There are a number of fans on any losing team in any sport that at the end of the season think its best for there team to lose there games so they in turn get a better draft pick in there sports draft. There have been theory's that some teams did this in the past to get a "cant miss player". The Colts for Peyton Manning. The Cleveland Cavs to get Lebron James to name a couple. But is this really a good thing for NFL teams to do? Does this approach really work?
Sure there are a number of cases that this has worked out well for teams. The Colts have loved having Peyton under center for a number of years. Getting a player like that excites your fan base and gets ticket sales up to see this new player that is going to lead your team for years to come. In a lot of cases it really works out and teams enjoy a great amount of success as long as that player is there. However, there is a huge "but" what if there. A but what if there that any GM can't ignore and has to really think about.
But what if that player turns out to be not as good as thought to be or worse a total bust. To me any sports drat is just a bunch of teams taking a few gambles on players. You never no if you are going to get Peyton manning or Ryan leaf. If you think back to the 1998 draft ( I believe that's the year Peyton came out.) There was a huge debate on witch QB should have gone first. IT worked out for the Colts as they chose right. But what if they had drafted leaf. Would the losing have helped any. We will never no. We wont no how leaf would have done if he had a different coach and different players around him. Maybe Peyton would have been the one that is looked at as a bust now if he went to the Chargers. Something tells me that would not have happened but you never no.
Losing games for a draft pick can work out. There is no denying that. But if it does not work out perfectly it is also something that can not only hurt your team in the short term but something that can set your team back for years to come. Going and trying for a win is a sure thing. If you lose you get that pick but if you win not only will that give your fan base something to smile about on the off-season but is something that you can take into the next season. And bottom line a win NEVER hurts. The simple fact of the matter is that the NFL teams owe it to there fans to win whatever game that they can. Losing a game for a draft pick is a dangerous game to play. Sure it can work out and you could get that cant miss player that turns out to be your next hall of famer. But if it does not work out then not only do you have an extra loss on your record then you are probably looking for anther job if you're a GM or coach It's just to dangerous of a game to play for me.
