This morning, FanHouse's Michael David Smith wrote that NFL owners had unanimously agreed to opt out of the current labor deal. This won't mean much over the next few seasons, but come 2011, we could all be pulling for a bunch of scabs (and who knows, maybe that will be the break Quincy Carter needs).
Additionally, the owners also have plans to discuss the possibility of adding an additional regular season game to the schedule, an idea that's been floating around for a few years now. From the Washington Post's Mark Maske:
The preseason probably would be shortened by a game to compensate, Goodell said. Goodell said the idea remains in its formative stages and the league is not yet ready to present a proposal to the union, which would have to ratify such a change to the schedule format.I could go either way on this; players are forever lamenting the length of the preseason, so swapping a game that means absolutely nothing for one that has postseason implications seems like a swell idea. There are still issues to iron out, though; presumably, players are more likely to get injured as the season progress, probability being what it is. And unlike the preseason, when starters seldom see more than a handful of snaps, there's also a concern that teams will be physically spent by the time the playoffs roll around.
Of course, money has a funny way of altering one's perspective, and I suspect that if the owners want a 17th regular season game, they'll figure out a way for everybody to make a few bucks off it.
ADVERTISEMENT
_thumbnail.jpg "NASCAR Cowboy Hats")
Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 1)
1. I have no problem with a 17th game. The whole preseason seems pretty useless but I am not a player so far be it from me to say. The idea of a 17 or 18 game season is pretty appealing to this fan. I say go for it.
Posted at 5:54PM on May 20th 2008 by Paul
2. There is something about Goodell that is slimy!
Posted at 6:11PM on May 20th 2008 by sal cunningham
3. I would like to see a 20 game season. The more the merrier
Posted at 11:18AM on May 21st 2008 by andy
4. Why not just get rid of the pre-season all together? If the reason for having it is to prepare for the regular season then why all the fuss about training camp and ota's and mini camps. Start the season in August, and have the Superbowl end the season before January.
Posted at 11:53AM on May 21st 2008 by D
5. Why not do something sensible. 18 game regular season with each team playing everyone in their conference once and in their division twice. Use the two preseason games for rivalry games between NFC and AFC teams.
This makes the schedules of all teams within a division identical. No more schedule inequities.
Posted at 9:29AM on May 22nd 2008 by R
6. Heck why not make it 40 weeks.
Posted at 11:15PM on May 22nd 2008 by jim