In late August, NFL owners met to discuss the option of implementing an 18-game season that would likely take effect in 2012. If this were to happen, the preseason would be reduced to two games. Although the regular season would be longer, which is most appealing to fans around the league, the NFL should not extend the schedule to 18 games in a single season.
One question that would surround the new schedule is how the playoffs would work. The league would have to do a complete makeover to decide how many wins a team would need to make the playoffs. Currently, most teams that make the playoffs are 10-6, 11-5, 12-4, and with some exceptions, 9-7 and 8-8. An 18-game schedule would implement a new scale to reach the playoffs, which could take some time for fans and players to adjust to.
With the addition of two regular season games, players have shown concern regarding the health concerns of two more games. An 18-game season will become a bigger risk for certain injury-prone players. Some players believe that the 16-game schedule is grueling enough and an 18-game schedule will be too strenuous.
Also, this schedule change would require a pay cut from players. Cleveland Browns linebacker Scott Fujita finds the overall possible change confusing and unfair.
“They are asking you to play more games and put yourself at more risk, and they are also asking us to take a pay cut,” he said in an interview. “That’s a lot to ask. All those things don’t make a whole lot of sense.”
On the other hand, one positive outcome that could come out of this schedule change is a possible labor deal. The league is currently pending a labor deal, and if a deal is not reached by the end of the 2010 season, there will be a lockout.
Despite the possibility of both a labor settlement and an increase in fan popularity, this new 18-game schedule should not be implemented as it would create risk for injury-prone players, provide more strenuous work and result in a pay cut for all players and coaches.
