18 Game Schedule.. Good or Bad?

[MTK]

Could we see the end of training camp as we know it? With all the offseason work I don't think a full camp is even necessary anymore. At the least I think two a days will be out the window.

[irish]

Originally Posted by Mattyk

Could we see the end of training camp as we know it? With all the offseason work I don't think a full camp is even necessary anymore. At the least I think two a days will be out the window.

The way I knew training camp as a kid has been over for awhile. I dont really see the point of training camp as being an NFL player is pretty much a full time job now.

[skinsfanthru&thru]

I don't like this for 4 reasons:

1.) This increases the chance for player injuries and wear and tear to cost teams key players more frequently. And by reducing the offseason duration you diminish the possiblities of rookies getting up to speed with the NFL and finding those diamonds in the rough because you have less time to put them through the ropes. Because of this you might have to move the draft up 2-3 weeks and/or have more rookie mini camps.

2.) Salaries are already completely insane compared to 10-15 years ago and I can't even begin to imagine how much they'd increase if you add on 2 more regular season games to that contract especially when it comes to the guaranteed money.

3.) Statisticly this will further water down stats we've all held as the standards for HOF consideration and completely change a lot of the all time records. I think it was Stuart Scott on ESPN who broke it down that if they went to a 18 game season, a RB would only need to average 56 yards per game to get to 1,000 for the season!

4.) One of the main things I love about the NFL is how every single regular season game matters so much more than any other sport out there. 1 NFL game has the same weight as 10 MLB or 5 NBA games and nothing compares to the joy of a Skins victory or the weight of a loss because each week could be the key to the season's outcome.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by Mattyk

Could we see the end of training camp as we know it? With all the offseason work I don't think a full camp is even necessary anymore. At the least I think two a days will be out the window.

Someone, I can't remember who now, was just saying the other day that Shanahan is probably ahead of the game with cutting back on two a days during training camp.

Training camp, if anything, will become more important. And more and more teams will hold joint-training camp sessions. Believe the Bucs and Jags did that this summer. Because with only two preseason games, teams will mostly want to give their starters significant playing time to get ready for the regular season. So one of the only way teams can evaluate the Brian Mitchells of the world is through training camp and inter-squad scrimmages