NightLink II: 18 Game Season Coming to the NFL?

by Dane Noble on Jun 25, 2009 6:28 PM CDT

We have heard the continued discussions from the league about shortening the pre-season, and the possibility of lengthening the regular season, but nothing has yet been formally decided.

Looks like that might come to the table soon though... as this article points out, 2012 might see an 18 game regular season.

NFL owners have informally discussed the possibility of expanding the regular season to 18 games (an idea we continue to hate, because 16 is just perfect). But there has been very little talk of just when this would take place.

A league source familiar with the inner workings of the scheduling situation tells us there is a growing consensus that an expanded season would be introduced in 2012.

Why then? Because next year is out, it being (for now) the final year of the labor agreement. Because of the possibility of a lockout (barring successful negotiations in the coming months) in 2011, that's not a suitable year either.

So next in line is 2012, assuming the labor issues have been resolved.

And when might owners approve such a measure? Potentially as early as their fall meetings. It's not a lock, by any means, but if there are enough votes to approve it by then, it could happen.

We ran this past someone in the NFL office who told us there is nothing concrete, and that 2012 is "just a guess." But we trust our source on this one, because he's intimately involved in the schedulding issue.

Very intersting stuff. I wonder if the owners would be willing to go along with this. It is ultimately about the money (revenue), so this will definitely be interesting to follow...

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Does that mean the season will start sooner than great. Because i am ready for some football.

by DorianB on Jun 25, 2009 7:34 PM CDT reply actions

The players union won't allow their players to play 15% more games unless compensated 15% more.

More chances for injuries doesn’t work into the Bears favor. Superbowl in March. I don’t like it.

by BigGeorgeTX on Jun 25, 2009 9:28 PM CDT reply actions

plus I imagine

they would have to increase roster spots by at least 3 or more. Otherwise teams that just manage to stay healthy would have a huge advantage over the rest even if they are mediocre clubs. I wonder how much money that one extra home game would make.

by reefermadness3 on Jun 25, 2009 10:50 PM CDT up reply actions

yuck, I hope it isn’t done…

I’d rather see an 18 week season (still 16 games) with an additional bye week for each team, this would allow players to rest some nagging injuries which in turn would lead to better play, and the TV Networks would gain an additional week of ad revenue

by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Jun 25, 2009 10:28 PM CDT reply actions

isnt the bye week for the confrence number 1 seeds

an incentive to be number 1 in the conference, and if that did happen the confrence winners would get 3 byes, which to me seems like alot.

"snuffalufagus fucks my shit up"

by leopoldjones on Jun 25, 2009 10:41 PM CDT up reply actions

they seem intent on adding an 18th week… so if you give each team a bye during each half of the season you stretch the regular season out to 18 weeks, giving the NFL and the TV networks an extra week of ad revenue, and we all know it’s all about the MONEY!

also cut the preseason to 3 games

by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Jun 25, 2009 11:09 PM CDT up reply actions

I think your mistaken...

They dont want to add a 18th week, they want to go from 16 weeks to 18 weeks. So actually, it will be a 19 week season, could be 20 weeks if you add an extra bye week. But you are right in one sense, it is about the money.

"I can accept failure, but I can't accept not trying" - Michael Jordan, the one and only...

by LPLancer23 on Jun 29, 2009 2:27 PM CDT up reply actions

Nevermind,

I just noticed your first post.

"I can accept failure, but I can't accept not trying" - Michael Jordan, the one and only...

by LPLancer23 on Jun 29, 2009 2:28 PM CDT up reply actions

I'm for it if

the players get compensated, and two preseason games are dropped from the schedule.

"I'm not so mean. I wouldn't ever go out to hurt anybody deliberately - unless it was, you know, important, like a league game or something." - Dick Butkus

"Yeah, Moe, that team sure did suck last night. They just plain sucked! I’ve seen teams suck before, but they were the suckiest bunch of sucks that ever sucked!" - Homer

by propheteer on Jun 26, 2009 10:43 AM CDT reply actions

i like it

if they drop two pre season games,and increase the roster. they could also put an extra bye week. i also think that the negotiations with the owners and the players union will be a bit heated.

by stepeo on Jun 26, 2009 1:40 PM CDT reply actions

As far as the preseason situation..

I think they should go with 3 games, and they can still go with the 18 game regular season. It would extend the entire seaosn by only one week. Your still going to have the Super Bowl in February, it will be the second week instead of the first week. The first week will be the bye week, and February Football will still be exclusive.
Additionally, I also think they should extend the roster size. Also, the players should get compensated for the extra week.

"I can accept failure, but I can't accept not trying" - Michael Jordan, the one and only...

by LPLancer23 on Jun 29, 2009 2:24 PM CDT reply actions