17 Game Season

[Jonny_Quest]

Looks like the owners are pushing hard for a 17 game season. Curious to see what other fans think.

The idea of another week of football has appeal at first thought, but the more I think about it, the more I dislike the idea.

First I think the season is already too long. It’s too hard to keep a team healthy for an entire season, and injury luck seems to play too big of a factor compared to other sports.

Bill Simmons had an interesting pitch for a 14 game season with 2 or 3 bye weeks for each team. I really liked the idea because it would lead to higher quality football week-to-week and healthier teams. I might even consider a 12 game season with 4 bye weeks.

Watching a team come roaring out of a bye week is always more exciting because they come out so much healthier and prepared. I think it would add a lot more excitement since more stars would make it through an entire season.

I think another good change would be expanding the game day roster by 10-12 players to keep players fresher and reduce the chance of injuries with lower snap counts per player.

I feel like the owners are being very short-sighted in this. The game already takes a brutal toll on players’ bodies. I think less could truly be more in this case.

Curious to hear what other fans think.

[Al Wilson 4 Mayor]

Get rid of a pre season game and add a second bye week for each team.

[samparnell]

Dumb

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[Hadez]

I would be cool with it like this

Subtract 2 preseason games. I feel kinda bad for the young guys whose only chance to be in the NFL will be these games but imo coaches have shown repeatedly they do not need 4 preseason games in how little they play their starters.

Add 1 regular season game. Do not play any games the week prior to week 1 regular season. No team gets 9 home games. Every team plays one game at a "neutral" site. This will allow the NFL to keep playing games at various stadiums without forcing season ticket holders to get one less home regular season game.

[broncolee]

I’m okay with 17 games.

I would like to see them add a second bye week.

[Jonny_Quest]

I guess my rationale is that I don't find myself thinking the college football season is too short.

Add a 4 round playoff to a college season and I think I would be fine.

Also seems like a college-length season greatly increases your chances of ending the season with all 22 of your starters playing.

Seems like you get a much better product when all of your stars tend to play in all of the games?

[Dennis.1960]

Interesting the owners want an odd number, meaning every team will either have a winning or losing season...no more .500 records (unless of course a team has a tie and ends 8-8-1 or 3 ties for 7-7-3)

I imagine, as usual with the NFL, it's really all about the $$$ because advertisers will pay more for a commercial slot on a regular season vs a pre-season game

[Capt. Jack]

I would rather have a 18 game season, with 2 Preseason games. Preseason is lame in my opinion.

[L.M.]

Interesting the owners want an odd number, meaning every team will either have a winning or losing season...no more .500 records (unless of course a team has a tie and ends 8-8-1 or 3 ties for 7-7-3)

I imagine, as usual with the NFL, it's really all about the $$$ because advertisers will pay more for a commercial slot on a regular season vs a pre-season game

Great point. Better make it 18 games, and start preseason in July.

[L.M.]

I would rather have a 18 game season, with 2 Preseason games. Preseason is lame in my opinion.

It's perhaps not as fun to watch from the fan perspective but it's vitally necessary to the coaches, IMO. Teams have to wittle down around 90 guys to 53 and this is the best way to test and evaluate all those players.

[Capt. Jack]

It's perhaps not as fun to watch from the fan perspective but it's vitally necessary to the coaches, IMO. Teams have to wittle down around 90 guys to 53 and this is the best way to test and evaluate all those players.

I agree it helps evaluate players.

[broncos SB2010]

I don't think an extra week will change anything as far as playoff seeding goes. Usually all of the team are set pretty well by week 17 so I see this as just a $ grab.

[Al Wilson 4 Mayor]

Dumb

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I can’t really argue with this. The player’s bodies take a beating as it is.

[Dennis.1960]

I can’t really argue with this. The player’s bodies take a beating as it is.

Knowing how many players have complained that Thursday night games are also too hard on their bodies, perhaps this is shaping up to be a compromise between the owners and players union: A 17 game season if Thursday nights are removed from the schedule. Then again, other than the superstar level guys, I really don't think most owners care much about the players struggles with injuries - especially when there are 1000's of college players waiting in line to take their place and just hoping for a chance at the NFL. Supply and demand

[KWHIT97]

Dumb idea, it’s not broke so don’t try to fix it.