L.A football team

[MikeO]

Why do people think teams would be moved to different divisions?  They have only realigned twice ever.

They didn't realign when Baltimore became Indianapolis.  They didn't realign when St. Louis became Phoenix.  They didn't realign when Cleveland became Baltimore.  They didn't realign when LA became St. Louis.  They didn't realign when Houston became Tennessee.  They intentionally placed Carolina in the NFC West and Jacksonville in the AFC Central.  Why would they move a bunch of teams around just because one team relocates?

If you think LA will be in the AFC East you are nuts!! Totally friggin NUTS! Makes no sense from a TV sense. You are going to invest in a state of art stadium, have a new team in the 2nd largest TV market in the country, and have them in a division with NY, Boston, and Miami!!  With LA playing its road division games, its biggest TV games, at 10am in the morning.  Stupid line of thinking. The NFL and a team is going to INVEST BILLIONS of $$$$$$$$$ in LA to make it work this time, and having them in the AFC East just is so dumb beyond belief its amazing. And some people like you see no problem with it! Unreal.

Because the NFL was STUPID in the past and didn't move a team around here or there doesn't mean they have to be STUPID in the future and make the same mistake twice.  The...."we didn't do it then so we won't do it now".....is such a stupid excuse its laughable.

[Spider-Dan]

If you think LA will be in the AFC East you are nuts!! Totally friggin NUTS! Makes no sense from a TV sense. You are going to invest in a state of art stadium, have a new team in the 2nd largest TV market in the country, and have them in a division with NY, Boston, and Miami!!  With LA playing its road division games, its biggest TV games, at 10am in the morning.

Please explain how this is any different from when LA was in a division with Carolina and Atlanta (and New Orleans, to boot).

Because the NFL was STUPID in the past and didn't move a team around here or there doesn't mean they have to be STUPID in the future and make the same mistake twice.  The...."we didn't do it then so we won't do it now".....is such a stupid excuse its laughable.

You know, you're right.  You're backing up your position with all sorts of logical thinking, whereas the only evidence for my position is, you know, what the NFL actually did.

Let me be clear on this point:  when it comes to team relocation, the NFL does not care which markets are in which time zones or which divisions make the most geographical sense.  Ask yourself the following questions:

How many AFC teams are further south than Indianapolis (who is in the AFC South)?
How many AFC teams are further north than Baltimore (who is in the AFC North)?
How many NFC teams are further east than Dallas (who is in the NFC East)?

The NFL cares more about preserving rivalries than geographic/media market expediency.  They have NEVER realigned based on media markets, and there is no reason to believe they will start.

[MikeO]

The NFL cares more about preserving rivalries than geographic/media market expediency.  They have NEVER realigned based on media markets, and there is no reason to believe they will start.

How the hell does LA have a rivalry with NE, NY or Miami? Seriously, read what you actually write sometimes

[Phishfan]

Please explain how this is any different from when LA was in a division with Carolina and Atlanta (and New Orleans, to boot).

The Rams left LA before Carolina joined.

[Spider-Dan]

How the hell does LA have a rivalry with NE, NY or Miami? Seriously, read what you actually write sometimes

Are you really this dense?  Do you seriously believe that Florida Panthers fans hate the Sabres?

The city of Dallas does not have a rivalry with the city of Washington, D.C.; fans of the Mavericks do not particularly hate the Wizards, and fans of the Rangers do not loathe the Nationals.  The Cowboys have a rivalry with the Redskins.

It's amazing that you need this explained to you, but the BILLS have a rivalry with the DOLPHINS, PATRIOTS, and JETS.  The rivalry is between the TEAMS, not the cities.

I guess you believe that once the Rams moved to St. Louis, 49er fans wiped the slate clean?

[Brian Fein]

The NFL wets their pants every time the Colts and Patriots play each other.  I could see them wanting to move the Colts back to the east for that alone.

Also, I can see a scenario where they claim that so many cross-country, in-division road trips make for a disadvantage for the LA Bills.

All that said, I don't think you realign the whole league for 1 team, especially if it means breaking up the KC/Denver rivalry.

[Spider-Dan]

Brian, the NFL doesn't care about Colts-Patriots as much as they care about Brady-Manning.  Colts-Patriots was nearly meaningless for 30 years of the AFC East.  It's the '00s equivalent of the '90s 49ers-Packers rivalry; once the current personnel are gone, no one will care about it anymore.

[Brian Fein]

Brian, the NFL doesn't care about Colts-Patriots as much as they care about Brady-Manning.  Colts-Patriots was nearly meaningless for 30 years of the AFC East.  It's the '00s equivalent of the '90s 49ers-Packers rivalry; once the current personnel are gone, no one will care about it anymore.

Yes, you're right.  But for now, and the foreseeable future, that's what it is. 

Like I said, that's not a reason to do it, but if you ask Patriots' fans who their biggest rival is, they'll tell you "the Colts."

[masterfins]

How the hell does LA have a rivalry with NE, NY or Miami? Seriously, read what you actually write sometimes

Yeah, the Lakers don't have a rivalry with the Celtics, the Knicks, or the Heat.  Nobody ever wants to watch these teams play against each other.  Theres no way an LA team could have a rivalry with NE, NY, or Miami.

[Brian Fein]

Yeah, the Lakers don't have a rivalry with the Celtics.... 

Really?  You sure about that?

[Spider-Dan]

I think he may have been making that statement sarcastically.

[MikeO]

Are you really this dense?  Do you seriously believe that Florida Panthers fans hate the Sabres?

The city of Dallas does not have a rivalry with the city of Washington, D.C.; fans of the Mavericks do not particularly hate the Wizards, and fans of the Rangers do not loathe the Nationals.  The Cowboys have a rivalry with the Redskins.

It's amazing that you need this explained to you, but the BILLS have a rivalry with the DOLPHINS, PATRIOTS, and JETS.  The rivalry is between the TEAMS, not the cities.

I guess you believe that once the Rams moved to St. Louis, 49er fans wiped the slate clean?

IF the Bills move to LA they aren't the BILLS anymore!!!!!!! 

Does Pittsburgh consider the Ravens their long standing rival because they USED to be the Browns? NO!!

Its a different team if Buffalo moves to LA with different ownership and a DIFFERENT FAN BASE!!!!. And with free agency within 2 or 3 years most of the guy who were on the team that moved will be gone anyway and what rivalry do you have. NONE!!! You just have a team in LA totally out of place in the AFC East!  DID YOU REALLY NEED THAT EXPLAINED TO YOU, to quote your own words

[MikeO]

Yeah, the Lakers don't have a rivalry with the Celtics, the Knicks, or the Heat.  Nobody ever wants to watch these teams play against each other.  Theres no way an LA team could have a rivalry with NE, NY, or Miami.

There is a difference between teams being rivals and having them in the same friggin division. By your logic if the Celtics and Lakers were in the same division it would be smart and make sense!  Thats stupid logic!!

[MikeO]

Also, I can see a scenario where they claim that so many cross-country, in-division road trips make for a disadvantage for the LA Bills.

All that said, I don't think you realign the whole league for 1 team, especially if it means breaking up the KC/Denver rivalry.

Who's realigning the whole league??? Jesus Christ you people jump to insane conclusions! Move 3 teams. BAM, done! Just like MLB is probably gonna move one team from the National League to the American League cause it just makes sense. Nobody is saying blow it up and start over, but moving 3 teams, come on!!

[masterfins]

There is a difference between teams being rivals and having them in the same friggin division. By your logic if the Celtics and Lakers were in the same division it would be smart and make sense!  Thats stupid logic!!

What the heck are you talking about?  You need to read YOUR quote that I referenced.  I said nothing about them being in the same division.  I took issue with YOU saying "How the hell does LA have a rivalry with NE, NY, or Miami?  Seriously, read what you actually write sometimes."  Take your own advice, try reading what YOU write sometimes.  I'd agree with you that it wouldn't be logical to have them in the AFC East, but that doesn't mean they couldn't build up a rivalry.  I'd also agree that they would cease being the "Bills" if they went to LA.  However, as you say the Ravens aren't the long standing Rival of Pittsburgh because they USED to be the Browns, but they are currently Pittsburgh's biggest Rival.

In most instances for Pro Football your biggest rivals are the teams in your division because you play them twice per year.