DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Isn't it time ....? (Rosters)

With the demise of NFLE, isn't it time for the NFL and players' union to get together and address the matter of roster size?


The current system was a compromise system that make the IR a season ending proposition, and allowed a maximum "active" list for gamedays. It eliminated (or at least cut down) the "stashing" of players on IR for (IIRC) 4 or 6 weeks. It was supposed to foster increased competition by freeing up players to go to weaker teams.

While I would imagine that there have been cases where the "54th" and "55th" players on a superior roster have gone on to help other teams, I also know that the weaker teams generally aren't going to take on many long term developmental projects. Their coaches and GMs can't afford to. Thus some potentially good players go by the wayside. There is no opportunity for these players to be brought along at a more productive pace, and if they don't meet a very quick deveopmental pace they are jettisoned for another player who might. I think that this is especially true for players who will play a somewhat different role in the NFL, such as a DL becoming a 3-4 LB in the NFL.

The "active" gameday roster also has its drawbacks. Let's look at a game like last Sunday. One team running away with the game, and the other team helpless to stop it from happening. At what point was the game lost? Wouldn't it have been nice to be able to rotate in some of our develpmental DL who currently reside on the practice squad to see how they do in a real NFL game?

Further, I believe that weaker teams are disproportionately affected by losing (or the risk of losing) players off of their pracrtice squads. Let's say that team "A" really struggles on their DL. They have an ondesized, but very promising player on their roster. They can't afford to carry the kid on their roster, because he won't contribute this year, but they don't want to lose him either. They put him on their practice squad.

Enter team "B". Team B had their eye on this player, and was disappointed when he was taken by A. Team B has solid and well established talent on their DL. They are in position to bring in this player, sit him for the year, and allow him to develop the physical side of things. Team A now has to weaken and already weak spot on their roster and activate the player, or lose him.


I would have 3 suggestions ......

I would like to see the NFL Expand the rosters to 65, and make all player eligible for every game. Allow teams who make solid scouting a major factor in building their teams to benefit. This would allow for "stashing" .... but is this really going to be a major problem? If so, have random checks done, and if a team puts a player on IR with a ficticious injury, they lose a draft pick.

My other possibility would be a 2 tiered "rookie" (and 2nd year player) salary scale. Drafted players will continue to be paid as is currently done. There should be some reward for standing out enough to get drafted. Any rookie free agents (and 2nd year undrafted players) get paid according to a scale. Perhaps allocate so many dollars overall for a 15 player portion of the roster, and teams have to fill this section from these dollars. This would allow for teams to actually develop the players who would otherwise slip through the cracks. Allowances could be made for undrafted players who become starters.

At a minimum, I think that the practice squad should be modified, and players paid a slighty higher wage, and teams be allowed to bring these players into a game in the 4th quarter. In a game that is a lost cause, what purpose does it do for a team to look at the same players they have already seen? If practice squad players can get on the field in real game situations, the team can get a truer barometer of what they have, and hidden strengths and/or weaknesses can emerge. Coaches always have to "look at the tape" before determining how their players did in any game ...... so how does a practice squad type "flash" for the coaches? I truly think that this would allow some players to emerge and show their capabilities in real conditions.

These are some of my ideas, If you have the ability to do so, how would you change the system, and why? If you would leave it alone, then why would you make this choice?

10. Is it time for teams to carry 100 players in the offseason?

With NFL Europa gone for good, the offseason programs and the preseason is the only training ground for players. One GM suggested to me that it may be time to let clubs have closer to 100 players on the roster for the offseason so coaches could work with them and develop their own players. It's not a bad idea that your core veteran stars don't report until April for the offseason but that the other larger group works through February and March to improve on their skills.

Pat Kirwin article I posted in other thread earlier this morning.

Link To Thread - "Spread Offence"

The thing with that is, I've heard NFL personnel argue that there isn't enough NFL-caliber players to fill a bigger roster. You figure with the expansion to 32 teams, adding another 9 guys to a team is equal to finding another 288 more players.

That's a LOT of players.

I'd be for expanding to maybe 55 or 56 players, but the talent will probably just not be worth it.

I always thought a little mini season...6-8 games? Played between the teams practice squads would be kind of helpful. You'd have guys your interested in keeping and fill the roster out with those who are undrafted or cut. someone always piseems to rise to the top in those type situations.
Also give those practice squad guys "real" game type play.

I think a mini season wouldn't be such a bad idea. Take 32 players, 15 offense and 15 defense a kicker and a punter. All players must be practice squad eligible going into that season. Play 4 games in June at the teams training camp grounds, 2 home 2 away. Schedule games with the NFC or AFC division you played the previous season.

I've never played a down of organized football in my life, I'm just an avid fan, but from the outside looking in this appears to me like a decent plan. It would allow you to evaluate the undrafted free agents you sign after the draft, and new guys from last season you would like to see again. Just run vanilla (I despise that term but I'll use it anyways) offense and defense, because really you just want to see the guys skill set right? I don't even think you need the important coaches there. I guess in my idea I'm treating it like Baseball spring training games when you split the squads.

Then, when the time comes at the end of training camp to get players for practice squads, add 5 extra players to the practice squad. That way there is room for 2nd day draft picks who aren't prepared to make the team, as well as undrafted guys you "discover".