Playoff reseeding proposal fails

PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Patriots owner Robert Kraft just told reporters, including colleague Mike Reiss, that NFL owners did not pass a playoff reseeding proposal that would have made it possible for a division winner to not host a first-round playoff game.

The measure was tabled, meaning it was not presented for a formal vote. It could be brought up again at the NFL's spring meeting in May.

Under the proposal, which was portrayed as a way to avoid some teams that have clinched playoff spots from resting their regulars in the final weeks of the season, if a wild card team finished with a better record than the division champion it was slated to play in the first round of the playoffs then that wild card team would host the game.

As things stand now, the two division winners with the best record receive first-round byes and the two other division winners are guaranteed to host a home playoff game even if the wild card teams they are seeded against finish with a better record.

[Editor's note: During a press conference with competition committee co-chairmen Jeff Fisher, head coach of the Tennessee Titans and Atlanta Falcons president Rich McKay it was revealed that during today's session, the reseeding proposal was actually modified. The top three division winners would have been assured a home game, not just the top two. So, only the division winner with the worst record could have lost a home game to a wild card team with a better record.]

Kraft said he felt strongly about keeping the current playoff format to reward fans of the division winners.

"I mean there is something to be said about competition at the end of the year, but if you look back at our game against the Giants, Tom Coughlin he didn't hold back and we had something we were playing for," Kraft said.

"I think it's best left the way it was. There was some discussion that some teams maybe lay down to get a higher draft pick. I don't know. I do believe that if you win your division it's good for your fans to understand that there is a home playoff game. I think that means a lot."

Kraft also touched on the heartfelt address he delivered to his fellow owners and NFL head coaches yesterday, apologizing for the Patriots illegal filming flap. He said the way the speech was greeted -- he received a standing ovation -- made him feel good.

"We're a partnership and if we have problems, the problems, like a good family, should be brought up in the family, discuss them there and then move on," Kraft said. "The coaches were really terrific the way they came and supported us.

"I just got up and spoke and it was sort of nice what people did."