18 Game Schedule.. Good or Bad?

It's not just two more games. It's also two more weeks of mandatory practice, which also increases the likelihood of injury

I don't like the idea of an 18 game season, seems like an obvious money grab by the league. I don't like a 4 game preseason either though.

I love the idea, the more games that count the more games I'll watch.

the owners gave up too much last contract. between TV revenue, and gate receipts, this is a way to recoup some of the money. i really hate this idea. and its really bad for the players, and the game. leave it alone

I'm in agreement with those who prefer the format remain the way it is. For me personally, the disadvantages far out weigh the advantages. While it may be great for revenue, it's harder on the players. Reducing the number of preseason games by two, will also hinder coaches ability to completely evaluate young players and draftees.

What's more, what will the players want in exchange for adding two more games to the regular season?

Ok, so they want to go to 18 games because at the beginning of the season we have meaningless games.... what happens at the end of the season when the Colts have wrapped up their division (again) by week 15 and we have more meaningless games. Ah! I get it, we get to see meaningless games with the 2nd team in December that we have to pay to see.

Its all greed. The owners want money for 20 games a year. The fans don't want to pay for meaningless games, but somehow we get them anyway.

I'm in agreement with those who prefer the format remain the way it is. For me personally, the disadvantages far out weigh the advantages. While it may be great for revenue, it's harder on the players. Reducing the number of preseason games by two, will also hinder coaches ability to completely evaluate young players and draftees.

What's more, what will the players want in exchange for adding two more games to the regular season?

That's where it will get interesting. Seems like a big hurdle to get by in collective bargaining.

I'm in agreement with those who prefer the format remain the way it is. For me personally, the disadvantages far out weigh the advantages. While it may be great for revenue, it's harder on the players. Reducing the number of preseason games by two, will also hinder coaches ability to completely evaluate young players and draftees.

What's more, what will the players want in exchange for adding two more games to the regular season?

At a minimum the players union will want more player jobs and they will get it.

I fully support eliminating two preseason games. Presently, a full 20% of the NFL's 20-game schedule is devoted meaningless games - its retarded. The players don't like it. The coaches don't really need it. The owners and fans hate it. So, its pretty much universally agreed upon that the NFL needs to lose 2 preseason games.

Now, if we get rid of two preseason games, there are really just two choices - 1. Leave the 16 game regular season and cut player salaries to compensate for lost revenue. 2. convert those two meaningless preseason games into two regular season games. Starters generally play about 6 quarters of football in the preseason anyways, so its not like they'll really be playing that much more.

Scenario 2 makes the most sense. Now, there are things to do to make the longer regular season less grinding on the players:

1. Every team gets two bye weeks. As a consequence of this, we'll now have 20 weeks of regular season football to watch instead of just 17. Football season is my favorite time of the year, so i'm all about adding a few weeks.

2. Increase roster sizes and/or allow the full roster to be eligible to play on gamedays.

3. Change IR rules to allow players to come back from IR during the regular season.

4. Provide some kind of incentive for playoff-bound teams to play starters during the final weeks of the regular season. My suggestion - have the last 4 weeks of a teams schedule be divisional games.

5. On the flip side of the previous suggestion, have the first few games of the regular season be non-conference games for every team. these games are less important from a tie-breaking standpoint, and should be played near the beginning of the season to allow teams to "Gear up" more for the "more important" regular season games to be played later in the year.

It's not just two more games. It's also two more weeks of mandatory practice, which also increases the likelihood of injury

its not two more games. there are 20 games players had to practice for in the current setup. there will be 20 games players have to practice for in the 18 game season. in the new system, they'll just be preparing for regular season games instead of pre-season games.