Get ready for an 18 game season

[DaveBrown74]

One thing I think the players (and actually the league) would benefit from although it's probably not possible without eliminating another preseason game is adding a second bye. Every team would get two byes instead of one. This could help a lot with health.

Since knowing the NFL they probably are not willing to consider that, another thought would be to expand the roster size by something like 10-15%. Maybe make it 60-63 players instead of 53. I appreciate that complicates things with the cap and other considerations, but while I am fully supportive of going to 18 games, injury frequency is already an issue around the league (as we know full well), so that problem stands to only get worse by adding even one more game. I feel like something should be done to counteract or alleviate that.

[coggs]

One thing I think the players (and actually the league) would benefit from although it's probably not possible without eliminating another preseason game is adding a second bye. Every team would get two byes instead of one. This could help a lot with health.

Since knowing the NFL they probably are not willing to consider that, another thought would be to expand the roster size by something like 10-15%. Maybe make it 60-63 players instead of 53. I appreciate that complicates things with the cap and other considerations, but while I am fully supportive of going to 18 games, injury frequency is already an issue around the league (as we know full well), so that problem stands to only get worse by adding even one more game. I feel like something should be done to counteract or alleviate that.

I believe a 2nd bye is part of it.  Season would start at same time.  18th game and a 2nd bye gets the SB to President's Day Weekend.

[DaveBrown74]

I believe a 2nd bye is part of it.  Season would start at same time.  18th game and a 2nd bye gets the SB to President's Day Weekend.

Hmmm. This past Super Bowl was Sunday Feb 11th and Presidents Day was was Monday Feb 19. Not sure how the above would work.

[spiderblue43]

And so much for players'safety. Players, of course..have to sign on..probably will..and the gamblers will love it!!

The league is very serious about playing more international games than ever and still, I believe, want a London franchise (there bringing back super sonic aircraft). I digress, but it's coming, no doubt.

[coggs]

Hmmm. This past Super Bowl was Sunday Feb 11th and Presidents Day was was Monday Feb 19. Not sure how the above would work.

Get rid of bye before super bowl.

[AZGiantFan]

While I'd prefer going back to 16, that's not going to happen.  So they might as well go to 18 because 17 is just weird.

[DaveBrown74]

Get rid of bye before super bowl.

Ah. Didn't think that would even be a consideration. Tons of media/marketing stuff in that extra week.

[kingm56]

While I would love more football , considering Injuries do happen..... Is this really a good thing ? We go what to a 2 game preseason ? Starters will be extremely rusty the first 2-3 weeks of a a season

Data shows starters don't play 2 full preseason games. So, it's inconsequential to the starters. Instead, your bubble players will be impacted. Would the Giants have a Victor Cruz without his 3rd pre season game against the Jets?  Although, this could be offset by the inevitable expansion of the rosters, which will give bubble players a chance to make an actual roster. 

[coggs]

Data shows starters don't play 2 full preseason games. So, it's inconsequential to the starters. Instead, your bubble players will be impacted. Would the Giants have a Victor Cruz without his 3rd pre season game against the Jets?  Although, this could be offset by the inevitable expansion of the rosters, which will give bubble players a chance to make an actual roster. 

Have starters only play 1 quarter each game?  Have an extra joint practice to get some real reps?

[T200]

Data shows starters don't play 2 full preseason games. So, it's inconsequential to the starters. Instead, your bubble players will be impacted. Would the Giants have a Victor Cruz without his 3rd pre season game against the Jets?  Although, this could be offset by the inevitable expansion of the rosters, which will give bubble players a chance to make an actual roster. 

People didn't care for the pre-season games until they lost one. Couple that with limited camps and OTAs and we end up with a watered-down product that gets off to a slow start. Now we're going to lose one more PS game and most teams won't get up to speed until mid-October.

[kartanoman]

Why 18 when they can go right into 20 games, every team MUST travel for an international game, get a bye after it, still have another bye during the season, and why not expand the NFL into more markets and let's add new divisions while we're at it! Maybe include an international North American team (e.g. Canadian or Mexican, or both!). Need to add a Hawaiian team, an Alaskan team and definitely a Bismark, North Dakota team!!!

It's the Goodell NFL where anything flies and, what they're smoking, they definitely ARE flying!!!

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, the old game we've come to love continues to go to pot.

"They're killing me, Whitey! They're killing me!" 

There, I feel better now. The watered-down Kool-Aid watered-down some more means I'm about ready to switch elixirs, folks!

Peace!

[Painter]

While I would love more football , considering Injuries do happen..... Is this really a good thing ? We go what to a 2 game preseason ? Starters will be extremely rusty the first 2-3 weeks of a a season

No, it isn't and yes, they will.
Do we not think that more games mean more injuries? The PA seems to think so. And where the owners are concerned, it's about quantity not quality in terms of both money and performance.

Cheers!

[DaveBrown74]

Out of curiosity, for those who are opposed to this change to happen due to their concerns about player safety, would you be in favor of a schedule reduction to just 14 regular season games if that were on the table? There would be fewer injuries that way, no?

[AZGiantFan]

Out of curiosity, for those who are opposed to this change to happen due to their concerns about player safety, would you be in favor of a schedule reduction to just 14 regular season games if that were on the table? There would be fewer injuries that way, no?

Absolutely.  But it will never happen.

[DaveBrown74]

Absolutely.  But it will never happen.

No of course not, and I fully understand that. I was just curious if fans would actually like there to be fewer than 16 games if it were hypothetically possible.