3-Wide: Would an NBA-style 'superteam' be good for the NFL?
3-Wide is a weekly feature in which theScore's NFL editors debate the hot topics around the league. Grab a cold towel and brace for hot takes.
Would an NBA-style "superteam" be good for the NFL?
David P. Woods: Are we even sure it's a good thing for the NBA? Sure, it got the league plenty of attention during free agency, and no doubt it created hype for the coming season. But that hype encompasses only two teams. Is there any reason to watch a November game between the Utah Jazz and Denver Nuggets? Or any game that isn't the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals, for that matter? Parity is far preferable. At least 10 teams have a realistic shot at winning the Super Bowl this season.
Dan Wilkins: Ask the Philadelphia Eagles how that worked out. A combination of roster size, salary cap constraints, and shelf life of football players makes it virtually impossible for to keep a surplus of elite talent together for any extended period of time. NFL dynasties take shape, rather, when an organization can establish a winning structure from top to bottom. Young talent must be developed to step in alongside an established core. But in that sense, perhaps teams like the Patriots, Seahawks, and Packers can be considered the NFL's versions of superteams.
Joe Thomson: It would be good if NFL players were able to subvert the top-down militaristic style used to build teams from a labor standpoint, but it may not be great for the on-field product. NFL players are woefully undervalued economically despite making millions of dollars, with an artificial price ceiling limiting the amount of ownership profits they can share in. Upsetting the free-agent market through player collusion could be a winning strategy in forcing owners to remove artificial ceilings in the future. Players could say: take away the salary cap and we'll stop building super teams among ourselves.
Which NFL player would you move to another team to create an unbeatable team?
Wilkins: Denver earned its Super Bowl 50 title in spite of some underwhelming play at quarterback. That position is in for even further regression following the retirement of Peyton Manning and free-agent departure of Brock Osweiler, so let's put Aaron Rodgers under center. The league's best signal-caller taking the reins on an offense with some talent at receiver and running back would provide the perfect complement to a historically great defense. 16-0.
Woods: The Arizona Cardinals don't have any major holes on their roster. But Carson Palmer isn't exactly a world-beater at quarterback, and his performance in the playoffs left a lot to be desired. Let's give the Cardinals the reigning MVP, Cam Newton, and dare teams to figure out how to defend them. Newton was close to unstoppable behind a mediocre Panthers line and surrounded by sub-par receivers and tailbacks. He would get big upgrades in all three areas with the Cardinals. Who's stopping that?
Thomson: Imagine adding the league's best inside pass rushing threat to the Seahawks' incredible defense. Aaron Donald could line up all over the defensive line but would be able to push the pocket for Michael Bennett and Cliff Avril, creating an unstoppable presence up front in addition to, arguably, the league's best back seven. The Seahawks would devastate the league for another couple Super Bowls with Donald up front.
Which two NFL personalities would you most like to see step into the Octagon at UFC 200?
Wilkins: How about Round 2 of Andre Johnson vs. Cortland Finnegan? Both players have all but wrapped up their NFL careers, but their 2010 fight is easily one of the most memorable in league history. Let them work it out in the Octagon.
Thomson: Seeing Brady and Goodell square off would undoubtedly draw the highest ratings. Slaps, biting, and groin shots would all have to be legal as these two would surely prefer a no-holds barred affair.
Woods: We already sort of saw Odell Beckham Jr. and Josh Norman engage in UFC-style shenanigans on the field. It would be fun to watch the two settle their differences inside the cage and without risk of suspension from Roger Goodell.