With the NFLPA now in the heist of their negotiations on a new CBA deal, new information continues to be released about changes that could effect the 2020 NFL season.
The first discussions and rumors came last year when it was reported that the NFL wants to lessen the preseason by one game and add an extra game to the 16-game schedule.
I am all for the subtraction of the one game in the preseason, and indifferent about a 17 game season. These players are asked to do a lot and put their body through a lot. Adding an extra game seems selfish and unfair. As a fan, it is nice that there is another game of meaningful football, but these athletes are humans, and we need to treat them like that. Putting their body through another 60-minutes of play could be disastrous.
One thing that is so great about the NFL season and schedule is the meaningfulness and competitiveness. Every game means so much in such a short season. One game can alter a season so much. Comparing to other sports, like baseball, in a 162 game season, those early April and May games seem unimportant. Side note, they aren’t, every game is important, but that’s besides the point.
When looking at the NBA, star players like Kawhi Leonard are doing “load management” and taking games off. Thus proving that in an 82 game NBA season, not every game is meaningful. No NFL player has ever taken a “load management” game. Especially a player of the magnitude like Tom Brady.
A 17 game NFL season would — most likely — be great for revenue, but not great for the athletes. The NFL needs to look at the larger scale and not just money. I am always for more football, but we need to protect athletes and their bodies, do not change to 16 games.
P.S. we need to get rid of Thursday Night Football, but we aren’t ready for that conversation yet.
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