The NFL has been talking about extending its regular season to 18 games in recent years, but such a move isn’t likely forthcoming. Answering fans’ questions in Houston on Friday, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell indicated there isn’t a lot of momentum for the extended schedule, saying “I don’t see big movement, per Judy Battista of NFL Media.
While discussing this topic, Goodell hit on a sore spot, which is the NFL’s preseason schedule. The way things currently stand “doesn’t fit NFL standards,” he said, which fits into the idea that the league is looking into shortening its preseason while still keeping its eye on extending the regular season (more on that here).
One of the positives from this Q&A session as it relates to any moves on this front is that Goodell made it clear that the NFL would not move forward with an extended regular season without the approval of the players. He also said he knows an extended schedule would “be tough on players,” per Batttista.
The NFL wants to maximize its revenue potential in every conceivable way. The way things are currently constructed, preseason games are becoming more and more unwatchable, thanks to changes to the contract drafted by the NFL and NFLPA five years ago that restricts practice during the offseason. The product is sour and stars are playing less and less during these exhibition games.
So while Goodell says there isn’t a “big movement” for an 18-game season, we shouldn’t be quick to think the idea is dead. If the NFL can convince the Union that it’s worthwhile monetarily to extend the regular season while shortening the preseason, it’s an idea that could potentially gain steam in the coming years.