I have already covered this topic in a post asking if you thought the NFL would move to an 18-game regular season. I was not sure, and most of you, if I recall correctly, did not believe it would happen. Now I think as much of the NFL media that it will happen whether we like it or not, no matter the added safety risk it adds for players. There’s another recent article HERE talking about what they see as the inevitable 18-game season and its implications.
Any season expansion would require the renegotiation of the CBA between the owners and the players. I expect the players’ union and the players themselves to push back due to the additional injuries that will occur. The owners will, of course, counter with something like an additional bye week and more money thrown at the issue for not only playing extra games but possibly additional benefits. Either way, I suspect those who hold the most immense piles of money in this fight, like with most things, will come out on top and get their way.
Beyond the agreement, decisions will need to be made on how to restructure the schedule and the season itself. I am sure that if the owners do not add at least one more bye week, the players will demand it. There will be more money for an additional game, but the players will most likely seek other extra revenue. As with any union, I also believe that the players will push for expanded rosters. An additional 3 to 4 players would do a lot for some teams to address injuries that seem to be increasing yearly. The league could even make an exemption for the lowest two players to not count against a team’s cap, as those two will be minimum-salary guys anyway.
So tonight’s question is: With the possibility of an 18-game season seeming more likely and even inching toward being more likely than not, do you believe there is a chance that the owners do not get their way this time, despite that usually/almost always being how it goes? Moreover, if and when this happens, assuming that it does happen, what do you think the players should ask for/demand in return from the owners, and what do you think the owners will ultimately concede to make more money for themselves?
Please give us your thoughts and answers in the comments section below-
