Tanking

     Christmas time is here once again folks. From my family to everyone's, I hope you have had a Merry Christmas and a happy holidays throughout the month of December. One thing Christmas time does in sports, is it marks the end of one of the most popular seasons in professional sports, the NFL Regular Season. With that, it is revealed what teams have been naughty and what teams have been nice. There are those 12 (barring more additions via Commissioner Roger Goodell) teams fortunate enough to make the playoffs, and then there is everybody else. There are teams that are up and coming and middle of the pack, and then there are the teams that are in contention to be the worst of the worst. For these bottom feeders, the "goal" now would be to begin preparations for next year. That starts with evaluations from the front office, to the coaching staff and finally the players. Some seek to "fix" their woes with free agency, and others prefer to "clean house" with whole sale changes and a rebuilding structure through the draft.
     One of the "rewards" for teams in the tank, is a better draft pick order position, assuming they have a pick and didn't trade it away. This brings up an interesting situation. If a team is at the bottom of the standings with a few games to go, does that team then try to lose out to secure a top pick in that following draft? Makes sense on paper; if you aren't going to make the playoffs, does it really serve you to win that 5th or 6th game and possibly slip out of prime draft position? Plenty of fans seem to want their team to tank for the future. I myself have grown up a Vikings fan, and found myself in the position last year facing the decision to root for or against my team to stink it up the last month of the season. There was the "Suck for Luck" slogan that floated around last year as well while Indianapolis was garbage and still, it was obvious that they continued to play hard and risked losing out on their top pick in the draft status.
     So with all of this out there, why would anyone consider winning under these circumstances if you won't make the playoffs? Why did the Colts continue to try to win games when it was clear that the season was lost? The answer is the first part of the rebuilding project, the evaluation. Coaches are coaching for their jobs. Players are playing for their jobs, and in some cases, brand new contracts. So why coach and play for next year, when there may not be a next year? Down here in Tennessee, the 2012 Titans are the prime example of this. After an embarrassing home loss to the Chicago Bears, owner Bud Adams basically put everyone from coaches to players on notice. After week 16's disaster at Green Bay, Adams couldn't even watch the end of the game. This doesn't sound like the sentiments of a team that has nothing to play for. This team still has everything on the line.
     I would be lying if I claim that no team actually "tanks", however, I also believe no one will ever fess up to it, no matter how obvious it may seem. I personally don't like the idea of teams tanking, even if it is for the better of the team long term. In my opinion it takes away from the integrity of the game. And yes by the way, I feel the same way about teams resting their starters for the playoffs. However, I think more of the latter, just because the teams are still trying to win, even if they are resting some starters for safety reasons. If I was a coach, player, or front office personnel, I would be weary of what is expected of me, because if I don't have job security for next year, then forget about draft picks and free agency. It is the playoffs! It is win or go home.... for the back of the pack! Tell me I'm right, or tell me I'm wrong. Either way, this debate is going to be around for a while.
     So.... everybody fasten your seatbelts, because there is more at stake in Week 17 of the NFL schedule than playoff births and positioning. Let the Carousel begin!