PFT: Expanded season coming in 2010 at the earliest

[WoodysGirl]

EXPANDED SEASON COMING IN 2010, AT THE EARLIEST

Posted by Mike Florio on August 28, 2008, 10:43 a.m.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell visited on Thursday with Dan Patrick, and Goodell talked about the possible expansion of the regular season and, in turn, the potential shrinkage of the preseason. (The audio will be available on demand at Dan’s web site.)

Goodell said that a change would come in 2010 at the earliest, and that it would be tied to the ongoing labor agreement talks with the union and the broadcasting contracts with the networks.

But the contracts with FOX, CBS, and NBC run through the 2011 season, and the deal with ESPN expires after 2013. Thus, any deal done before 2013 would need to take into account a system for paying the NFL for the extra regular-season games.

An expansion of the regular season most likely would result in a reduction of the preseason, since Goodell mentioned several times the concept of the 20-game season. Goodell also might have committed an unintended slip regarding the number of additional regular-season games that the league is targeting when he said that the league would not be expanding the season, but that the league would only be “converting two preseason games.” If they keep the 20-game season, this would mean 18 regular-season contests.

But we’re not sure that the best approach is to go straight to 18. We think that it makes more sense to play 17 regular-season games initially, especially since it gives the league sixteen games that could be played at neutral sites in other countries (and, as we’ve argued in the past, Los Angeles) without having any team play more home games than any other team.

With 18 regular-season games, there would still be complaints and concerns regarding the inequity of some teams having more home games than others, unless 32 games are played at neutral sites.

Regardless, there are details that can be worked out at the appropriate time. For now, the good news is that the regular season could grow a bit, and the preseason could in turn shrink a lot.


Permalink | 20 Comments Back to Top

 

[cowboys2233]

Goodell talked about the possible expansion of the regular season and, in turn, the potential shrinkage of the preseason.

Shrinkage is almost never a good thing, but in this case, it's a real positive.

 

[zrinkill]

They had better raise the number of players allowed each team and the Salary Cap.

 

[Hostile]

They had better raise the number of players allowed each team and the Salary Cap.

Exactly.

 

[MONT17]

I like the 1z idea with a bunch of big games in la. I can see the nfl network takin the extra games. playin the super bowl rematch every year on a neutral field in the regular season. Nice

 

[Biggems]

Dallas as an example...schedules based on final standings of previous season

18 games

6 vs Division
4 vs NFC North
2 vs NFC South (1/4 or 2/3) if Dallas ends up 1st or 4th, they play 1/4 places
2 vs NFC West (1/4 or 2/3) if Dallas ends up 2nd or 3rd, they play 2/3 places
4 vs AFC Division


Each team has 60 players on the roster
Each team has 50 active players per game
Each team has 5 practice squad players

 

[Wrangler87]

I'm a football purest. I like the idea of a longer season, but it will make 80% of the NFL record books obsolete. All season records and even take away from career accomplishments in retrospect.

 

[Kangaroo]

Why 18 is way to many and we are diluting the product even more :bang2::bang2::bang2::bang2::bang2:

Just shorten the Preseason to 3 games and stick with 16 games

 

[CrazyCowboy]

I wish something would happen sooner rather then later.

 

[kevwun]

I have no problem shortening the pre-season, but I think extending the regular season is a bad idea. Players are already worn out by the end of the season, why make it longer. Money is the answer, but it's going to cause the quality of the product on the field to suffer.

 

[sago1]

Agree with the need of increasing the size of the roster but also allowing more players to be active on game day. Increasing the size of the PS might also help, but I's also like the idea that at least 1 player would not have to go thru waivers to be placed on the PS. This player would have to meet all other PS requirements but he'd also be paid as if he were on the roster.

 

[Hailmary]

the 2 additional games are going to be brutal for a lot of rooks.

 

[joseephuss]

Most teams play in 4 pre-season games. The starters and and regulars don't play the full game in any of these games. They probably play a total of one full game over the span of the pre-season. Then they play in 16 regular season games. That means most guys play 17 to 18 games a year not counting the playoffs. Under this format people are complaining that players are getting hurt and risking injury in the pre-season.

Now they want to add two regular season games. The players will still have to play in the pre-season and over two pre-season games may see the same amount of live action that they do now over 4 games. Then they have to go out and play in 18 regular season games. Looks like they will have more opportunities to get injured.

I am for reducing the pre-season, but the regular season is long enough. I love football, but the regular season takes a lot out of every team. Adding two regular season games is not a good idea.