League, union hold positive talks on proposed 18-game season

[PhillyB]

per NFL.com

The source said the focus of the discussions was the proposed 18-game regular season and two-game preseason by the league and the union's counter-proposal for what it wants as part of an 18-2 season. Discussions centered on the players' strong desire to have substantially less offseason football activity and less overall contact in practices throughout the year. The players want a limitation on OTAs and reduced contact in other non-game settings. The goal of both sides is to offset increased exposure to injury in an 18-2 season, with decreased exposure during non-game activities.

According to the source, the players' negotiating team came off as reasonable, thoughtful and progressive in its approach.

story just broke a few minutes ago. looking like an 18-game season could very well be a possibility, and a big factor in negotiating the CBA...

[pantherfan81]

So when you say it's a big factor for CBA negotiations, is it positive or negative for the lockout?

[CarolinaCatBrigade]

Looks like the NFL will be moving to a 3 back system with at least 2 starting QB's per team. There is going to be a lot of injuries...

[panthers55]

So when you say it's a big factor for CBA negotiations, is it positive or negative for the lockout?

Positive in preventing one. Owners want more revenue and see the 18 game as a way to generate it. The holdup will be the players want more money if they play 18 games while the owners will want the increased revenue but not to pay the players more. This way they will pay the players what they are paying now instead of asking for a 20-30% reduction in what they get.Still lots of issues to resolve but getting an 18 game season was considered vital to a new CBA

[panthers55]

Looks like the NFL will be moving to a 3 back system with at least 2 starting QB's per team. There is going to be a lot of injuries...

playoff teams already play up to a 20 game season so this is not going to cause a cascade of new injuries.

[pantherfan81]

Positive in preventing one. Owners want more revenue and see the 18 game as a way to generate it. The holdup will be the players want more money if they play 18 games while the owners will want the increased revenue but not to pay the players more. This way they will pay the players what they are paying now instead of asking for a 20-30% reduction in what they get.Still lots of issues to resolve but getting an 18 game season was considered vital to a new CBA

Then this pleases me.

[panther4life]

Ya been watching nfl network alot today on my day off. They have been all over this the past hour. Anybodyhome posted something about this the other day, nothing really new from what he reported about 18 game season.(players want less ota's 2 in season bye weeks and less full contact pratices)La Canfora pretty much says 18 games will happen but need to hammer out the details I left in parentheses.

edit: as a side note they showed Jake in the browns locker room talking about his breakup with the panthers, says these things happen (saw just a hint of water in his eyes) and looks ready for this one.

[PhillyB]

playoff teams already play up to a 20 game season so this is not going to cause a cascade of new injuries.

right. moreover, one of the specifics dictated in the article suggested that the players were trying to reduce the number of mandatory contact practices and OTAs, which, given the number of players that go down in practices each year, makes perfect sense.

i definitely see this as progress... it's also good to hear that the players union is making strides at bringing a progressive approach. i'd love to see this thing resolved long before the beginning of next season just to get it the hell over with.

[Urrymonster]

Will less OTAs and practices, with fewer live practice sessions, reduce the complexity of many schemes? The fact is teams are going to be facing an awkward possibility that the players will not be able to get every aspect of a scheme before the season starts.

[panther4life]

Will less OTAs and practices, with fewer live practice sessions, reduce the complexity of many schemes? The fact is teams are going to be facing an awkward possibility that the players will not be able to get every aspect of a scheme before the season starts.

Ya that will be the owners arugment against it or something like that I'm sure. Granted I remember reading rookies would still have to show up early, so that will help. both sides need to find a happy medium somewhere in between and everything will be fine.

[CarolinaCatBrigade]

Is there a possible rookie salary cap?

[Cavscout]

Just the fact that they are actually in talks is a good sign. Sometimes these things drag on forever with no actual talks other than each side trying to use the media to gain some sort of edge.

[Dpantherman]

Its a certainty in regards to the 18 game season. Jason LaConfora was saying on NFLN just now that there will be no new CBA w/o an 18 game season to go along w/ it. So its happening, its just a matter of when everyone can get on the same page and get this shiz done.

[PhillyB]

Its a certainty in regards to the 18 game season. Jason LaConfora was saying on NFLN just now that there will be no new CBA w/o an 18 game season to go along w/ it. So its happening, its just a matter of when everyone can get on the same page and get this shiz done.

its sounding like both sides are in favor of an 18-game season, though... i think the point of the article was that it's being hailed as common ground for both sides, which is basically a first.