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guess he can turn his attention to all the important issues now that he is done with his Brett Favre trade.

bad idea, 18 games will eventually dilute the importance of the game(s). Unlike baseball and basketball, all football games count. How often do you hear that basketball is going through the motions waiting to get to the playoffs--the real season

I was just talking to friends about this (probably like a lot of others!) about 2 years ago. It would be interesting to shorten the pre-season to 2 games, and then add 2 reagular season games. Teams could extend training camp 2 weeks to pick up the slack. 4-5 pre season games is stupid, although the owners love it because they save money. I'd rather see a player get "whacked" during the regular season than on the pre-season schedule.

I think it would be useful because it would help to NOT diulute the importance of games, but dilute the ability to run through weaker divisions with 6 automatic wins and then play another weaker division for another 4 automatic wins, guaranteeing a 10 win season (Patriots). With 18 games, tougher games could be scheduled for those teams that get cakewalk schedules, raising the competitive nature of the game.

Even if they limit the preseason to 2 games,18 "real" games is harder on a starter than 16 reg.and 4 preseason.

This smells of greed, and will dilute the quality of the game by taking it's health toll on the players, and limiting evaluation/learning time for the new and younger players.
Leave well enough alone.

BAD! A playoff team plays 17 - 20 games now. Injuries will increase. It will shorten careers. If they do it, they will need to increase the rosters to 58 players for games. So now the bad teams can go 1-17, 3-15.
Hey commish, get busy with the tv, cable, dish deals, clean up the steroids and HGH mess and the Contract with the Players Association first so two years from now games are being played. Just a thought.

I think it would be useful because it would help to NOT diulute the importance of games, but dilute the ability to run through weaker divisions with 6 automatic wins and then play another weaker division for another 4 automatic wins, guaranteeing a 10 win season (Patriots). With 18 games, tougher games could be scheduled for those teams that get cakewalk schedules, raising the competitive nature of the game.
C-Smith | 08/10/08, 10:05 AM
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I agree C-Smith. Being locked in with 6 division games, four games against and AFC and an NFC division leaves the rest of the schedule only two games to wiggle with assuring you two matchups against teams who finished with the same standing as you in their respective division. The difficult part would be determining what criteria is used to determine the opponents of those two games.

The other potential headache is all the statniks whom will flood blogslike this pondering records and stats as two extra games allow more opportunities to assail season and career record marks. I do not care one way or the other but I definitely agree that the preseason is too long. Start the regular season the first weekend in September!

18 games would increase injuries and water down divisional match-ups.

It would make a mess of every contract in the league. Bonuses, incentives, and the new contract with the players would take that much longer to negotiate. Every other player in the league would want his contract renewed. A mess for no good reason. The cream will stay on top, and more games will not make a bad team better..When are you going to start the games. August 15? Or is the Superbowl going to be played in March?

YES! More Games! But you have to have two Bye weeks, and increase rosters and salary caps> At least that's what I think.

I have a better idea.....how about not f*cking with the schedule, and just charging REASONABLE rates for EXHIBITION games, rather than full ticket price? People are only complaining because they are paying upwards of $400 a ticket to see one quarter of real football.

I have a better idea.....how about not f*cking with the schedule, and just charging REASONABLE rates for EXHIBITION games, rather than full ticket price? People are only complaining because they are paying upwards of $400 a ticket to see one quarter of real football.

TFBuckFutter | 08/10/08, 11:12 AM

That is true...They should charge less for preseason games...

Don't consider it....DO IT!!! If these guys are going to be busting themselves up playing...make it for a reason. Preseason ball is mainly used to weed out the scrubs....start the training camps earlier and scrub your line ups on your own time. Don't make me suffer through your elimination process.

Also, an 18 game schedule means we'll probably have a 2000 yard rusher every 3 or 4 years.

I guess that's presumptious, since most running backs probably can't handle the extended load....at least not initially.

Even if they limit the preseason to 2 games,18 "real" games is harder on a starter than 16 reg.and 4 preseason.

This smells of greed, and will dilute the quality of the game by taking it's health toll on the players, and limiting evaluation/learning time for the new and younger players.
Leave well enough alone.

Dead Kennedy | 08/10/08, 10:44 AM

As much as it pains me to agree with you, I agree with you.
The system as it stands seems to be the only way to evaluate young talent.
Like Mother Mary said, 'Let it be.'

"This smells of greed, and will dilute the quality of the game "

Actually, the owners will likely be against this, BECAUSE of greed.

A lot of season tickets require the ticketholder to buy the two home exhibition games as well as the eight home regular season games (all at the regular season price). They won't be getting any additional revenue from the gate.

The CFL has used two exhibition games and an 18 or 19 game season for some time.

"The CFL has used two exhibition games and an 18 or 19 game season for some time."

But you can't really compare the NFL to a "professional" two-hand-touch league.

If we do this now all the records will be nearly impossible to compare. Well AP had 2200 yards in 18 games, is that as good as LT's 2025 yards in 16. Hmm let me grab my calculator. Weak Goddell.

16 games is enough.

NOOOOOOOOO! Don't even consider it, Roger