New century, new look for NFL

(May 22, 2001) — The NFL will have a new alignment for the 2002 season, as announced by Commissioner Paul Tagliabue at the owners' meetings.

Higlighting the changes are the Seattle Seahawks' switch from the AFC West to the NFC West, the Arizona Cardinals' move from the NFC East to the NFC West, and the creation of two new groupings — the NFC and AFC South divisions. For the 'Hawks, it's a homecoming of sorts — they were a part of the NFC in their inaugural season of 1976.

In addition, the old Central divisions stayed together for the most part under a new name, the North.

The other primary tenet of the plan is in terms of crafting the schedule. Under the plan, every team will meet every other team at least once every four years. Gone will be situations like the one between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Seahawks, who went 16 seasons without meeting after their 1977 clash.

NFC EAST: Dallas, New York Giants, Philadelphia, Washington

NFC SOUTH: Atlanta, Carolina, New Orleans, Tampa Bay

NFC NORTH: Chicago, Detroit, Green Bay, Minnesota

NFC WEST: Arizona, St. Louis, San Francisco, Seattle

AFC EAST: Buffalo, Miami, New England, New York Jets

AFC SOUTH: Houston, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Tennessee

AFC NORTH: Baltimore, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Pittsburgh

AFC WEST: Denver, Kansas City, Oakland, San Diego

-- Clark (cdvike@mindspring.com), May 22, 2001

Answers

I like the NFC North setup from the Vikings' perspective. However, somewhere down the line they will have to pay the piper.

-- John (Maccody@aol.com), May 23, 2001.

I like it for the most part. It's not totally geographically correct but in order to keep some of the rivalries I guess they had to do it. GO VIKES!!!

-- Tom (BMatheus@aol.com), May 24, 2001.

The Bucs moving out of the NFC Central? What a huge break for the Vikes.

-- Mark (Karch 222@aol.com), May 25, 2001.