Why 18 games is two too many.

There was a poll somewhere on one of the NFL sites and I was suprised most votes were against expanding the season. But as other’s have said before expanding the regular season expands the pie. Which benefits both owners and players. Players have to decide whether those two pieces of pie are worth the potential injuries.

the 18 game schedule is not a bad ides. They play the games anyway – they just don’t count now and I, for one, can’t seem to get enough football.

I vote “yay”

From what I’ve seen, the potential 18-game schedule is being used by the owners as a bargaining chip. Now, the owners are pushing for a reduction in player costs and they’re prepared to lock out the players if hey have to. Neither side wants this, but the owners have the leverage here. Now they’re going to go to the players and say “Look, we won’t reduce player costs or we’ll reduce them less – if you accept 18 games in a season.”

Season ticket holders still have to purchase preseason games at the same price as the regular season games, and believe it or not, well before the financial woes of the world, they sold out too. That being said, home teams do not have to share ticket sales of preseason games, and the players aren’t getting paid much because their contract money doesn’t kick in until week 1 of the regular season. So they are making some good money on preseason games, which is why there have been four of them for so long.

I think an 18 game regular season and a shortened preseason is from the number of season ending injuries that have been happening in the preseason. So if there are going to be injuries, they should be when it really counts, not to mention that preseason games are rather boring. I wouldn’t count out the major networks lobbying for this as well, more advertising for them.

Me personally, I think I’d cut the preseason down to two games and look into more playoff teams and games.

that undrafted free agents that can become potential pro bowlers won’t be found.
Tony Romo? Cut before he becomes a household name like he is today.

Terrel Davis? Never ends up in the HOF.

Those are just 2 examples. We could have a diamond in the rough and not be able to find out he is because he only played sparringly in 2 preseason games. To me that isn’t worth the risk.

Well, not really, if there’s 2 bye weeks. That means 2 more weeks of TV revenue for the cost of only week to owners. Sold.
Given an added bye week, expanded rosters, and expanded contracts, I believe the players would be for such an expansion. As a bonus, many NFL records will be easier (slightly) to break, thus increasing the chance for immortality. Decreasing the number of preseason games means the chance for injury should’nt increase significantly. An extra week of rest might actually do more to preserve player’s bodies.
As a coach, I can definitely see this whole thing as a headache. There will be many unforseen consequences of such a change and coaches will have to take responsibility for many of them. They will adjust, though, and they’re concerns are really secondary to the concerns of the fans, owners, or players.
I’m for it. Chances are, it will probably happen eventually no matter what. Money(gangsters) makes the world go round.