18-game season will take a toll on players (1 Viewer)

[fatness]

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

As one prominent player on the Steelers told me, the starters will play virtually all of those two preseason games to get ready for the regular season. They will play virtually as many snaps in two preseason games as they have in four. Reducing the preseason to two games will change nothing for them. What it will reduce are the chances many of the young players get to show their talents not only in real games, but in the more intense practices of training camps.

That prominent Steelers veteran asked me how the commissioner can stand so strongly for safety on one side, and push the 18-game agenda on the other because, he said, the longer schedule will lead to more injuries, more concussions, more long-term health problems to counteract the safety measures the NFL has adopted.

"Eleven surgeries, multiple broken bones and 17 years away from the game have given me a perspective on the price that players will pay to play in the NFL," Long said. "A perspective some NFL owners might not have. If they did, they wouldn't be pushing for an 18-game season. Today's players are bigger, stronger and faster, as are the collisions. Over the last three seasons, 915 players have ended up on injured reserve. I repeat, 915 players on injured reserve, many requiring surgery. If you believe what you hear, the 18-game schedule appears to be inevitable."

Hines Ward added some sobering thoughts the past week to what an 18-game schedule will look like. Guys like him, a 13-year veteran, will not be around. "The 10-year guys, you won't see anymore, except for your quarterbacks. The running backs, they're going to see a short lifetime span. The season is just too long. You won't see any double-digit careers anymore in the league."

 

[djmich]

18 Games

 

[Jeremy]

Goodell knows all this. He just doesn't care.

 

[Sammy Traveller]

very insightful comments by Ward. if the NFL switches to a longer season and gives more cash to the players, this will become a cash-and-carry league. Players cash in, then cash out in a few years. Loyalty to teams and teammates will be less important to players than in the past. You won't see the kind of stars like Favre, Tomlinson, etc in this brave new league.

 

[Max Power]

I saw Howie when he was talking about this. I could tell it really hit home with him. Plus the fact that he has a son who is playing. He also said a 2nd Bye week would be a necessity.

I really dont care to see another 2-3 weeks of football if the quality is going to drop off.

 

[zed2283]

No, no, you don't understand. It's for the fans.

 

[Sammy Traveller]

No, no, you don't understand. It's for the fans.

it's not for the fans. it's to take more money from the fans.

 

[Dr. No]

unfortunate that the nfl is trying to give us something the fans weren't even clamoring for.

as a former season ticket holder, i got that paying for 2 preseason home games was wack.

but the solution in my eyes wasn't to eliminate 2 preseason games and make them real games.

it was just to only have 2 preseason games or stay with 4 but not make me buy them.

I think that the players are overdramatizing things a little with no 10 year vets and no team loyalty, etc.

but I do think it will increase injury and we'll have even MORE tired and beat up players competing in the playoffs.

I think you'll see even MORE RBBC and reduced time scenarios to minimize player damage... possibly even having to sub lineman.

You'll have even more divisions wrapped up early and more "tanked" games.

I would think the only people that would want this are TV networks, kickers and punters, and Vegas.

Do fans really even want it? I don't.

Honestly I hate the idea so much that if given the choice, i'd rather go back to a 14 game schedule than expand to 18... 16 was "just right"

 

[Max Power]

No, no, you don't understand. It's for the fans.

it's not for the fans. it's to take more money from the fans.

untill they make the games cheaper I can't go anyways. At least not with the family.

 

[Dr. No]

untill they make the games cheaper I can't go anyways. At least not with the family.

that would not happen unless there was a massive backlash by fans against the league and they simply quit going en masse.not sure why you'd ever want to take your family to a football game anyway - it's not a family environment.

much better to have 2 seats and just take a wife or buddy

 

[Runningman]

You may see players take a week or two off during the season kind of like baseball players do. Certainily if they don't get a 2nd bye week.

 

[Max Power]

untill they make the games cheaper I can't go anyways. At least not with the family.

that would not happen unless there was a massive backlash by fans against the league and they simply quit going en masse.not sure why you'd ever want to take your family to a football game anyway - it's not a family environment.

much better to have 2 seats and just take a wife or buddy

Good point, although I wish it wasn't so. Some of my fondest memories with my father were at sporting events.

 

[yrforyg]

The point about how it will decrease the longevity for veterans is a good one and also probably deliberate on the part of Goodell -- shorter careers == smaller pensions, fewer big veteran contracts

 

[Pipes]

untill they make the games cheaper I can't go anyways. At least not with the family.

that would not happen unless there was a massive backlash by fans against the league and they simply quit going en masse.not sure why you'd ever want to take your family to a football game anyway - it's not a family environment.

much better to have 2 seats and just take a wife or buddy

Sure it is...if you cheer for the right team. Lambeau field is a very family friendly place. Kansas City isn't? That's very surprising to me.

 

[gethugefast1]

No, no, you don't understand. It's for the fans.

it's not for the fans. it's to take more money from the fans.

I'm sure he meant

 

[The Beezer]

You may see players take a week or two off during the season kind of like baseball players do. Certainily if they don't get a 2nd bye week.

Expect even more shenanigans with the injury report too as coaches try to disguise when players will take a break during the season.

 

[Dr. No]

untill they make the games cheaper I can't go anyways. At least not with the family.

that would not happen unless there was a massive backlash by fans against the league and they simply quit going en masse.not sure why you'd ever want to take your family to a football game anyway - it's not a family environment.

much better to have 2 seats and just take a wife or buddy

Sure it is...if you cheer for the right team. Lambeau field is a very family friendly place. Kansas City isn't? That's very surprising to me.

it's ok... just too many drunks, cursing, loud noises... i wouldn't take a son under 14 or a daughter at all