NFL MEETINGS Playoff proposal has some supporters

There's some sentiment to adding two teams to the postseason.
PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) -- The prediction by some that adding two more teams to the NFL playoffs has no chance of passing at the league meetings might be premature.
The Kansas City Chiefs will propose this week an increase in postseason qualifiers from 12 to 14. The NFL Competition Committee is against it, and the committee carries much sway.
But several team officials said Sunday they would like to see more playoff teams.
"I'm for anything that gives my team a better chance to make the playoffs," San Francisco 49ers coach Dennis Erickson said.
"I think two more teams in the playoffs would increase the excitement in those cities," added Miami Dolphins president Eddie Jones.
Voted down last year
Bob Kraft, owner of the Super Bowl champion New England Patriots, co-sponsored the proposal a year ago, when it was voted down. He's indicated he still favors it.
But Rich McKay, co-chairman of the competition committee and general manager of the Atlanta Falcons, doesn't expect passage of the proposal.
"We feel like the current system has worked very well," McKay said. "The playoff number at 12 is a good number and, for competitive reasons, we don't recommend expansion."
The biggest concern is that with 14 teams, only the team with the best record in each conference would get a first-round bye.
"Yes, that would create a potential unreasonable advantage for the No. 1 seed," McKay said. "When you look at the advantage for the bye of the one and two seeds, certainly you see it. To then give it to the No. 1 seed alone definitely is a concern to all of us."
Requires 24 votes
Increasing the playoff field requires 24 of 32 votes. So does making permanent instant replay to aid officials, which also is on the agenda.
That is considered more likely to happen than adding two playoff berths.
Replay could include a third coaches' challenge, too, but only if a team is successful on its first two challenges. That must be voted on by the owners, too.