Ok, legit debate (18 game theory)

[Taom82]

The one thing that needs to change even if the NFL doesn't expand it's season is the addition of roster spots on each team. 53 players isn't enough now IMO with so many injuries. Expanding the season, that number becomes even less adequate. Between the starters, ST players, key reserves and then draftee development players, many teams are forced to let players walk even though they are needed.

As I said I think the roster number needs to increase no matter what but with an expanded season the need only increases.

I completely agree with you on this one.

While I do find four preseason games to be a bit much, I'd have to say I'm on the other side of this argument. The players get beat up and injured enough with sixteen games, adding two more would only worsen the problem. Adding more regular season games means overhauling the current schedule to make it work. Adding another bye week wouldn't be the answer to the fatigue and injury issues. It'd only be another stop/start point in the seasons. You could have a bye week in week two, and one in week 7.

Don't get me started on Goodell talking about starting up a development league to help take some of the load off the preseason games. WTF does he think the NFLE was? The more you think about it all, the more it seems like a way to make more money off of the increased schedule and more opportunities to hold overseas games.

[KillerKat]

The '72 Dolphins would be happier.

[vumpler]

The '72 Dolphins would be happier.

Well played

[hdevonxz]

I would agree on 17 games, but 18 is a tad too much.

Goodell and his entire crew are full of poo. "Hey we're all about player safety and reducing injuries, so you're no longer allowed to tackle a QB". "Oh by the way, we're lengthening the season to 20 games."

[Nu Guns]

We all would love more football , but at what price? Money is really now spinning out of control and its just a matter of time before football feels the affects that baseball did some years back. I do think we should cut some preseason games for they are really just to evaluate talent, the starters dont really play all that much. They should just allow more playoff teams. During recent years we have seen several teams with 10-6 records not get in while teams like the Cards win thier division at 8-8 or whatever they were

[Woodie]

As has already been said by a few here, there are some things that would have to change to add the games:

1) player salaries must increase since they will be asked to play much longer than they currently do in preseason.

2) due to the added risk of injury, the number of roster spots also needs to increase, as does the number of active spots on gameday.

3) as Fireball said, increase the practice squad from 8 to 10.

4) add another bye week (I hadn't thought of this, but it is an excellent idea, so I'll steal it as my own ).

5) the pre-season needs to be cut from 4 to 2 games (which is a given, I think).

Personally, I like the idea since they are already charging the fans full price for preseason games, so might as well actually give them their money's worth. However, I don't think that players can play an additional two games (along with the playoffes, for those that qualify) without providing teams with more personnel to give them rest or replace them for injury. The big question, though, is will teams be willing to pony up the money to pay for the additional salaries? Something tells me this will be a big point of contention during the CBA talks.

[rayzor]

As has already been said by a few here, there are some things that would have to change to add the games:

1) player salaries must increase since they will be asked to play much longer than they currently do in preseason.

2) due to the added risk of injury, the number of roster spots also needs to increase, as does the number of active spots on gameday.

3) as Fireball said, increase the practice squad from 8 to 10.

4) add another bye week (I hadn't thought of this, but it is an excellent idea, so I'll steal it as my own ).

5) the pre-season needs to be cut from 4 to 2 games (which is a given, I think).

[stolen and] summed up nicely.

[guyinchesapeake]

I still think the NFL should have their records designated by when the players played, i.e., what was the single season record for a 12 game season, 14, 16, and anything else after 16. As they have expanded the schedule, they have passed rule changes that have ALL benefit offense and/or scoring opportunities, defense has always been targeted and hence 'punished' thru the years. 1,000 rushing yards by a back in a 12 game season in 1960 sure seems like a more impressive stat than 1,000 yards in 2008, as are most of the other record stats. That's not to take away from today's players, but to acknowledge the accomplishments of those in years past..

[Fireball77]

I agree, guy. I don't look at things as true records when they are season records and are broken in seasons with more games and they took the full gamut of those extra games to break. Even strike season records are a bit suspect. Like when Jerry Rice complained about Moss "breaking" his record for TDs in 2007. He feels his record means more because he did it in 12 games. Normally I would agree 100% but Rice never mentions he broke his during a strike year when you or I could have likely made a team while the real players were out. A dominant player like Rice against a lot of sub-preseason scrubs? Yeah ok Jerry. That's legit. Rice is obviously the superior player of the two, he should just let it be.

[holycrikey]

I love the idea of 18 games. Knock off 2 lame preseason games. Increase salary cap slightly to incorporate the additional two games for each player's salary.

Done.

[JuliusP_90]

I think 17 games with the extra game being played in other areas besides the U.S which includes but is not limited to:

Canada

Mexico

Europe

China

IMO that is most likely to happen in the next five years then just an 18 game season. However if they are improvements made to equipment, medical philosophy, and rules then an 18 game season is very possible. In this world of advanced technology they could easily design new padding that would greatly decrease injuries would open the door for 2 extra games.

Regardless the amount of games will not change within the next 3 years I don't think. 5 is a stretch even but it's more reasonable.

[jramsey4]

What most people fail to notice or at least mention, is the fact that lowering the number of preseason games takes away opportunities for Coaches to better evaluate there talent before they cut them. And before you say they can get that at training camp I would point out that a lot of players make rosters because of solely on what a coach sees during actual game situations. If you must have 17 or 18 games, at least increase the maximum player limit to at least 60 so coaches have longer to evaluate a player.

[StepandFetch]

and I thought this was going to be about Game Theory lol

[rayzor]

and I thought this was going to be about Game Theory lol

http://www.advancednflstats.com/2008/06/game-theory-and-runpass-balance.html