One of the biggest sticking points of the proposed new CBA between the NFL and NFLPA is the 17-game schedule. A poll conducted by Seton Hall University shows that, overwhelmingly, fans are not excited about that.
The poll asked fans whether they were in favor of extending the season one game while reducing the preseason to three games from four. Surprisingly, only 31% of people polled said they were in favor of the extended regular-season schedule “because it meant more football,” per the school’s blog.
Of the people who voiced their opposition to the proposed schedule change, 24% said no “because they were fine with things the way they are,” while 28% expressed concern due to the “greater risk of injury to the players.”
For what it’s worth, some of the most prominent players in the NFL have expressed their opposition to the 17-game schedule due to safety concerns as well.
What this all seems to indicate is that fans aren’t in lockstep with the NFL when it comes to how much football they want to consume on a yearly basis. The reasons for this vary. But it sure appears to be the case that, when it comes to the NFL, more isn’t always better.