The owners and the NFLPA are making “incremental” progress toward finalizing a collective bargaining agreement, and Mark Maske of the Washington Post notes the goal of the process being finalized by Super Bowl LIV remains attainable.
While the revenue split continues to be the central issue, the prospect of a 17-game season persists. Owners appear “increasingly convinced” the 17-game schedule will be included in the next CBA, Maske adds. However, the addition of a game to the schedule would not have to take effect in the first year of the new agreement.
This topic has been on the table for months, and the owners have shown willingness to bend on Roger Goodell‘s disciplinary power and the issue of marijuana to make it happen. The sides indeed are continuing to discuss marijuana testing, per Maske.
A 17-game schedule becoming reality would alter the NFL calendar, with the preseason being reduced and the playoffs stretching well into February. A return to the double-bye setup — only used once, in 1993 — is believed to be attached to the 17-game proposal. That would mean a 19-week regular season. The NFL has used the 16-game schedule for 42 seasons — far longer than the 12- or 14-game formats lasted.
The prospect of the playoffs expanding from 12 to 14 teams remains a possibility, with Maske noting some owners believe the field will expand by two teams at some point during the next CBA. So it appears the sides may be setting up gradual shifts in the schedule and playoff bracket structure for the 2020s.
This just goes to show you how much owners are willing to sacrifice for another full stadium instead of a 4th preseason game. All about the $$$$
As it should be. It is a business and the players make more when there’s more revenue as well. Double bye weeks for one more game makes a lot of sense from a rest perspective.
im surprised they dont want several more byes. more weeks = more games to televise.
I like it. I actually wouldn’t mind if the season also started later as I feel the first half of September is still too summery for football.
It would be fine with me if the season went into late February and started mid September. Nothing really happening in February anyway between Super Bowl and March madness
I’m sure there’s a reason for it, but 17 games just seems like an awkward number. Why not go 18 and push it another week with the double bye setup? Reduce the preseason to 2 games because everyone complains about it being too long anyway.
I agree with you about 17 being awkward
Who would a team play for their 17th game? Not likely a division game. They already play an entire division within conference plus 2 more based on prior year finish. The balance is one division from other conference. The rotation plan has been really nice in creating 3 or 4 year matchups for opponents.
If it’s an extra conference game, I wouldn’t mind them playing a second game based on prior year finish and match up against the in conference division they play in full. So if NFC East Plays NFC South, there would be additional matchups with NFCE1 vs NFCS1, NFCE2 vs NFCS2 etc. Like everything some would be better than others.
Agree with this completely as well.
Would be nice to have a real football game shown on Labor Day weekend.
I agree as well. Also sets up half of the teams to have an extra home game and the other half to have an extra road game. I’m sure teams would alternate years but it makes things awkward like others stated. Just make it 18 with double bye weeks. I personally wouldn’t want preseason to be less than 3 games though as players on the bubble depend on those games.
It should be a 18 weeks but with 2 of them being bye weeks. Let’s these guys rest!!!
Stop. Football doesn’t need more money.
Perhaps no. But I need more football. You stop.
I will just be glad when the deal gets done I wouldn’t complain if the season went further into February
17 is obviously just a stepping stone to 18 but the whole idea is terrible. By the time the playoffs start, teams will have more than half the starting roster on IR. Watching players like Paxton Lynch or Geno Smith lead their teams into post season doesn’t appeal much to me.
…and 18 is a stepping stone to 30. Year round football! Increase the roster as you’ll need more players due to injury. This’ll even give high school kids a chance to play pro. Besides, money, greed and power are the American way. It also gives the American male more to focus on so he needn’t be involved in what’s truly important with this country.
Don’t expand the playoffs though. More than half the teams shouldn’t make the playoffs, that’s just silly
Only in Cleveland would fans be excited at the prospect of a 7-10 team making the playoffs.