I take it that no one actively says the word ‘tank’ but what does a scenario actually look like from owner down to players? Is everyone in on it? Does the GM talk to the owner, sell them on the next potential big draft prospect? Followed by reassuring the head coach that they will be safe? Followed by the coordinators and then strategically putting good players on IR for ‘their safety’? Putting the players in difficult situations and essentially using any remaining games as evaluations for future seasons?
Based on historical examples, tanking as we know it starts with ownership talking to the GM and head coach about “seeing what we have in our young players, building for the future over the present,” or other obvious key words.
Of course we have examples of owners and GMs flat out telling their coaches to not win any games (Browns, Colts, Dolphins) but this is frowned upon by the NFL and teams risk punishment if caught.
That being said you can see some teams embrace the tank when they do roster moves like cutting all their QBs right before week one, cutting all their good players for seemingly no reason, or trading away players for small returns just to get them off the team. An owner would be firing their GM if those roster decisions were made in a vacuum, which is why everyone needs to embrace the tank at some level.
Dont know why you are being down voted. Good response.