NFL looking into 18 game schedule

[DJT]

Expect a compromise on offseason work as labor talks progress

There is a growing sentiment among some players and their representatives that given the likelihood of an 18-game NFL season as soon as 2012, the nature of the league calendar must change to compensate and allow more time for rest and recovery.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has previously talked about curtailing the amount and intensity of organized team activities and offseason work. And one idea that's gaining traction among players includes not starting the offseason work until mid-May.

Currently, players generally are asked to report for voluntary lifting and offseason work in March, in many cases just six weeks or so after the end of the season. Then, players usually have a month or so off (from mid-June to July) before training camps open.

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It has always seemed odd to me to begin work so soon, then have such a long break before camp. It's more natural to slowly ramp up and build momentum into camp, rather than stop and start.

Football's offseason and preseason is different from baseball, basketball and hockey in that regard, and maintaining a somewhat constant and demanding schedule as NFL players currently do also could contribute to fatigue and injuries.

Opening in May would allow more down time and more of a true offseason, and offseason lifting programs could then lead to a shorter OTA-minicamp period in June. Teams could give players a week or so off around the Fourth of July, then camps would open. With the expected change to two preseason games, camps themselves could be shorter, which also would reduce wear and tear on players.

Under the 18-game format, there would be a "bye week" between the second preseason game and Week 1, and then off you go.

Starting offseason programs later in the spring also could dovetail with the concept of a developmental league in March and April, as a replacement for what used to be NFL Europe. The developmental players then would be able to rejoin their NFL teams for offseason work in May.

Currently, many rookies can't join their teams until after their graduation date, which in many cases is late May or early June. Starting offseason programs later would allow them to miss fewer meetings and installation sessions.

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One thing on which all sides agree is that fewer preseason games make sense, particularly if a developmental league for practice-squad-level players is in place. Many of the injuries caused during the preseason are "friendly fire," with overzealous, inexperienced players out of position and making reckless decisions that can lead to veterans suffering season-ending injuries in meaningless games. Fewer preseason games limits that risk.

Goodell has seemed open to new ideas and proposals on how to better structure the work year for players, and this structure would allay at least some fears they have about an 18-game season and be part of a compromise.

Another tradeoff the NFL Players Association would seek in regards to an 18-game season would be more money earmarked for better long-term care and coverage as players age. Concerns about the ramifications of concussions and possible ties to ALS have been a hot-button issue within the union, and if the season

is going to expand, there undoubtedly will be discussions about post-career care, payments and insurance coverage.

 

[ZigZag]

i'd rather have it stay the way it is. all this is going to do is add two sloppy games to the beginning of the schedule and make it so peyton and the like get to sit out 2 or 3 games at the end.


do you even watch the games in the first place? i don't care if they play <Censored>ing 50 off season games as long as the regular season starts early september.

 

[Mooche]

i'd rather have it stay the way it is. all this is going to do is add two sloppy games to the beginning of the schedule and make it so peyton and the like get to sit out 2 or 3 games at the end.


do you even watch the games in the first place? i don't care if they play <Censored>ing 50 off season games as long as the regular season starts early september.

Ha, I like the Peyton reference.


At the end of the day, football is a violent sport. These guys take a POUNDING, as is. Imagine the injuries, that will come with TWO extra games to these superstar talents? It isn't so nice and beautiful like they put the image out every Sunday.. It's rough.

 

[cruzg24]

Ha, I like the Peyton reference.


At the end of the day, football is a violent sport. These guys take a POUNDING, as is. Imagine the injuries, that will come with TWO extra games to these superstar talents? It isn't so nice and beautiful like they put the image out every Sunday.. It's rough.

I agree, 2 extra games will only cause more opportunities for great players to get injured. If teams only need 2 pre-season games to prepare then just cut it down to that. I feel that if a star athlete got injured in those 2 added games it would take away from the thrill of the postseason. Injuries do occur all the time, but the NFL needs to protect its star players by keeping it the way it is.

 

[DJT]

I hear everyone is in favor of dorpping the preseason games. But I also hear most players are against adding 2 games, cause they say it will take away from the importance of the games.

I think its just 2 games. I mean its not like they are adding 10 games, its just 2, its not gonna change much. I'm for it.

 

[Mooche]

Also.. what about scouting in the pre-season? A guy like Cruz for the Giants, after his huge Week One performance, that necessarily might not have happened. These two games are important for the scouts to see the young talent. A young player might not get a chance now, will be cut, and that guy might in fact pan out and be a stud. Who knows.

 

[Big Bid'Ness]

Keep it the way it is.

 

[playmaker7]

Yeah I think they should just keep it the way it is also. Theres nothing wrong with it right now. Adding 2 games would kind of take away the importance of games and its not something that the NFL should take a risk on, at least at this point.

 

[RipCity32]

I won't complain if it does happen, but I won't complain if doesn't.
I understand both stands of the argument.

 

[DannyColtsBro]

Retarded... As dumb as it sound we need preseason games for guys to step up, we would have never seen Kurt Warner, Jeff Saturday etc if we only had 2 games.