3/30 Sports Forum Disucssion- Should the NFL expand its season from 16 games?

[xbrokendownx]

discuss

[wrppdarndyrfngr]

you should make a poll.

and no.

if they owners pass it i doubt it gets past the players association unless they negotiate it in the new CBA

[rcrook]

someone already mentioned it but if they make the season longer they are going to have to restructure every single contract. guys aren't going to play 2 extra games while getting paid what they would for a 16 game season. that sounds like such a big headache in itself plus with the way our economy is going I don't really know if teams can afford to pay their players more than they already do.

[preppyak]

I'd be down for the 17 game season, where each team plays a neutral site game in cities without NFL teams...but, beyond that, I'm not a big fan. If the NFL wants the Super Bowl to be on during Sweeps, just start the season later

[FondestMemory]

no.

[wrppdarndyrfngr]

I think they should keep the 16 game season and eliminate 1 preseason game.

so play 3 pre-season games , give everyone a week off and then start the regular season on the normal weekend.

oh the the one big thing that Goddell keeps ignoring in this is what to do with the Pro Bowl?

[FondestMemory]

doesn't effect the pro bowl at all.

he still wants it to be played the week before the super bowl.

[about3fitty]

fuck no. players already take enough of a beating with 16 games, they dont need to add any more

[Smithers]

I'd be down for the 17 game season, where each team plays a neutral site game in cities without NFL teams...but, beyond that, I'm not a big fan.
thats an interesting idea, but how many cities without teams actually have football arenas? i guess if you played NFL games in college stadiums, that would be cool. i'd like to see the Bears @ ND Stadium, the Browns at the Shoe, etc. although that doesn't make it very "neutral."

[speak easy]

while it would be nice to see more games, having more games would just end up in more players being injured

[preppyak]

thats an interesting idea, but how many cities without teams actually have football arenas? i guess if you played NFL games in college stadiums, that would be cool. i'd like to see the Bears @ ND Stadium, the Browns at the Shoe, etc. although that doesn't make it very "neutral."
Well, you could still play games there...just it wouldn't be the local team.

The real premise was this...expand NFL London to 2 games, put 2 games in other international markets (more Europe, Canada, or Mexico maybe)...then you put 2 games each at markets that have the people, but not the teams (LA, San Antonio/Austin, Oklahoma City, etc). And then you could fill the gaps with say, an Eagles/Steelers game at the Penn State stadium, Jets v Giants at the Meadowlands, etc. Basically, that neutral site game would let the league be as creative as they wanted to, and since it would go outside the NFC East plays AFC West, etc teams format anyway, scheduling random games like that could be fun

I actually think a yearly Jets/Giants game an Steelers/Eagles game (and maybe others with regional rivalries but aren't in the same division) could be awesome in terms of tickets and ratings

[xbrokendownx]

Jets/Giants at Giants stadium isnt a neutral site though

[CubbyNick42]

Rams/Bears in Champaign!

[Smithers]

i think a game in Lincoln would be ridiculous. its obviously big enough to host one.

[preppyak]

Jets/Giants at Giants stadium isnt a neutral site though
Allow me to clarify, Meadowlands Stadium, which is the future home of both teams, and would be the definition of "neutral" site seeing as its impossible for a stadium to be any more in the middle. And they could I'm sure sell some ridiculously priced season ticket option that, because you are in a certain level, you get a ticket to the Jets/Giants game. Its what the Jets do best...
i think a game in Lincoln would be ridiculous. its obviously big enough to host one.
Yeah...that was another one I had in my head...basically think of the locations of any major college team and you have a potential NFL location. And chances are, you also have the people who would buy tickets.

And the rivalries that could come of it would be fun too

[Smithers]

Yeah...that was another one I had in my head...basically think of the locations of any major college team and you have a potential NFL location. And chances are, you also have the people who would buy tickets.

Lincoln, Tuscaloosa, South Bend, and Happy Valley would be 4 great places to have NFL games. although, if you've been to ND stadium, their "seating" is awful. all the sections that aren't the Monogram Club are just wooden benches with numbers painted on them. and these were made for normal sized people, not America's own cheese fry eating community.

[J.C.]

I wouldn't complain one way or the other.

[CubbyNick42]

Schedule expansion also diminishes the impact of single-season records.

[Montauk1222]

I don't think they need to expand the schedule, but I do think they need to cut back on the preseason games.

[joeag1985]

Nope. The format ain't broke so why fix it?

[MyWorldEntire]

I wouldn't complain one way or the other.

This is how I feel.

[catscradle]

Going on the NFL teams playing 1 game in a college stadium comments, it'd be sweet to see the Jags and the Bucs play against each other at the Swamp in Gainesville.

[speakhandsforme]

I don't believe they should. Every time a season is extended, it creates a divide between past and present players/statistics/records. For example, it is often forgotten that OJ Simpson's initial 2000-yard season was performed in 14 games. However, he doesn't hold the single season rushing record, though he likely would, had the season been 16-games deep at the time. Also, the extension may cause players' playoff performance to be underwhelming due to wear-and-tear, especially during the first few years that the extension is put in place and players must acclimate and restructure their peaking process.

The only reason why I would consider the extension is the fact that only having 16 games leads to a great deal of ties at the end of the season, in which some teams miss out on the playoffs by means tie-breakers---adding two games would reduce the frequency of ties.

[Oddpac87]

Well, you could still play games there...just it wouldn't be the local team.

The real premise was this...expand NFL London to 2 games, put 2 games in other international markets (more Europe, Canada, or Mexico maybe)...then you put 2 games each at markets that have the people, but not the teams (LA, San Antonio/Austin, Oklahoma City, etc). And then you could fill the gaps with say, an Eagles/Steelers game at the Penn State stadium, Jets v Giants at the Meadowlands, etc. Basically, that neutral site game would let the league be as creative as they wanted to, and since it would go outside the NFC East plays AFC West, etc teams format anyway, scheduling random games like that could be fun

I actually think a yearly Jets/Giants game an Steelers/Eagles game (and maybe others with regional rivalries but aren't in the same division) could be awesome in terms of tickets and ratings

I like that idea. They're talking about doing an NHL winter classic between the Penguins and Flyers there, which would be all sorts of epic.

[NoOneRunsFaster]

I think they should keep the 16 game season and eliminate 1 preseason game.

so play 3 pre-season games , give everyone a week off and then start the regular season on the normal weekend.

oh the the one big thing that Goddell keeps ignoring in this is what to do with the Pro Bowl?

I completely agree with eliminating one pre-season game. After game three starters have their rhythm back and the coaches have had enough mini-camps, practices and exhibition games to figure out who in or out.

It also gives players time to rest before the regular season.

[batmannj]

I don't think they need to expand the schedule, but I do think they need to cut back on the preseason games.
Agreed. I think expanding the regular season is pointless. The NFL is fantastic how it is and is by far the most dominant. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.