Green Bay Packers’ president Mark Murphy step back from supporting 18-game season – NFL News
Mark Murphy is a man who was once at the forefront of supporting the idea of an 18-game season. Yet, he has now changed his stance.
According to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, talking at the annual shareholders meeting on Tuesday, July 24, 2012, he said:
"Now, to be honest with you, I couldn't support a move to 18. I just think with all the focus on the player health and safety, it would be really hard to do that. . . I would be in support of a move to two (preseason games) and 16. Reduce the number of preseason
games. The challenge there obviously is you're losing revenue. On the other end, do you really have enough time to develop younger players if you only have two preseason games? Those are the things we have to look at.”
Murphy’s advice seems convincing, but only two preseason games can affect the output of the rookies come the start of the season.
Murphy’s comment might be a reflection of the overall mindset of the team managers or owners on the idea of an 18-game season.
He is the first top-ranked person to come out and express his views against 18-game extended season.
Player safety has been the hot issue in National Football League (NFL) during recent times. The league has given strict penalties to players in the Bounty Gate scandal because of safety of the players.
As for the length of the season, the equation is simple. The more games a player plays the more injury-prone he becomes.
Murphy’s remarks will definitely affect the league’s stance on extended season. In fact, this has died down this offseason after a heated debate on the subject during the same time last year.
This issue was discussed during the last round of negotiations of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), but the matter did not get much support.
However, one cannot say that this matter is dusted forever. The main hurdle for this issue looks to be the safety of the players, which should be acknowledged.
Meanwhile, Murphy also expressed his views on other issues.
NFL is under severe pressure regarding game safety, as around 2,000 former players have filed suits against it regarding concussion-related incidence.
Murphy reinforced the fact that because of safety regulations, the game is getting more and more offence friendly.
He does admit that safety is an important issue, but thinks that there should be a balance between the two things.
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