Plans to expand National Football League (NFL) Regular Season in process
There is a proposal making various news headlines or rather a popular proposal that seeks to expand and alter the NFL schedule. Currently, there are 4 pre-season games and 16 games in the regular season. The proposal, if approved will make it to two pre-season games and 18 in the regular season. It’s a win-win situation for everyone. Fans have been supporting it because it would mean that more action will be available in the regular season. NFL owners are for it as well because longer regular seasons mean more revenues for everyone, including the players. The players on the contrary haven’t really thrown their support for it as they are not really looking for an extended season. Not a good position to be in for them since the support of the fans and owners means that in all likelihood, the proposal will pass.
It’s not all bad though. League owner would consult with the NFL Players Association before finalizing anything. A unilateral decision would char the rapport between the two sides and that is why National Football League (NFL) is considering changes to the roster sizes, amending the rules regarding injured reserves and increasing compensation and so on to get the players on board.
Increased pay and even greater financial compensation, if agreed upon, might still not allay player fears. But, what fears can be counted in that league? Of course, injuries and lesser time for recoveries. Football player’s bodies are already severely battered by the end of the 16th game of the regular season, raising that to 18 games would mean more injuries and not enough recovery time. “If fans want to show their love, they should let everyone know that we are not machines”, is what Baltimore Ravens’ Ray Lewis had to say on the NFL Players Association website about the expansion.
The total game count still adds up to 20 though, but two more physically demanding games at the end of the regular season, when so many players have already had at least some minor injuries and are hurt, would take a hefty toll on NFL players. Given the choice of higher salaries and increased risk of serious injury, many players want to say “Thanks, but no thanks”.
No one wants to keep the preseason games. Fans aren’t interested and players really don’t need them with all the off season training. The only concern is the two more games when everyone is going at it with everything they got. NFL players have to live up to a gladiator image, pushing themselves even if they are in pain. The expanded schedule would mean players get pushed even further, possibly to a breaking point.
The NFL however strongly disagrees. They acknowledge that the new schedule would be more demanding but insist that the research they have conducted shows that injury rates would not rise with the expanded schedule. Maybe they wouldn’t but it would take more than just numbers and figures to satisfy players on the field whose bodies actually take the hits.
Commissioner Goodell emphasized that the players don’t want four preseason games. “They tell me that all the time,” he said. Goodell said that the game must evolve and continue to get better making a reference to the 1978 schedule change when the previously 14 games schedule was changed to the current 16 games by the NFL. In spirit, the changes are similar and commissioner Goodell would appear to be on the right track. Reduce the pre-season games and increase the regular ones, same as they did in 78. Increasing the number from 14 to 16 however is not the same thing as increasing it from 16 to 18.
Goodell in an attempt to address the concerns said that the changes to the game were necessary and to compensate this, changes must be made to the off-season by introducing “guidelines and restrictions on what can be done and can’t be done” during the off-season. The Commissioner and the owners are playing hardball with the NFLPA. They want the changes to be made in this season and it would appear they won’t be backing down until they get what they want. Fans are expecting a standoff very soon.
There is no enthusiasm for it among the players at least. “With all due respect,” clarified the representative for the New York Giants, Shaun O'Hara, “just because Mr. Goodell wants it doesn't mean it should happen”.
“I think everything is [about] leverage right now.” How much leverage do the players really have then?
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