How do you feel about an 18 game NFL season?

[Poiuyt]

Roger Goodell keeps saying that the fans have an overwhelming desire for an 18 game season, but I sure haven't noticed that from any of my friends, the NFL forums, or the blogs that I read. We all want to watch games that mean something, but I'm concerned about player injuries and how sloppy everything will be in the early season games. And how will the coaches evaluate the rookies and other new players? With only two preseason games, will the coaches use them to evaluate players or for getting the veterans in sync?

[Renew Deal]

1. Don't like it.

The season is long enough at 16 games plus 4-5 weeks of playoffs (depending on the bye). I am a big football fan, but I don't think it's necessary and I think the teams need the 4 weeks to prepare.

[depakid]

2. Means more injuries for sure

[mix]

3. Hate the thought.

There's a reason NFL players are paid so much: the game can kill them.

Bad move for the physical and mental health of these men.

[hughee99]

4. It will allow for one good thing

Each team from a division can play all the same opponents.

A team will play 6 divisional games, and 4 games against 3 other divisions, so no longer will teams in the same division have different opponents. Yes, there's a lot downside, but this is the one upside I could find.

[cherokeeprogressive]

5. It's about money... obviously. The way I'd extend the season is by adding another bye week.

That way, there would be 18 Sundays during the regular season, but not 18 games for each team.

Problem solved.

[Jack Rabbit]

6. I say we need a new constitutional amendment

Section one. No National Football League game shall be played until the completion of the World Series of Major League Baseball. The Commissioner of Baseball shall have to authority to extend baseball season through Thanksgiving, if necessary.
Section two. No National Football League game shall be played after the beginning of the regular season of the National Basketball Association.
Section three. Football shall not be used to describe what is played in the National Football League. Football is a game played using feet and not hands.
Section four. No owner or former owner of a Major League Baseball franchise shall hold the office of Commissioner of Baseball.
Section five. No descendant of George Steinbrenner, Sr. shall own any Major League Baseball franchise or serve as Commissioner of Baseball.
Section six. No Major League Baseball game shall be played with the use of the designated hitter.
Section seven. The Dallas Cowboys are disbanded forever.

[Broken_Hero]

7. Don't like it

at all. I think they play more than enough games as it is. The sport is hard, brutal, and unforgiving, and adding 2 more games seems worthless to me. I get the impression the PTB at the NFL would love to have NFL 24/7 all year long, but pushing the year to 18(plus playoffs) is not something I remotely support.

[joeybee12]

8. One picture is worth a thousand words, so....

:puke:

[Awsi Dooger]

9. Don't like it at all

It's ridiculous to have only 6 division games among 18. In the 14 game season with 5 team divisions, 8 of 14 games were within the division. Now it will be possible, and frequent, for a team to stumble within its division games but still win the division.

In college football 7 or 8 games among 11 or 12 are within the conference. That's the way it should be.

More QBs will be injured and out for the year. Defenses are ahead of offense early. Offensive lines, in particular, take time to mesh.

Goodell will summon any rationale if it favors the owner's position. His words are meaningless.

Also, as a 1972 Dolphin season ticket holder I hate to lessen the annual treat of rooting for the unbeaten teams to fall. At 16 it's still close enough to the old 14 to maintain debate. At 18 not only is it markedly less likely to go unbeaten, but if someone did it they would be considered light years superior to 1972 Miami.

[Upton]

10. It's okay with me..

I could care less one way or another as long as we have football. I will point out, however, that we no doubt had a lot of complaining (with much of the same reasoning) from those who wanted to keep it at 14 games when the NFL went to a 16 game schedule too.

Injuries are going to happen..I just don't think two extra games are that big a deal.

Anyway, with an 18 game schedule, a team like the 49ers will have two extra games to make up the hole they've dug for themselves. The longer the schedule, the better the chance the cream rises to the top.

[Iggo]

11. I was okay with 14.

[MrSlayer]

12. Against it.

Football beats the hell out of its players now, it's only going to be worse with two more games. This will make careers even shorter while the greedy owners rake in even more cash. Don't doubt for a second that there will be a rate adjustment for tickets.

[Auggie]

13. Been over this recently -- I'm against it.

The physical toll on players bodies is akin to slow torture. Recent studies have linked repeated hits to the head as resulting in the same trauma expereinced by boxers, signs of which appear in players as young as college-aged.

The season should be shortended by eliminating two playoff games -- almost any coach will tell you they are not necessary.

[MrSlayer]

14. You are suggesting that they make less money.

And that is NEVER going to happen. Playoff games are pure profit for the owners.

[Auggie]

16. Sorry -- I meant two preseason games

And that won't happen either for the same reason you suggest

[H2O Man]

15. As long as it

does not interfere with professional boxing, it's fine.