18 Game Schedule.. Good or Bad?

I personally could care less if they have an 18 game season or not..

I do know this though,if they do go with 18 game schedules...They better add at least a 7th wildcard team if not an 8th.

Otherwise,you're going to have 12-6 teams missing the Playoffs.
And that's not acceptable..

You've already had an 11-5 patriots team miss the playoffs..10-6 Browns and many others... In a 16 game schedule...

Ugh... the 11-5 team missed it, but an 8-8 team got in. It's not a question of more playoff spots, it's being able to win your division. If you can't do that you might get stuck looking in, like the Pats did that year. I would rather see that, even if it's the Skins, then see a 8 and 10 (in the 18 game format) getting into the playoffs ever.

Expanding the playoff field is the next logical step especially with a longer season.

What if instead of expanding the field, they actually got rid of the Wild Card Round? I know that there is absolutely no way the NFL would "give back" playoff revenue, but it's just a thought. Do away with byes and only allow division winners into the playoffs. That said, the NFL would probably do away with byes and add 2 more WC teams.

Anyway, I don't see the problem with an 18 game schedule. I'm sick of people acting like players are on the brink of death when the 16 game schedule ends. Everyone's saying, "the players' bodies can't endure 18 games"...I'm saying that's BS. Will there still be injuries? Sure, but I don't think football injuries only happen when players are worn down. Two games tacked onto the end of the season could shorten careers, sure, but I'm not buying the idea that because guys are nicked up, the game will somehow greatly suffer.

The playoffs usually have some pretty good games, those are games 17-19/20, I rarely see those games suffer because of the extra wear and tear on the players. I know, the intensity is different, but you get the point.

I'm pretty noncommittal on the issue other than to say, more games would make my favorite sport relevant for a longer period of time, I'm just bothered by this idea that players can't take an 18 game schedule because I believe they can.

Also, Sirius has speculated about the trade offs that would have to occur regarding the CBA if an 18 game schedule were put into place: (Off the top of my head I've heard them say)

1. OTA's go away
2. Staggered mandatory reporting dates for training camp. i.e. If you're a veteran you come later (this would allow for the coaches to evaluate "fringe" players)
3. Scrimmage schedule (would basically take the place of the lost preseason games)

I don't like it. Keep it at 16 games. I'd be fine with 4 preseason games, but as a concession to the players, why not reduce the game time? Instead of 15 minute quarters, why not 10 minutes? Or 12 minutes? Theoretically, that would reduce the chances of injuries (one of the complaints of the NFLPA). You could also eliminate overtime in preseason.

Boom. Everybody's happy.

The league isn't going to cut back on anything that would reduce their ad dollar potential.

I think that Florio and clue have a pretty solid compromise

A case for 17 games, not 18 | ProFootballTalk.com (http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/08/27/a-case-for-17-games-not-18/)

Not sure if the stats have changed or not, but a professional football players on average live 6 years less than the average Joe Watching Football Guy.

The league isn't going to cut back on anything that would reduce their ad dollar potential.

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Yep! One thing I learned from working the league a couple of years is, that it is a business first. Anything to bring in a little more revenue they are going to consider.

I'm against the 18 game schedule... much too long and injuries will be even a bigger factor on which teams make the playoffs and which ones don't. And they will be playing real games in August in 100 degree weather... much too hot for football. I say cut the preseason games to two and keep the 16 game schedule as is. I would prefer the preseason games to start on Labor day weekend with the real games starting in mid-September.

Although, I'm not sure about any argument against the 18 game schedule due to records.. NFL used to be 12 games long and then 14 games long way back when.

The league isn't going to cut back on anything that would reduce their ad dollar potential.

You're probably right about that... but have you seen all the empty seats at these preseason games? I don't know what the average NFL attendance is for the preseason games but the stadiums look at least half empty.