Earlier than the NFL turned its consideration to the upcoming draft, the offseason chatter was heavy on whether or not or not the league ought to increase its schedule from 17 to 18 common season video games. That topic was a well-liked matter on the annual league assembly in March.
There’s little question an 18-game common season schedule is what NFL commissioner Roger Goodell desires. That will enhance income – bear in mind, it’s at all times about cash – and permit the league to maneuver the Tremendous Bowl to Presidents’ Day weekend. It might possible imply the NFL would add worldwide video games (one for every staff) and maybe one other streaming service as properly.
It might additionally imply decreasing the preseason from three video games to 2, and (hopefully) including a second bye week.
“I prefer it for the long-term development and growth of the league – to maintain our league wholesome and develop income,” New England Patriots proprietor Robert Kraft informed reporters on the league assembly. “I feel preseason video games haven’t been what (they) was.
“It might enable us to additionally develop the sport internationally,” Kraft continued. “Each staff within the league would play a sport abroad. I feel it might be much more thrilling to the followers to have an additional sport somewhat than the best way our preseason video games stack up.”
Why NFL’s 18th sport is a foul concept
Usually, extra soccer is an effective factor. When it comes to including an 18th common season sport, nevertheless, extra could be much less.
Of the 4 main sports activities the NFL has essentially the most significant common season. Why? As a result of it performs the fewest common season video games. Every NFL contest carries extra weight than a sport within the NBA, NHL or MLB.
The NFL went from 16 to 17 common season video games in 2021. Lengthening the season in any approach could be including to an already saturated product.
Don’t fall for the discuss that eliminating a preseason sport and including a sport to the common season is a fair commerce, since key gamers usually see little enjoying time throughout the preseason. That’s like evaluating apples to dump vehicles.
One other sturdy argument in opposition to going to an 18-game schedule is participant well being. NFL our bodies are already being pushed to the restrict. The concern right here is that including to the common season could be the tipping level that leads NFL gamers to begin taking video games off, such as you see in at present’s NBA.
NFL load administration? No thanks.
“From enjoying within the league, and I performed 16 [games], it was an extended season,” Houston Texans coach DeMeco Ryans mentioned. “So to play 17 is lengthy, 18 is simply including extra video games. It’s undoubtedly tougher on the gamers. You concentrate on the blokes, and for those who see what guys undergo on a day-to-day foundation, week-to-week foundation, simply to prepare for soccer video games, including one other sport is unquestionably going to be laborious on the gamers.
“It’s not my resolution to make, however simply my perspective and what these guys must undergo and what they put their our bodies by, it’ll be actually robust to ask the blokes to go do one other one.”
Like having an additional dessert, an 18-game common season schedule could be an excessive amount of of a very good factor.
