Weather | Sports | Forums | Comics | Classifieds | Calendar | Movies
By ROGER MILLS
© St. Petersburg Times, published September 18, 2001
TAMPA -- As the country strived to return to routine Monday, another ripple from Tuesday's terrorist attacks apparently will affect the NFL.
The NFL likely will announce today that it plans to play a 16-game season. The league will have to play last week's postponed games the week after the original end of the regular season. That weekend, Jan. 5-6, had been set for the wild-card round of the playoffs.
Should the league use that option, it will reduce the number of playoff teams from 12 to eight. There would be three division winners and one wild card in each conference.
It is a alternative Bucs coach Tony Dungy sees as virtually inevitable.
"I think you're going to have to play 16 games because there would be too many inequities otherwise," Dungy said. "Some teams will have more home games, some teams with more division games and the tiebreakers will not be fair. So, I think they should try to get the 16th game in at all cost. How to do that, I'm not really sure."
With only four teams per conference making the playoffs, three of them division winners, there is a premium on finishing first.
"Your approach doesn't change because your No. 1 goal is to win your division," Dungy said. "That's the only way to be sure you get in the playoffs, no matter what."
"I don't think you change anything," Bucs center Jeff Christy said. "I think you try to win every game (anyway)."
For the Bucs, who play in the NFC Central, known for parity, having one wild card places increased emphasis on winning division games.
"I think it'll be extremely tough," offensive coordinator Clyde Christensen said. "Given that this is probably the toughest division in the NFC. Certainly, it's hard to sweep everybody. You don't get swept much and you don't sweep people."
No team seeded lower than fourth has made it to a championship game since Jacksonville upset Buffalo and Denver to reach the AFC title game after the 1996 season.
There is some sentiment to adapt the 16-game season and do away with the wild-card weekend this season.
"I want to play as many as we can play," Jets coach Herman Edwards said. "We might have to change the playoff format but I think it will be 16 games and they'll do what they need to do to squeeze it in."
SECURITY: The league has implemented the tightest measures since the 1991 playoffs and Super Bowl.
Senior director of security Milt Ahlerich sent a memo to all teams, outlining measures to take effect Sunday and remain in place indefinitely. They include strict screening at entrances, checking cars at the gate, moving parking spaces away from stadiums and barring fans from bringing bags in.
CARDINALS: Running back Michael Pittman, suspended after two arrests on charges related to violent confrontations with his wife, returned to team but didn't know if he will be allowed to play Sunday against Denver.
COWBOYS: Defensive end Ebenezer Ekuban had surgery on a herniated disk and will be out about two months.
DOLPHINS: Receiver James McKnight left practice after tearing the skin between two fingers on his right hand.
- Staff writer Rick Stroud and Times wires contributed to this report.