Ditch cross-country flights for local grudges. This radical proposal redraws the NFL map, prioritizes logic, convenience, and heated new regional rivalries.
If we skipped "tradition'' and instead went with "linear logic''?
The Seattle Seahawks still wouldn't have to move from their divisional perch in the West in the event of an NFL reshuffling.
But ...
What if the NFL - which is so hell-bent on world domination that I figure some day it will have to realign its divisions so room can be made for London and Mexico City and wherever to have their expansion franchises - instead opted for something more immediate?
And more logical?
Yes, yes, I know. The Seattle Seahawks long ago established themselves as a fixture in the NFC West ... even though they once resided in the AFC.
So they make their long road trips every year to almost everywhere they go.
But what if "convenience'' matters? And couldn't regional rivalries quickly blossom in ways that could soon enough catch up with how much present "enemies'' in each division "hate'' each other?
What would the NFL look like if it ever changed it up?
I decided to give it a try. Here's Tony Fisher's NFL Division Regional Realignment Plan ...
Pacific Division
-Seattle Seahawks
-Los Angeles Rams
-Los Angeles Chargers
-San Francisco 49ers
The Seahawks stay. And three of the four NFC West teams stay in place, with the Chargers joining them. Shouldn't the Rams and Chargers get the chance to hate each other twice a year?
Southwest Division
-Las Vegas Raiders
-Arizona Cardinals
-Denver Broncos
-Dallas Cowboys
I wanted to get Dallas and Houston in the same division. But this arrangement will have to do.
Great Lakes Division
-Minnesota Vikings
-Green Bay Packers
-Chicago Bears
-Detroit Lions
NFC North (and NFC Central) fans rejoice! I didn't have to change a thing ... though it would've been fun to have the "Chicago, Indiana Bears'' set up to start a rivalry with the Indianapolis Colts.
Mid-America Division
-Houston Texans
-New Orleans Saints
-Tennessee Titans
-Kansas City Chiefs
I could use a better name here, but otherwise, I'm good.
'Florida Man' Division
-Atlanta Falcons
-Jacksonville Jaguars
-Tampa Bay Buccaneers
-Miami Dolphins
I'm having a little fun with the divisional name ... but the state of Florida would go nuts for this, right?
Rust Belt Division
-Indianapolis Colts
-Cincinnati Bengals
-Cleveland Browns
-Pittsburgh Steelers
Three of the AFC North clubs stay together. And "Rust Belt'' isn't an insult, is it?
Northeast Division
-New England Patriots
-New York Jets
-New York Giants
-Buffalo Bills
Closed quarters. Train rides. The Big Apple. This is a winner!
Atlantic Division
-Carolina Panthers
-Washington Commanders
-Baltimore Ravens
-Philadelphia Eagles
Up and down I-85 North and I-95 North and I've achieved the goal: Logical travel and new rivals!
