http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=5623441 Yes, I know its ESPN, but still.. The President of the Colts is saying that pretty much that the general consensus was for there to be 18 regular season games. The details are in the link. Thoughts?
I think that if they do this they should give teams 2 bye weeks. Extra revenue does trump probable player injuries.
Will each player under contract get a raise? I mean you playing two more gains . . . seems like they should get 2 more game checks. . . .right? Rocket River
One of the preseason games should be a regular season game, at least, or have the preseason start way earlier. NO. Contract doesn't specify "per game." It specifies "per year". If anything, the future contracts will be bigger, but no one should get "grandfathered" into getting more money because they play more games. They get a weekly check until the contract says otherwise. Do you REALLY want them to get paid more? If so, why? They get a check even when they're NOT playing.
Howie Long had a short rant about this Sunday morning. He basically said players should get more money, 2 bye weeks, and I think he said 63 players on the roster instead of 53 (cause more injuries will happen). I agree with Howie. If the NFL expands to 18 regular season games the superbowl winner from that point on will most likely be the luckiest team, injury wise, instead of the best team.
I thought it's instead of 4 preseason games and 16 reg. season games, it'll be 2 preseason games and 18 reg. season games. The number of games doesn't necessarily increase, it's just that the backups gets less on-field experience. I like the 2-bye-weeks idea though.
I don't like it. 2 preseason games, 18 games, and still only 1 bye will translate to sloppier play in the first month, more injuries, an increase in teams mailing in a game or two, and will worsen the number of "rest our guys for the playoffs" games at the end of the year. I would have rathered: 17 game season 3 preseason games 2 bye weeks 1st preseason games to happen the first weekend of August in neutral sites (a la the HOF game), and have most double as international exhibitions. 1 remaining home and 1 away preseason Alternate years in which the odd regular season game is home or away. Or, if you're desperate for parity, give the extra home game to the bottom half of the league (last year). If you want to provide more financial incentive to win, give it to the top half (I'd actually love to see it be the latter).
This. As a Season Ticket holder, it is a slap in the face to have to pay full price for two preseason games.
Actually, they only get paid during the season. Their contract is paid out on a weekly basis once games start. I know some people will never support the amount of money that athletes make, but compared to the NBA and MLB the majority of guys are not raking in millions. It's only the really good ones that stay healthy and make it to their first (and usually last) big contract. There is a very small window to land a big payday in the NFL. You, me, and millions of others watch the games and fill the stadiums every week despite the ticket prices. If I'm going to love to watch it, I have to accept that these guys are worth the money they are making on their talents. I think 18 games is a horrible idea. Mainly because it dilutes the meaning of games, and as others have said will tend to leave the champion as the luckiest team rather than the best.
It always surprises me when fans would prefer to see owners make money at the expense of players. The NFL Players' Association is a complete joke and this 18-game schedule thing is just stupid. They should have just added another BYE, one more wildcard team in each conference and an extra week of playoff games.
