based strictly on potential. I believe all 3 of those guys and maybe other guys in the draft also will be slated with more potential than Dalton had, at least coming out of the draft.

*The key here is *potential*. Dalton has had his ups and downs. Has looked excellent at times. But he also fell into a GREAT situation (awesome defense, awesome offenseive scheme, serviceable o-line, great receivers), so it'll be at least a few years when we see where the other QBs go in the draft and how they also turn out before we can actually come back and say whether we made the right choice or if we may have been better taking a chance at the following year.

 

[DanBengalfan]

Indy has a lock on Luck right now, if curtis painter starts winning games I half expect him to get released.

 

[grayghost668]

Dalton is looking good

 

[BigBlueNation111]

Lets stomp some Colt ass guys!!!! WHO DEY BABY!!!

 

[Servo]

Dalton stinks. Not sure what you all are watching.

says the guy who called AJ Green terrible...