John Clayton: 18-game season off the table.

[aikemirv]

Good, I did not want it anyway. 16 is plenty. Start the year a week earlier, eliminate a preseason game and add a bye week.

That would increase TV money, give the players a break and get rid of that last meaningless preseason game!

 

[YosemiteSam]

I find it amusing that some fans don't want an 18 game season. The games is what it's all about.

More games means more enjoyment. This is definitely a position that I don't understand how a fan can be outright against it.

 

[Doomsday101]

I find it amusing that some fans don't want an 18 game season. The games is what it's all about.

More games means more enjoyment. This is definitely a position that I don't understand how a fan can be outright against it.

Because 16 games takes a big enough toll on players. I love the game but sometimes more is not better.

 

[YosemiteSam]

Because 16 games takes a big enough toll on players. I love the game but sometimes more is not better.

They won't be playing less games, they are just making games that didn't count before (pre-season games) now count against making the playoffs.

 

[aikemirv]

I find it amusing that some fans don't want an 18 game season. The games is what it's all about.

More games means more enjoyment. This is definitely a position that I don't understand how a fan can be outright against it.

One thing about the NFL that is different about other sports is that 1 game is huge. The more games you add the less important each game is. I think that is a huge attraction of football!

 

[Miller]

I find it amusing that some fans don't want an 18 game season. The games is what it's all about.

More games means more enjoyment. This is definitely a position that I don't understand how a fan can be outright against it.

It isn't some fans. A majority of fans in polls are against it. I'd much rather watch 16 games and cut some preseason than watch 18 watered down games. The preseason stuff doesn't make a difference in an 18 game season. These guys are playing 1-2 series. I don't want to watch games with backups when playoff spots are on the line. We already have alot of that with 16 games. For years players have talked about how the last weeks of the season are "gettong by" and guys are playing hurt on the playoffs.

 

[Chuck 54]

The real issue is who gets the money saved by the rookie salary cap.

The owners are getting richer; the players, even the backups, are making more money than ever, and the veteran scale is outstanding...no one has anything to complain about.

However, both the players and the owners (and the fans) all want a rookie wage scale and to stop the ridiculous mega-million dollar contracts signed by early first round rookies who have never played a down in the NFL...unproven QBs making more money than superstars in the NFL simply because of where they are taken in the NFL draft.

That has been an insanity that has killed certain franchises at times, and no one wants it.

The problem with being in agreement on this issue is who gets the money when the rookie scale kicks in.

The owners want that money back in their pockets after years of giving it up.
The players see it as player money and want to see it in veteran salaries or benefits.

Sadly, neither the selfish owners nor the selfish players push to have that money used for the former NFL players of yesteryear who made the league what it is today, but who never made enough money to plan for the future and can't afford their houses or medical care today. If either side pushed to use the saved money or at least a chunk of it there, they would have the rest of the country behind them easily with just a few stories.

Consider this: Roger Staubach is a great hall of famer from not too long ago, yet Roger had to get a job when he retired, and he's made more money in real estate than he ever made playing in the NFL. On the other hand, you have a guy like Heath Shuler, drafted near the top of round one by the Commanders, a guy who had only 1 contract ever in the NFL, was out of the league fairly quickly, but has never had to work another day in his life...bought a farm to play around on and then became a politician.

That's why we need a rookie pay scale.

 

[Doomsday101]

They won't be playing less games, they are just making games that didn't count before (pre-season games) now count against making the playoffs.

Starters will have to play more in the pre season games to get ready. As it stands now the starters may see 1 series in the 1st pre season game and not much more in the 2nd. Going to 18 games with 2 pre season is adding more than I think is unreasonable given the violence of the game. We see a big toll already on players and adding 2 more games will only add to more players being injured and sidelined.

 

[YosemiteSam]

One thing about the NFL that is different about other sports is that 1 game is huge. The more games you add the less important each game is. I think that is a huge attraction of football!

We are talking about 2 games. This isn't the MLB (162) or NBA (82). There isn't 82+ games, there is 16-18.

btw, I'm not saying I'm full bore for an 18 game season, but I'm not hell bent against it either. It's the hell bent against attitude that I don't understand.

 

[dogberry]

Has anyone given out how much money will be opened up for other uses by a change in the rookie scale? Is there a provision for a John Elway who has options in two sports?

 

[YosemiteSam]

Starters will have to play more in the pre season games to get ready. As it stands now the starters may see 1 series in the 1st pre season game and not much more in the 2nd. Going to 18 games with 2 pre season is adding more than I think is unreasonable given the violence of the game. We see a big toll already on players and adding 2 more games will only add to more players being injured and sidelined.

I don't think it's unreasonable at all.

 

[Doomsday101]

We are talking about 2 games. This isn't the MLB (162) or NBA (82). There isn't 82+ games, there is 16-18.

and they do not deal with the injuries that we see in Pro Football. We have ample guys who are dealing with injuries who know as soon as the season ends will have to have surgery adding more only places a greater likelihood of these players missing games

 

[YosemiteSam]

and they do not deal with the injuries that we see in Pro Football. We have ample guys who are dealing with injuries who know as soon as the season ends will have to have surgery adding more only places a greater likelihood of these players missing games

Well damn, lets decrease the amount of games for their safety. How about we just play elimination from the get go. That leaves us with a five week season and in those five weeks, a Superbowl winner will be declared in week five.

 

[Doomsday101]

I don't think it's unreasonable at all.

It is not your body on the line, heck easy to sit in front of a TV but it is their bodies being affected. While you may not think it is unreasonable the players and many other fans think it is

 

[Doomsday101]

Well damn, lets decrease the amount of games for their safety. How about we just play elimination from the get go. That leaves us with a five week season and in those five weeks, a Superbowl winner will be declared in week five.

I'm not saying we should have fewer game only that 16 is more than enough. It seems your own selfish views is for your own personal entertainment and other than that I give me a reason why they should go to 18? You like watching the game and that is a good enough reason? Please

 

[YosemiteSam]

It is not your body on the line, heck easy to sit in front of a TV but it is their bodies being affected. While you may not think it is unreasonable the players and many other fans think it is

Give me a multi-million dollar contract and I will be out on that field.

I'm not saying we should have fewer game only that 16 is more than enough. It seems your own selfish views is for your own personal entertainment and other than that I give me a reason why they should go to 18? You like watching the game and that is a good enough reason? Please

Selfish? What in hell am I being selfish about? Did you even read all my posts? I said I wasn't necessarily for moving to an 18 game schedule, I just couldn't figure out why so many *FANS* where against it. Fans should be excited to see more games, but it's the GAME that is enjoyable.

Many of the players already said they would play 18 games, but they wanted to make more money to do it. ...so your point means nothing to the players who are the ones putting their body on the line. They just want to get paid to do it.

I think you are the first person to ever call me selfish.

 

[Doomsday101]

Give me a multi-million dollar contract and I will be out on that field.



Selfish? What in hell am I being selfish about? Did you even read all my posts? I said I wasn't necessarily for moving to an 18 game schedule, I just couldn't figure out why so many *FANS* where against it. Fans should be excited to see more games, but it's the GAME that is enjoyable.

Many of the players already said they would play 18 games, but they wanted to make more money to do it. ...so your point means nothing to the players who are the ones putting their body on the line. They just want to get paid to do it.

I think you are the first person to ever call me selfish.

Then why go to 18 if not for your own personal reason? Other than you like watching the games how does 18 improve the game? It doesn't.

 

[Doomsday101]

Give me a multi-million dollar contract and I will be out on that field.



Selfish? What in hell am I being selfish about? Did you even read all my posts? I said I wasn't necessarily for moving to an 18 game schedule, I just couldn't figure out why so many *FANS* where against it. Fans should be excited to see more games, but it's the GAME that is enjoyable.

Many of the players already said they would play 18 games, but they wanted to make more money to do it. ...so your point means nothing to the players who are the ones putting their body on the line. They just want to get paid to do it.

That is the problem we don't want to watch guys with no talent during the regular season.

I think you are the first person to ever call me selfish.

That is the problem we don't want to watch guys with no talent during the regular season.

 

[Miller]

Give me a multi-million dollar contract and I will be out on that field.



Selfish? What in hell am I being selfish about? Did you even read all my posts? I said I wasn't necessarily for moving to an 18 game schedule, I just couldn't figure out why so many *FANS* where against it. Fans should be excited to see more games, but it's the GAME that is enjoyable.

Many of the players already said they would play 18 games, but they wanted to make more money to do it. ...so your point means nothing to the players who are the ones putting their body on the line. They just want to get paid to do it.

I think you are the first person to ever call me selfish.

Respectfully disagree on what the players are saying. The owners are saying they would pay them more for more games. The players have been completely outspoken against 2 more games. Manning, Brady, Hines Ward and others have straight out said it is a farce to worry about safety and add more games. I would think twice about shortening my life expectancy for some extra bucks. I think people are aggressively against it because there is a difference between watching 2 more good weeks of football and 2 more scrub games where teams have to play backups because of injuries.

 

[aikemirv]

I'm not saying we should have fewer game only that 16 is more than enough. It seems your own selfish views is for your own personal entertainment and other than that I give me a reason why they should go to 18? You like watching the game and that is a good enough reason? Please

In reality if your team is winning you are ready for the playoffs by week 14. If your team is out of it, you are ready for it to be over by week 14.

18 would be just silly IMO, no use whatsoever!