Evolution? True free agency started in 1993 and had an immediate affect. The salary cap in 1994 and it took a few years to come to full affect. Notably, once they figured out how Carmen Policy was skirting the rules. Rule changes happen almost every year. Can't hit a QB late has been around since 1940. Can't hit a QB in the head, even if it's simply your hand. Can't hit a QB below the knees (2009 after TB12 was injured). And most recently, can't fall on the QB with your entire mass. Also the NFL issued a directive to officials, "when
in doubt about a roughness call or potentially dangerous tactic against the quarterback, the referee should
always call roughing the passer.". Can't hit a defenseless receiver. Can't horse collar tackle. Can't lead with the crown of the helmet or launch. They've also thrown the defense a bone with illegal crack back blocks/blind side blocks and there are calls to institute a penalty for drop and drag tackling. Rules favor the offense because like the saying, "chicks dig the long ball", football fans love scoring.
Free agency, the cap and to some extent rule changes have seemingly created parity. My original post was theorizing how the cap and free agency has created more competitive Superbowls. But as Dieterbrock pointed out the game has evolved in all respects. When the Superbowl began and the AFL/NFL merged, football was snot popping, 3 yards and a cloud of dust. Receivers crossing the middle were subjected to viscous hits. Passing was out of necessity in the NFL for the most part but the AFL style was with an aerial assault. Gradually, after the merger, it became an NFL trait. And now, RBs are crying because they can't get good contracts, receivers are paid huge jack and QBs are protected to a degree just short of bubble wrap. And if you look beyond the competitive nature of recent Superbowls to the volume of different teams getting to the big game it's been good for the NFL.
The first 10 Superbowls had 9 different teams participate with 7 different winners. The next 10 had 13 different participants but only 6 different winners. And the next 10 had 9 different participants and just 4 different winners. No free agency? Teams having complete control over players from the day they were drafted? Probably. The first 10 Superbowls after the cap and free agency produced 14 different participants, 7 different winners and the next 10 produced 13 different participants, 9 different winners. The last 8 Superbowls have produced 8 different participants and 5 different winners. This latest 10 game block will need to see 4 new participants and 2 different winners to be anything like the previous 2 blocks.
The cap and free agency were supposed to create parity and to a degree it has. What that also means is it's aim is to also prevent dynasties. Yet New England had an 18 year run going to the SB at a rate of 1 every other year. Now KC has taken the baton going to 4 in 5 years and winning 3. It's all about the QB. If Brady doesn't go to Tampa do they win SB55? If Stafford doesn't go to the Rams, do they win SB56? Unlikely. I know, I know..."WOW! Tell us something we don't know!!!". If you have a great QB, your chances are better than most to win it all. If you have a good defense and a great QB you can go 3-1 in a 5 year period like KC and have a dynasty.
The NFL has created an anti-dynasty, parity inducing approach but we seem to be looking at the second dynasty since the cap and free agency. What are teams other than KC lacking? The Rams? A great defense. Dallas? San Francisco? Philly? A great QB. Buffalo? Baltimore? Cleveland? We're told to believe Allen, Jackson and Watson are great QBs but I have my doubts. One is inconsistent, the other a conundrum, the third, over rated. Allen looks great at times but makes boneheaded mistakes. Jackson seems to pass when he should run, runs when he should pass. Watson is looking like a flash in the pan. Add they're in the same conference as KC. Wrong place, wrong time?
Maybe, it's all about the timing? Get a great young QB, build a terrific defense and be a dynasty! Since that's not easy, you may have to 'settle' for winning one or two Superbowls? Acquire a great QB, couple that with a good defense and win one or two. So who are the great QBs other than Mahomes and Stafford? Can Love or Stroud be that? Who else? I'm not as impressed with Tua, Allen, Jackson, Prescott, Lawrence, Hurts or Cousins. Herbert? Now he may be one. Harbaugh might build something good there but he'll have to deal with Mahomes and KC....in the division. Maybe the Rams can build that defense for Stafford's last couple/few years before Love becomes great and/if Green Bay builds that defense?
@Ram65....McVay has put a lot of faith in his good buddy Shula. I hope it's warranted!
