NFL Realignment??

We are coming to the end of the NFL season unfortunately... that means my saddest time of year is just around the corner. I cant express the emptiness I feel when the clock turns to 00:00 on Super Bowl Sunday. One of the intriguing issues on the horizon for the NFL will be satisfying the need for an L.A. based franchise. Its hard to imagine the NFL expanding again anytime soon since they successfully accomplished the balanced they needed when Houston was awarded the Texans 10 years ago. An issue that confuses me is the geographical deltas that exist within divisions. I understand the desire to maintain certain rivalries but I think that a considerable shake up could breath even more live into the NFL. I came up with a realignment that would be geographically more suitable for NFL franchises but didn't completely do away with some of the traditional rivalries.

AFC

EAST- Patriots~Jets~Buffalo~Tennessee

NORTH-  Steelers~Bengals~Cleveland~Indianapolis

SOUTH-  Miami~Jacksonville~Carolina~Atlanta

WEST-  St. Louis~Kansas City~Denver~Oakland

NFC

EAST-  Giants~Eagles~Redskins~Ravens

NORTH-  Packers~Bears~Vikings~Lions

SOUTH-  Saints~Buccanneers~Texans~Cowboys

WEST-  49ers~Arizona~Seattle~ L.A. Chargers

There you have it... I am sure a lot of folks will not agree or like what I came up with but I think the new line ups would inject more interest. Like we saw with the lockout... theres nothing that could make NFL fans go away for ever. Moves made now a days are about increasing the interest of new fans and drawing more people to what is already the greatest Sports League in the country. Old rivalries would still be played at the minimum of every three years within a conference. So all those people who love the traditional NFC East matchups of the G-men and the Cowboys, it would still  be seen every 3 years if they didnt finish in the same position in their respective divisions if not in the playoffs.
Some AFL purest may not want to see the Chargers leave for the NFC West but i think that long term it would benefit the league. I had considered putting the Seahawks back into the AFC West but I was much more excited about the idea of the Chiefs and Rams having 2 games a year and creating that rivalry.
I was very excited about seeing the Ravens in the NFC East. The Ravens personality as a franchise fits perfectly into that blue collar division. All four franchises would be right on top of eachother and I could see tons of bad blood being developed between the Ravens and Eagles or Redskins. The Battle of the Beltway would be great for the NFL.

Another dramatic change I would propose would be to alter the matrix of how the NFL Schedule is developed. For those unfamiliar with its process let me review:
Every year a given team must play:
~~ Each opponent within their division twice (6games)
~~ Every team from a predetermined division within the NFC and AFC (8 games)
~~ A game against another team within their conference from the remaining two divisions that were not part of the predetermined rotation, that finished in the same position in the standings the previous season. (2games)

This formula gives a team 12 games within their conference and 4 games against the other conference. Under my new formula that would remain intact but there would be a fairer balance of teams playing opposition closer to their level based on previous season results. Currently playing a "3rd place" schedule is really only a differance of 2 games compared to the first place team.
My new Scheduling format would go as follows.
~~ Each opponent within their division twice (6games)
~~Within a conference each 1st and 2nd  place teams would play one another from other divisions (6games)
~~Interconference matchups would be based on previous years finish. Each 1st place teams would play the other conference's 1st  place teams from every division and so and so forth (4games)

This year the Eagles played :   AFC East + NFC East + NFC West + Bears + Falcons

Under my new formula they would have played:   NFC East + Bear,Packers + Falcons, Saints + Seattle,St Louis + Patriots + Pittsburgh + Indy + Kansas City

The idea is to truly have teams see the benefit of playing a 1st place schedule. It may create more balance within the league and we would see even more turnover of teams who make the playoffs every year. Right now there is usually 5 new teams every year... I assume that number would increase

Holiday Musing

Seasons Greetings Readers... (probably reader is more appropriate)
The holiday season is upon us once again. I hope everyone got their credit cards good and jacked all the hell as I did.  This xmas is pretty special since my kids are ages 3 and 4... they have discovered Rudolph, Santa, Frosty, and the Grinch. I cant wait to see their face light up on Christmas Day Morning when they see the presents under the tree. Those two are truly magically beings that give me the perspective I need during those times when life tosses  a shit sandwhich on my plate. Its truly amazing the lengths a parent will go to shield a child from the ugliness of life. I suppose its also out of selfishness that I do it to... You see, when I see my kids enjoying the simpliest of things with the highest of exuberance it fills me with happiness. Their souls are still so pure because they believe the world is full of happiness and optimism. They havent been beaten down by all the negativity that corrodes our souls. Children dont understand or see corruption. They see the good in everything. I will do everything in my power to allow them to sustain that good hearted nature because its cleansing for me to see that glimmer in their eyes that I lost so long ago. Being a parent is about giving the next generation opportunities you didnt have. Its about reviewing your own childhood and adulthood and passing on the positives you were fortunate enough to have experienced and minimizing the possibility of your kids having to suffer from the same pitfalls that caused you harm.
I guess that my two cents for the hoidays and parenthood. God Bless and enjoy you Christmas