Terrible hypothetical question

What would happen to an NFL season if a team plane crashed? Obviously we all hope it never happens (not even to the 49ers), but it is a possibility and it happened to Marshall. Would that team just forfeit the rest of their games? Would they fill the team with a bunch of street free agents? Would the season take a little delay like after 9/11?

Kind of a morbid question, but probably take a break then fill the team with free agents for the season finish, but who knows? What did Marshall do?

Anyone heard of the replacements?

I know all pro sports have a contingency plan in place. Usually involves a draft of some sort from the remaining teams to stock the team the tragic event happened to.

NorCalHawk12":2scuewr3 said:

Kind of a morbid question, but probably take a break then fill the team with free agents for the season finish, but who knows? What did Marshall do?

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Marshall University lost 37 member of its football team to a plane crash in 1970.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_A ... Flight_932

As for the original question, I'm guessing the league has a protocol in place for such a horrible occurance. Let's hope they never have to enact it.

This was a Seinfield episode as well IIRC.

The NFL charters its planes from the major airlines, DAL, UAL etc.

Odds are pretty astronomical

They would get to pick Any two players from each of the other 31 teams. 9 of them would go to practice squad.
Salary cap would be waived for 10 years.

:{)

pmedic920":d1ryqfs4 said:

They would get to pick Any two players from each of the other 31 teams. 9 of them would go to practice squad.
Salary cap would be waived for 10 years.

:{)

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Teams would be able to protect players. It wouldn't be any two players.

Should get lots of compensatory picks...

Ok serious answer. I would expect one to two weeks - no NFL games

Team would forfeit season and adjustment would be made to division

Next year treated like expansion team maybe with even more picks than normal

mikeak":c3kkcnft said:

Should get lots of compensatory picks...

Ok serious answer. I would expect one to two weeks - no NFL games

Team would forfeit season and adjustment would be made to division

Next year treated like expansion team maybe with even more picks than normal

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I agree their games would be forfeited, but I doubt they would be officially counted in the all time standings, at least for the team involved in the accident.

Older article.. so not sure if anything has changed (I doubt it, since thankfully this has never happened)

http://espn.go.com/gen/s/2001/0328/1163463.html

Oklahoma State also lost a few people. As I recall not any starters (basketball). They were split in 3 small planes

mikeak":9vcflfgu said:

Should get lots of compensatory picks...

Ok serious answer. I would expect one to two weeks - no NFL games

Team would forfeit season and adjustment would be made to division

Next year treated like expansion team maybe with even more picks than normal

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i would expect ATLEAST a full cancellation of the NFL season. a whole NFL team going down is a pretty big deal

The U.S. was subject of a full out terror attack and 2 weeks cancellation was the result. With all due respect for the sport we love - season would not get cancelled.

Read that ESPN link that was posted after my thoughts. If a team loses 15 players they are given waiver priority but season continues...

Tour de France went on the day after a U.S. Postal rider died.

The league will not stop. Exception being Super Bowl week and one team crashes

Hasselbeck":19h7wqw3 said:

Older article.. so not sure if anything has changed (I doubt it, since thankfully this has never happened)

http://espn.go.com/gen/s/2001/0328/1163463.html

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Good find, thanks for that.

What about coaching staff?

You'd most likely lose the entire team, GM and maybe owner too.

As bad as losing players is, that would be ridiculous.