Commentary: NFL Should Extend The Trade Deadline

by Jason Garrison on Nov 18, 2011 12:01 PM EST

This is a topic we talked about on last night's podcast. I asked the question, if the injury to Leon Hall had happened a week before the trade deadline and if you were in charge of the Bengals, would you make a deal for somebody like the Eagles' Asante Samuel and how much would you give up. Both Joe and Dave agreed that they would make a deal, but that's not what is important.

The important thing is that the Bengals can't trade for another cornerback and they're stuck with either Kelly Jennings or Brandon Ghee, Adam Jones, who isn't 100 percent healthy and hasn't played cornerback in over a year, or a free agent corner.

The Bengals aren't the only team in this position either. The Texans have lost Matt Schaub and now have to turn the team's offense over to Matt Leinart and the Chiefs have lost quarterback Matt Cassel leaving Tylor Palko to lead the Chiefs against the Patriots on Monday night. The Chiefs are only a game behind the leaders of the AFC West with a 4-5 record and the Texans are leading the AFC South right now, but without their starting quarterbacks, there's a decent chance that each team can kiss their playoff hopes goodbye.

Leon Hall is a big loss for the Bengals. Jennings has been a disappointment so far this season and, right now, Jones can't be relied on to start and stay healthy. Ghee has little to no experience and any cornerback that is a free agent at this point in the season is a free agent for a reason.

That's why the NFL should extend their trade deadline in the coming seasons.

The trade deadline was the Tuesday before the NFL's Week 7 games, so teams had until Oct. 18 to make trades. That means that there are 11 weekends worth of games to be played after teams are allowed to make trades. That's way too early. In Week 6 there is a very vague picture of the playoffs but in Week 11 the playoff picture begins to look much clearer. If teams were allowed to make trades up through, say Thanksgiving, the Bengals, Texans and Chiefs could be in much better shape.

If the trade deadline was Thanksgiving the Chiefs or Texans could trade for a player like Kyle Orton or Jason Campbell instead of sticking with Leinart or Palko and the Bengals could trade for a cornerback like Samuel instead of sticking with a group of corners that have either not played the position, are injured or have just been bad.

It would be much more fair to the teams that are looking to make a playoff push or the teams who are currently leading the division to be able to make trades at least through Week 10 so their injuries don't become the reason that they fail to make the playoffs by the end of the season.

What do you think?

Poll

Should the NFL extend their trade deadline?

Yes

286 votes

No

88 votes

374 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

What is the point of the trade deadline?

AMAS

by AMAS85 on Nov 18, 2011 12:04 PM EST reply actions

it prevents playoff teams from stacking the deck at the end of the season.

playoff run team has guy hurt, gives up a draft pick or other player to team that is not in contention.

I have no issue with this personally, but it probably was because some teams “loaned” other teams players in the past and it got ugly.

Wrong! Conan! What is best in life?

To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of their women.

by UpStateMike on Nov 18, 2011 12:27 PM EST up reply actions

Exactly

Your post concisely summarizes my rather lengthy response below.

by The_Black_Stripes on Nov 18, 2011 12:39 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

that makes sense, but yea they could push it back a couple weeks

because more players seemed to be getting hurt more often. Or make the active roster have more players towards the end of the year, like baseball.

AMAS

by AMAS85 on Nov 18, 2011 12:40 PM EST up reply actions

i actually think extending the Trade deadline would negatively impact the competitve balance of the league

For example, teams who are already out of playoff contention (I.e. Colts, Rams, Dolphins). May be inclined to “unload” players just for the sake of unloading them (maybe to get something in return for a player who is in the last year of his contract and who may leave via FA in thw offseason with his old team getting nothing in return).

For example, Reggie Wayne of the colts is in thw last year of his deal. He is unlikely to re-sign with thw Colts as they are currently low balling him (in his opinion of course). The colts already know that they have a slim chance of re-signing Wayne, and will thus probably lose him without getting any compensation in return.

So with the Colts already out of playoff contention, why not ship Wayne for even a mid-round pick (I.e. 4th or 5th) at this point?? At least they would be getting something in return, as opposed to letting him walk in thw offsason and getting nothing.

And I’d be thw first one pissed if teams like thw SteAler and Ravens acquired players this way.

There’s a reason why the NFL trading deadline is when it is. If it were later, teams would trade players they are fairly certain will leave in FA in the offseason anyway, in order to get at least something in return.

IMO, I think extending the deadline would negatively impact the game’s competitive balance.

by The_Black_Stripes on Nov 18, 2011 12:36 PM EST via mobile reply actions

+1

It sucks to lose a key player and have no true replacement, but it’s the same for every team. I just don’t think it would be a smart move to extend it any further either.

"Next season will be better" circa 1990

by Yarin on Nov 18, 2011 12:39 PM EST up reply actions

+1

by DiddyGotGrillz on Nov 18, 2011 1:44 PM EST up reply actions

One thing though.

Each team has to meet the floor and the ceiling of the salary cap. This can prevent teams from acquiring players and letting players go. Yes there is a chance of what you said teams could/would do, but most teams couldn’t afford a Wayne right now.
Or the NFL could put stipulations on acquired players and teams, as to eliminate such transactions as you were talking about.

by WHYUS!! on Nov 18, 2011 5:58 PM EST up reply actions

I say no

Part of having a good teamnis having quality depth.

"At the very end, somebody took a dump right where I stood in the dugout every day." Dusty Baker

by featherman on Nov 18, 2011 12:46 PM EST reply actions

+1

by DiddyGotGrillz on Nov 18, 2011 1:44 PM EST up reply actions

figured everyone would be for it and id be the only one left to.defend why not to

But I agree with what everyone is saying. Plus, they’ve already changed the game enough, leave it alone.

by JCompton41 on Nov 18, 2011 12:51 PM EST via mobile reply actions

Why not give teams extra roster spots later in the season

Baseball rosters expand in September. Let NFL teams add up to three players from their practice squad for increased depth later in the season (the last 3-4 games), with those players ineligible for the playoffs unless a player is placed on injured reserve.

by LooseCannon on Nov 18, 2011 12:58 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

I would extend

But not much. Week 8, at the very latest. After this, trades would be closely linked to a team shot at the playoffs. Right now, some corners maybe got interested in Cincy and his 6-3 record. Rivers is a nice OLB. We could trade him for some return value, or load it with extra picks and get a very good player. I believe this isn’t the healthier way to manage the teams. Teams would be good and later bad. Good and bad. Within the same season. I really dislike the rollercoaster effect. If the league looks like Madden ’12 the way it works, if they extend the deadline, God knows how it would be.

by FernandoRF on Nov 18, 2011 1:07 PM EST reply actions