I admit, I'm a little torn over the idea of an 18 game NFL season. But then again, I'm the oddball that actually likes preseason games. It is during those preseason games where I root for players like Patrick Crayton, Tony Romo and Miles Austin before they earn prominent roles on the team. And for every Patrick Crayton, who goes from a 7th round selection to having a solid NFL career, there's a Manuel Johnson or Jesse Holley who are wrapped in a competition despite being on the outside looking in at those last few spots on the 53-man roster.
One misconception about expanding to an 18 game NFL season is a rise in injuries. That's not 100% accurate. Because the two extra games would come at the expense of preseason games, the number of injuries should stay about the same. The truth here is that more of these injuries would hit the starting lineup, since starters would be playing more.
Oh, and if you are wondering, starters would play approximately 5 more quarters (1.25 games) if the NFL expanded the season to 18 games. Currently, starters play about 6 quarters (1.5 games) during preseason. Under the new system, they'd probably play a quarter that first game and a half the second game, plus the two full games that would be converted to regular season games. That works out to just over a full game of playing time being added to their workload.
One thing I hear from the players on NFL Total Access all the time is whether or not they'd get a raise for playing 18 games. Now, I'm not in those Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) negotiations, but my understanding of the CBA is that a percentage of revenues go to the players. This is (in part) how we get a salary cap with both minimum and maximum threshholds. So, players really shouldn't have to wonder if they'll get a raise: if the NFL makes more money, players make more money.
Of course, some of that will be eaten up by the extra players on the team. We can expect the 53-man roster to rise to at least 55 players and perhaps more. Which would certainly be good for players like Manuel Johnson and Jesse Holley.
Another concern is the idea of replacing meaningless games at the beginning of the season with meaningless games at the end of the season. We already see the best teams resting players in week 17. Certainly, with two more regular season games, this is going to become a more popular thing to do for teams with a big enough lead to do it. But then again, if your team is resting players, it probably means they are a lock for the playoffs, so this really only bothers two types of fans: (1) those who need a certain team to lose for their team to make it to the playoffs and (2) those who need to pick up a win in fantasy football to make it to the playoffs so they need Tony Romo to get his butt off the bench and put up some points.
Ultimately, I'd say the teams that need a little help to make it in the playoffs can't really gripe at Wade Phillips for resting Romo and Miles Austin. If they'd taken care of business earlier in the season, they wouldn't need help. And since we are replacing meaningless games from preseason, having a few extra meaningless games at the end of the season still puts us in the green.
Honestly, my biggest concern is with the development of players. Do we ever find out what Miles Austin can do without those extra games? Do we ever see a glimpse of potential in Tony Romo? Do they ever even develop into the players we see on Sunday without the game experience they get from preseason?
I think teams and the NFL can solve the problem of extra playing time for starters by reducing the workload in the offseason. Subtracting a mini camp and shaving some days off training camp will help with that issue. And a few extra meaningless games at the end of the season has to be subtracted from the 32 extra meaningful games being played.
But how are you going to develop the next Tony Romo or Miles Austin? I see a development league becoming more important with the expansion to an 18-game schedule. Which actually might work out well if it is done right. At the very least, it can provide a little spring football.
What do you think? Are you for an expansion to 18 games?
Comments