Why tanking does not work in the NFL and could doom the Patriots long-term

[Tunescribe]

Tanking only exists at the GM level. Players and coaches get paid for what is on tape, there is absolutely no incentive for either to suck on purpose as they get paid based upon performance. Belichick is going to try and win every game, and the players are going to try to play their best because that’s directly tied to their future pay. At this point I want as high a pick as possible, so I’m fine with losing out, but the team isn’t going to lose on purpose. Then again they don’t have to try to lose, that’s what Mac is for.

We have entered the Twilight Zone where heroic Mac-led victories are met with scorn by Patriots "faithful."

 

[aluminum seats]

Tanking only exists at the GM level. Players and coaches get paid for what is on tape, there is absolutely no incentive for either to suck on purpose as they get paid based upon performance. Belichick is going to try and win every game, and the players are going to try to play their best because that’s directly tied to their future pay. At this point I want as high a pick as possible, so I’m fine with losing out, but the team isn’t going to lose on purpose. Then again they don’t have to try to lose, that’s what Mac is for.

Exactly. Saying "I'm against tanking" right now means exactly nothing

 

[Tunescribe]

Exactly. Saying "I'm against tanking" right now means exactly nothing

Check the linked articles. Generally, "tanking" refers to losing games for improved draft seeding. This can be facilitated multiple ways but mostly by playing inexperienced youngsters over veteran starters or game-planning toward allowing opponents a competitive edge.

 

[PatsFan2]

For those rooting for the Patriots to tank, early first-round quarterback savior misfires by the Cardinals, Colts and Jete should be argument enough against it. For every C.J. Stroud lottery hit there are a dozen Sam Darnolds/Anthony Richardsons setting back team fortunes. Abandoning win-at-all-costs mentality does more harm to overall team culture and chemistry than any unproven rookie could hope to remedy. Winning is difficult in the NFL and wins are important building blocks especially for "bad" teams.

Should New England stumble its way into a top-five pick, so be it. But it guarantees nothing and indicates the team is far more than a quarterback away from contending.

"In the NFL, where one player can play at most half the snaps and even generational talents need help, team system and overall talent matter far more than having one (or a few) elite players. Throwing a rookie quarterback with franchise potential behind a bad offensive line and giving them few weapons and no defense to rely on is just throwing their potential away (and into the arms of your opponent’s d-line). Combine the lackluster talent on the field with the lack of consistency or quality in coaching or scheme that often comes with tanking teams, and you have a perfect recipe for disaster."

Forget your opinion on tanking: In the NFL, it’s just dumb

By now, you’ve heard of tanking. Simply put, a team intentionally loses in an attempt to land a high draft pick. I don’t care if you live under a rock, ESPN probably bought the moss on your rock and sold ad space on it. Professional pontificator Stephen A. Smith is likely screaming about tanking und

miscellanynews.org

Shake and Bak—No, Wait, Tank and Bank

Tanking: the only word that gets thrown around more than the football every NFL season. But what exactly is it, and why is it a horrible idea, especially for this year’s upcoming draft? Tanking is when a team plays horribly on purpose in order to get a better draft pick, and therefore get a great...

mcqshield.org

Why Tanking Does Not Work in Football

This past decade was filled with the prospect and popularity in tanking, which is when a team deliberately plays poorly in game action in order to secure a high draft pick to rebuild the team. The …

twsn.net

Why tanking in the NFL is barely existent

Every time the Knicks step onto the court these days, it’s clear — their strategy isn’t based on trying to win games this season. Their strategy is completely about the future. They won’t use…

nypost.com

Sorry.

 

[PatsFan2]

@Tunescribe

This is what tanking looks like in these parts.

I don't think they are tanking on purpose, but a loss tomorrow will certainly send them into a tailspin in the locker room and you'll see guys start checking out en masse.

@TheRainMaker is right, they need to do better with talent evaluation. I think too much emphasis is placed on guys that Bill wants to coach and what they determine is coachability, while not enough is spent on raw talent.

Sometimes, the best, most talented guys are not a lot of fun to be around. (short version: douche bags play too)

Welcome to the dark side.

 

[PatsFan2]

@Tunescribe you seriously don't want a Team that severely lacks Offensive Talent to Tank?? Haven't you seen how Pathetic our Offense is?? You'll see again 9:30 tomorrow get with the program man.

 

[Tunescribe]

Totally Disagree and C.J. Stroud is a horrible example because we could have easily Drafted him. I'm for Rolling the dice for the QB everytime. If Mac Jones played like Drew Bledsoe we would all be Happy but He flat out Stink.

Are you drinking? OK, I get you want to lose as many games as possible for draft position. But Stroud was mentioned as a rare rookie QB performing beyond expectations. He was drafted No. 2 overall this year, no way in hell the Patriots could've gotten close to that.

 

[PatsFan2]

Are you drinking? OK, I get you want to lose as many games as possible for draft position. But Stroud was mentioned as a rare rookie QB performing beyond expectations. He was drafted No. 2 overall this year, no way in hell the Patriots could've gotten close to that.

Sorry I was mistaking Stroud for Levis sorry.

 

[mgteich]

Are you drinking? OK, I get you want to lose as many games as possible for draft position. But Stroud was mentioned as a rare rookie QB performing beyond expectations. He was drafted No. 2 overall this year, no way in hell the Patriots could've gotten close to that.

and even if we were willing, there is no way to know that we would have picked the right QB. Many teams give lots to move up only to get a Lance.

 

[upstater1]

A case could be made that the years of misery that the Colts went through to finally arrive at Luck is exactly why they never won with him, and were instead proud to display runner up banners. Got the QB they wanted while shaping a losing culture.

Long term, maybe. But it was a clear tank since they went 2-14 on purpose, then made the AFC Championship game the very next year.

 

[Lavictoire]

Agree.like the dynasty patriots, Paying attention to Fundamentals and discipline will yield more benefits than a shot at the draft casino.

 

[1960Pats]

Check the linked articles. Generally, "tanking" refers to losing games for improved draft seeding. This can be facilitated multiple ways but mostly by playing inexperienced youngsters over veteran starters or game-planning toward allowing opponents a competitive edge.

The Indiots also tanked to eliminate the Steelers (an Indy nemesis) from the playoffs in 09. They were at 14-0 and leading the Jets in game 15 when Polian pulled everyone. I can still picture the look on Manning and Saturday's faces. They wanted the 16-0 season, like any athlete would.

And then when Polian was asked about it he used the Pats failure to go 19-0 two seasons prior as his "reasoning." Look, if you want to tank a game then don't bring in another team's name for your lie. Go with the standard "we had the lead and wanted to rest players for the playoffs" lie.

It almost worked too. The Steelers missed the playoffs and the Indiots got to the SB. Sadly, for Polian and the other Indiots, they ended up losing on a classic pick 6 by PEDton in the SB.

 

[1960Pats]

Long term, maybe. But it was a clear tank since they went 2-14 on purpose, then made the AFC Championship game the very next year.

Indy has been losing ever since and it's going on a decade.

It was as plain as the nose on Jimmy Durante's face that they were tanking. And some of the details are interesting. Why did they play an obviously worse QB until the top pick was a lock, especially since they had a friend of the Manning family (Dan Orlovsky) as an option. He ended up getting the two wins after the top pick was secured.

 

[LightSkinSmurf]

I mean sure... They should try to win... Rather they try or not is irrelevant tho because the team is ass. I'm rooting for us to get the highest pick possible.

 

[RIpats88]

I don't think they are tanking.

Most of the time, tanking is bad.

Some of the time, it's not: Colts and Andrew Luck.

and because they tanked they destroyed Andrew Luck behind poor rosters/OL year after year which forced him to retire.

 

[Ivan]

Check the linked articles. Generally, "tanking" refers to losing games for improved draft seeding. This can be facilitated multiple ways but mostly by playing inexperienced youngsters over veteran starters or game-planning toward allowing opponents a competitive edge.

That’s possible, but for any coach who tells the team to give everything they have, including their health, to win that week, and then plays inferior players is going to lose all credibility with the team. That may not matter much with Belichick at this point, but for any coach who needs to win for credibility and pay that’s a death sentence. I completely believe Flores story that Ross wanted him to tank, and that he refused to do so.

 

[upstater1]

and because they tanked they destroyed Andrew Luck behind poor rosters/OL year after year which forced him to retire.

Years later

 

[Ivan]

I think a GM can tank by manipulating the roster over the season, but I just don’t see a coach or player putting out bad tape for a higher pick.

 

[Ivan]

We have entered the Twilight Zone where heroic Mac-led victories are met with scorn by Patriots "faithful."

I don’t see a problem with rooting for the pick once you know the season is toast. If they were in the hunt for even a wild card spot I would root for making the playoffs over the higher pick, but that simply isn’t going to happen with Mac at QB.

 

[NashuaPats]

Let’s not forget that the Pats have third most cap space available next season and the most the year after that. They have they money to spend to fix a lot of positions. If they get a top pick next year and hopefully get a true franchise qb, they could turn things around quickly.

NFL 2025 Salary Cap Tracker

A real-time look at the 2025 salary cap totals for each NFL team, including estimated cap space.

www.spotrac.com