Comments on: 20 Game NFL Season?

By: SFC B

SFC B — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 00:33:35 +0000

While increasing the number of games played will increase the number of injuries, I doubt it would do anything to the rate at which injuries occur. A player playing in a Week 19 game would be just as likely to get injured as a player playing in the second round of the playoffs. And with the extra weeks being played, players injured earlier in the season might have the chance to come back and play at the end of the longer season.

I think one of the benefits of this schedule might be that it allows for some balancing of the schedules. As it stands now, whichever division gets to play the weakest division of the opposing conference (such as the teams which got to feast on the AFC and NFC West this year). Expanding the season allows for games against a second non-conference division and possibly mitigating the luck element of getting to play against the Seattles and San Frans.

One of the more interesting issues w/ this though might be how theNFLPA handles it. Do the standard NFL contracts include provisions for the possible expansion of the regular season? All those players made their choices to sign for what they did on the theory of being required to play 16 games. Will they be compensated if they’re suddenly playing 12-25% more games? How did the NFL handle the issue the last time it expanded its season?

More football can’t be a bad thing though.

By: Quaker in a Basement

Quaker in a Basement — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 21:20:01 +0000

Canadian football? Bah!

Australian football! Now that’s a man’s game!

By: Parthenon

Parthenon — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 20:51:21 +0000

I like the trench warfare. Defensive struggles are more fun, IMO.

Twenty is too many. Read Mike Strahan’s morning routine once – insane, cat can’t even stand up without help. I realize he may be an extreme case, but still – 25% longer, 25% more injuries. Or maybe more – it could increase disproportionate to the extra time.

By: James E. Powell

James E. Powell — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 19:43:41 +0000

Injuries would be a factor if two more regular season games were played. The number of season-ending or career-ending injuries may stay more or less the same, but the total effect of all the minor and nagging injuries, the wear & tear type of injuries, would likely drive teams to be deeper at the skill positions. I am thinking QB and RB, for sure.

By: C.S.Strowbridge

C.S.Strowbridge — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 14:40:56 +0000

“I barely even like college ball, the CFL might drive me mad.”

CFL is a better game because they field is bigger, which means you have to go for bigger plays. More Blitzkrieg less trench warfare.

By: jon

jon — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 13:29:57 +0000

The injury problem will always be there, but let the teams have more players and that’s offset enough. I’d rather get rid of the preseason games altogether than keep things as they are, but adding games makes sense financially as well as the hope that it could make those ridiculous contract holdouts go away before the “real” games.

By: Jaim

Jaim — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 06:01:18 +0000

What SpiderJ sez. I’m all for getting rid of the pre-season, but only to ensure more quality play (i.e., less injuries) in the regular season.

18 games might be OK if the pre-season was done away with. 20 seems like way too much to me.

But it would guarantee that Donovan McNabb would never make the playoffs again.

By: SpiderJ

SpiderJ — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 01:42:38 +0000

Then you’re more of a gambling man than I am, Willis. Have you seen the IR lists this year?

By: Oliver Willis

Oliver Willis — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 01:07:56 +0000

Somehow I don’t think two extra games will kill them.

By: SpiderJ

SpiderJ — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 00:38:32 +0000

I dunno. I certainly like more football, but consider the tradeoff: more games per season likely means shorter careers, by season, for the players. I’m not sure the extra games per season are worth it to me.

By: Oliver Willis

Oliver Willis — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 00:26:12 +0000

If you haven’t watched much CFL football – give it a try, you’ll like it!
I barely even like college ball, the CFL might drive me mad.

By: james

james — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 00:14:08 +0000

Pretty impressive that TBL managed to get an interview with the commissioner. More surprising was that Goodell actually answered a couple of the questions.

By: Mylegacy

Mylegacy — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 00:10:09 +0000

The CFL did that in Canada. It works well up here in the land of snow and Universal Health Care.

Interestingly, we often see veteran teams start really well and fade and rookie loaded teams go the other way round. Makes for great fun.

If you haven’t watched much CFL football – give it a try, you’ll like it!