18 game season with two games of rest.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/09/23/nfl-resumes-quiet-push-for-18-game-schedule/

I am fascinated by the idea of  having an 18 game season, but one in which each player is only allowed to play in 16 games.

Am I the only one who thinks this is a fascinating idea? 

This would add an exciting aspect of the game and would add a new chess game aspect to managing a team.

Do you rotate out out one or two starters each week?

Choose you two toughest games on the schedule and rest your starters for those games and play for the win on the other 16?

Play the first 16 games with all your players trying to clinch a playoff spot and then plan to rest your starters the last two weeks to get them ready for the playoffs.   

[MikeO]

awful idea. hate it

[Brian Fein]

Everyone would end up starting their scrubs week 1 & 2.  People would just sit their starters, effectively making the last two preseason games count.

Of course, you could rotate guys and jockey people in and out, but this makes it unnecessarily complicated.

[Dave Gray]

I don't care for it.  I think that it might incentivize "giving up" on your tough games and sitting everyone.  It's already happening like that in the NBA and causing a bunch of stink.

[Phishfan]

Terrible idea.

[Landshark]

Not a good plan at all.

[MikeO]

The TV networks will never let it happen. Imagine next Monday night Saints vs Fins ...two teams 3-0. Will be a great game the country will want to see two unbeaten teams play. Lot of intrigue in that game now.

But its a "non-conference game" in September, if ya lose its not a huge deal still would be 3-1. So Miami benches Tannehill to rest him after he got hit a lot this past week. Saints pick this as a game to rest Brees cause...its a non-conference game so whatever.

Think ESPN wants a Matt Moore vs Luke McCown matchup on Monday Night football? Yeah, don't think so.

Which is why this idea will NEVER HAPPEN!  The Networks won't allow it. They pay far too much $$$ for the games to let this ever take place.

[Dave Gray]

2 preseason games
 - bye week -
18 games (over 19 weeks)
Wildcard round - 16 playoff teams (1 game Thurs, 3 Sat, 3 Sun, 1 Mon)
Divisional Round - 8 teams
Conference Round - 4 teams
- bye week - w/ Pro Bowl week (skills competition, rock and jock style flag football, etc) - at Super Bowl site
Super Bowl

[miamid45]

Just bring on more games...18 would be great...I guess 2 bye weeks for each team is out of the question, though?

[Dave Gray]

^ I guess not.  You could do 18 games over 20 weeks.

[BigDaddyFin]

I've heard this idea before.  I think its a bad one.  The season's long enough as it is.  If anything, since we have to pretend Goodell actually cares about player safety, they ought to shorten the season to 14 games, and shorten the preseason to a maximum three games. 

Also since we have 4 divisions in each conference, only the division winners should go to the playoffs.  The season will be over the first or second week of January. 

[el diablo]

These guys are just determined to expand the regular season. Its just a matter of time until this monster eats itself. I've never heard a MLB or NBA fan say, "Man, this regular season is just too short. We need more games." Whatever, they're going to do what they want to do.

[Sunstroke]

I've never heard a MLB or NBA fan say, "Man, this regular season is just too short. We need more games." Whatever, they're going to do what they want to do.

MLB regular season: 162 games
NBA regular season:  81 games
NFL regular season:  16 games

You see where your argument runs into a wall, right?

[MikeO]

I think 18 regular season games and 2 preseason games will happen its just a matter of WHEN and not IF. There is just too much $$$$$ for everyone (owners and players.) It will happen its just about splitting up the $$$$ to make all sides happy. TV networks don't want preseason games, fans don't to be forced to buy preseason game tickets. There is no good reason not to move to 18 regular season games.

One thing that I think could go away though is the weekly Thursday night package. It just isn't working. Fans hate it, the match-up's for the most part aren't intriguing, and coaches and players hate it. I think what you could see is a DOUBLE HEADER every Monday night. An early 7pm game for the east coast folks to keep them happy so they can stay awake and watch a whole game on a Monday and a 10pm game which would feature west coast teams for the most part so they got a nice game in primetime for them too. Two national games on a Monday would be a boom for this league I think.  I think if they go to 18 games you will see them mix up the TV time slots and maybe do away with the Thursday night games which is just failing all around for NFL Network.

[Landshark]

I think 18 regular season games and 2 preseason games will happen its just a matter of WHEN and not IF. There is just too much $$$$$ for everyone (owners and players.) It will happen its just about splitting up the $$$$ to make all sides happy. TV networks don't want preseason games, fans don't to be forced to buy preseason game tickets. There is no good reason not to move to 18 regular season games.

One thing that I think could go away though is the weekly Thursday night package. It just isn't working. Fans hate it, the match-up's for the most part aren't intriguing, and coaches and players hate it. I think what you could see is a DOUBLE HEADER every Monday night. An early 7pm game for the east coast folks to keep them happy so they can stay awake and watch a whole game on a Monday and a 10pm game which would feature west coast teams for the most part so they got a nice game in primetime for them too. Two national games on a Monday would be a boom for this league I think.  I think if they go to 18 games you will see them mix up the TV time slots and maybe do away with the Thursday night games which is just failing all around for NFL Network.

Good point on the Thursday night games.  It failed back in the 80's for the same reason it's failing now.  It just doesn't work when teams play on Sunday then have to play again on Thursday.