18 game schedule coming...What would you like to see the new format be?

Call me a cynic but I have a suspicion the 18 game schedule is going to be used as a bargaining chip with the player's union.

We'll drop the 18 game schedule if you'll.....

I think I like the first scenario the best, although it might force a divide in the league (kind of like the old days with the NFL and AFL.) I wonder if adding the two extra games will affect how each division is set up? In all honesty, if the NFC East is a true Eastern Division, then Dallas shouldn't be in the division. It should be the Redskins, Giants, Eagles, and Panthers. And I'd even say that the Giants should move to the North. Sorry...I'm thinking out loud.

I do agree with Davy though. I think it could very well be just a bargaining chip.

I'm willing to give them 1 game but the idea that the fans want to see this is absurd. Fans have little desire to see even more backups take over for starters due to injury. I hope the players union can beat this little scheme that the owners and the "impartial" commissioner have cooking up. Wow, I never rooted for a union before, feels weird.

I think I like the first scenario the best, although it might force a divide in the league (kind of like the old days with the NFL and AFL.) I wonder if adding the two extra games will affect how each division is set up? In all honesty, if the NFC East is a true Eastern Division, then Dallas shouldn't be in the division. It should be the Redskins, Giants, Eagles, and Panthers. And I'd even say that the Giants should move to the North. Sorry...I'm thinking out loud.

I do agree with Davy though. I think it could very well be just a bargaining chip.

Ah, the good old days when the Phoenix Cardinals were in the NFC East... :cheeky-sm

to the scheduling question.

I like the idea of an interconference rivalry. It works best with a 17 game system, but could work with an 18 game as well. Simply put:

Same rotational scheduling as used now.

In addition, each team is paired, as logically as possible to a team in the other conference, and plays a home and away game with them.
...hence we would pair with baltimore, dallas with houston, nyj with nyg, etc.

The biggest problem is the one time every 4 years when you would normally cycle through them, so when NFC East plays the AFC North, we would be scheduled for 3 games with the ravens (ugh). Some logical replacement game would have to be figured out, maybe where you play 1 opposing conference team in your position from another division.

If the NFL switches to an 18 game schedule I won't like it. I like it the way it is. 18 games means everything needs to be switched up. Bigger draft to supplement the bigger roster needed so your team can last 18 games, and I'm a big proponent of keeping the historical books in order. If we switched to 18 games I'm sure 3-5 guys would break 2k yards rushing every year. I don't want to see that. Plus shorter careers which is another negative.

Overall this is a bad idea. 16 games is already demanding enough. If Davy is right and this is just a tactical ploy in negotiations I will be happy.

The NFL has a farm system that is completely free, it called college football. There is a 0% chance a team or the NFLwould take on the cost of a farm team/league when college fills the bill just fine?

Ah, the good old days when the Phoenix Cardinals were in the NFC East... :cheeky-sm

Hah! More like the St. Louis Cardinals! ;)

If the NFL switches to an 18 game schedule I won't like it. I like it the way it is. 18 games means everything needs to be switched up. Bigger draft to supplement the bigger roster needed so your team can last 18 games, and I'm a big proponent of keeping the historical books in order. If we switched to 18 games I'm sure 3-5 guys would break 2k yards rushing every year. I don't want to see that. Plus shorter careers which is another negative.

Overall this is a bad idea. 16 games is already demanding enough. If Davy is right and this is just a tactical ploy in negotiations I will be happy.

Only flaw in your theory is that the league didn't always have a 16 game season. I don't see how this would affect historical books? Besides, if this was an issue, then the NFL probably wouldn't have ever went past a ten game regular season. Also, I'm not sure it would signify shorter careers. Each team would be able to career a larger active roster.

The league gradually went to 16 games over time, so going to 18 in the long run isn't going to be a big deal. Some day we'll be saying I remember when the season was only 16 games.