There is handwriting on the wall. NFL owners hope to eventually expand the regular season from 17 to 18 games. Owners usually get what they want, so it seems like it’s not a matter of if expansion happens, but when.
The current collective bargaining agreement is in effect through 2030, but NFL owners, officials and NFL Players Association leaders are already considering what an 18-game season would look like and what the two sides can do to facilitate it. We are starting to have very preliminary discussions about whether we should make concessions. Such a change. However, the two countries have not reached an agreement.
So far, the majority of NFL players we spoke to are against the idea of an 18-game season. Of the 108 players who responded to The Athletic’s second anonymous player poll, 64 said they were not in favor of adding 18 games to the league. Meanwhile, 29 players said they supported the move and 15 said they were undecided.
Those who oppose this idea are adamantly against it.
“No. No way,” said one player. “It’s too taxing on our bodies.”
“F— no. F— no,” the second player answered. “For what? F— No. F— No. F— No. Make it shorter.”
A third said: “No. Not worth the money. And it won’t affect the playoff bracket. Adding one more game won’t affect the playoff spot.”
While more football sounds great for fans and owners, many players have other factors to consider.
“No, the players can barely get through 17 games, so if you add 18 games, I don’t know what impact it will have long term,” said one player. The next year was a battle with injuries. I think it’s too much physically, and from an NFL standpoint, I know they’re aware of the money, but they’re going to lose a lot of star players to injuries. ”
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Another player worried that the continued expansion of the schedule would reduce the size of each game.
“The beauty of football is that there are so few games and each game is as important as 10 games in baseball or 5 games in basketball. So they all matter,” he said. Ta. “And 17 is kind of nice because no one can hit .500. We’re not wearing ties. We’re over .500 or we’re under .500. If that’s the case. If this were to happen, it would be mandatory for the entire league to hold games on grass (fields).
When players hear that owners want extra games, they always challenge the NFL’s claims that it cares about player safety. However, they understand the factors behind such decisions.
“The NFL is all about making money, so of course we’re going to add one more game,” one player said. “More money will come in.”
He was spot on. The NFL is all about making money. On the contrary, players also want to increase their earning potential. Because of such a mutual desire, even players who are strongly opposed to the idea of expanding to 18 games are aware that they may need to relent in order to continue expanding their part of the economic pie. I admit it.
“Okay, it’s the money aspect,” the player said. “Just grab it while you can make money and keep adding games. I just think there’s more body wear and tear. If they’re going to make the 18th game, something needs to change somewhere. So I’m interested to see what they do.”
Players are concerned that if the NFL eventually adds an 18th game, it will put even more wear and tear on their bodies. (Ken Blaze/Imagine Images)
Another said: Unless they give us a little more money, no. This season is long. When I added the last one, it started at 16 and then became 17. 18 is really crazy. ”
Currently, players receive 48.8 percent of all revenue and owners receive the remaining 51.2 percent, but this allocation will definitely need to change if the league expects to impact players in Game 18. Dew. Players were also asked additional questions about what adjustments the NFL would need to make to account for a potential 18th game. The most common answer was adding a bye week, but some cited changes to the preseason and offseason schedules and, of course, more money.
“If that means more revenue sharing to the players and an extra bye week in the season, I’m all for it,” one player said.
“If it means more money, I say no,” said another. “But there’s a lot more money. It’s not just a game check. (And) there’s two weeks left.”
Another player also said he would terminate his contract after 18 games because of the income potential.
“Well, if the salaries reflect that, regardless of inflation, and the number of players on each team that participates in practice increases,” he said. “I’m always thinking about the little players, so I look at the minimum salary and the practice squad players. I just want bread. I want another $100,000 or $200,000. Everything. As long as we’re on the same playing field and others are resting as well, I don’t stumble on taking extra rest. That’s cool to me, but again, I’m a grinder. I’ll play 20 games for $500,000 more.”
Several players liked the idea of an 18th game simply because it was fun to play.
“I love the game,” one said. “Do you want to add more? Please add more.”
They believed that with a properly adjusted preseason and a second bye, players would find a way to cope and adapt to the additional attrition.
One player said, “It’s basically a bye-bye in two weeks.” “It’s not three days a week like the league is trying to get away with after a Thursday game. Two full weeks and they can have the President’s Day break for the Super Bowl like they want.”
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The players surveyed said that no matter what their bookings were, they knew that Game 18 games were coming up and there was little they could do other than negotiate the best financial and benefits package possible. It’s like you know there isn’t.
One veteran said: But we know it’s coming. ”
(Top illustration: Dan Goldfarb/The Athletic, Photos: Ryan Kang, Chris Unger/Getty Images)
