Will NFL gamers conform to an 18-game season? Hurdles abound

TWELVE MINUTES AFTER booing Roger Goodell as he strode on the set of “The Pat McAfee Present” in entrance of a reside viewers within the hours main as much as the second spherical of the 2024 NFL draft in Detroit, followers abruptly modified their tune.

The jeers turned to hoots and hollers because the NFL commissioner informed McAfee he wasn’t a fan of preseason video games, they usually elevated a number of seconds later when Goodell mentioned he’d be in favor of eliminating one of many three present preseason video games to increase the regular-season schedule from 17 video games to 18.

“I might relatively substitute a preseason sport with a regular-season sport any day,” Goodell mentioned. “That is simply choosing high quality. If we obtained to 18 and two, that is not an unreasonable factor.”

Identical to that, a once-dormant dialog was reignited, ripping via group chats and locker rooms. A further regular-season sport looks as if a no brainer win for the league and the followers. That 18th sport means extra income for the league and its homeowners, and it might push the Tremendous Bowl again to Presidents Day weekend, which means many would take pleasure in a Monday vacation after the Sunday evening Tremendous Bowl.

However for gamers, it isn’t so clear-cut.

“I feel it is as much as each participant to resolve,” Indianapolis Colts heart Ryan Kelly mentioned. “In the event that they mentioned, ‘Hey, you guys get 70% of income and we’ll take 30 as homeowners,’ quite a lot of guys would join that in case you make $100 million enjoying quarterback [the current revenue split is approximately 52% to 48% in favor of owners]. So I feel all people’s obtained a line they draw within the sand, and we’ll see the place that’s.”

ESPN surveyed gamers from a number of groups for his or her opinion on including an 18th sport and enjoying the Tremendous Bowl on Presidents Day weekend. Though most have been detached a couple of later Tremendous Bowl, some had sturdy emotions about including a regular-season sport on the expense of a preseason sport, whereas others have been nonetheless wrapping their heads across the risk and the ripple results.

“Eighteen video games sounds nice when Roger’s on the Pat McAfee [Show],” mentioned Kelly, who’s on the NFLPA’s government committee. “Till you are the one which’s going on the market and placing the helmet on for 18 of these video games, then come speak to me.”

AS PITTSBURGH STEELERS security Damontae Kazee thought-about the query about an 18-game season, teammate DeShon Elliott stood a few lockers away shaking his head vehemently as he overheard the trade.

“Regardless of the league offers you, man, you simply obtained to regulate to it,” Kazee mentioned with a shrug. “I obtained up to now in my life, I am an outdated head now, about to be 31. You simply obtained to regulate to every thing and go on from there. … Them giving us 18 video games, I imply, I would not complain about it.

Elliott interjected: “I might. They do not pay us sufficient.”

Kazee laughed and continued: “I imply, I am straight. I wasn’t getting paid like this the place I used to be at. … It may be optimistic for either side. Individuals take a look at it as one other week to feed your loved ones. … I find it irresistible.”

That trade between the teammates is a microcosm of discussions being held in locker rooms across the league.

Of the gamers surveyed by ESPN, 46% have been in favor of an 18-game schedule with stipulations and eight% voted sure with out stipulations.

“In the event that they take out a preseason sport, I am OK with that so long as the pay correlates with what they’re asking us to do,” Carolina Panthers tight finish Tommy Tremble mentioned. “In the event that they’re gonna make us do yet another sport, then they should add one thing to the test. I am completely advantageous doing my job, man. However no matter they resolve, hopefully it is for the very best intentions of the league and for the gamers themselves.”

Added teammate Josey Jewell: “One other sport equals extra money? Certain. Let’s do it.”

However to those that went via the contentious collective bargaining settlement negotiations in 2020, including a second bye week, eliminating two preseason video games and depositing an additional week’s sport test is not sufficient.

As negotiated within the final CBA, NFL gamers can obtain a most of 48.8% of the income in any 17-game season. If league homeowners are intent on including an 18th sport earlier than the expiration of the present CBA in 2030, the union may use the chance to extend the gamers’ share of income.

“They are not paying us sufficient cash already,” Elliott mentioned. “They’re stingy with their cash, in order that they wish to make us play 18 video games, as a participant union, we should always get far more cash than what we’re getting — and never simply the highest guys. And the factor is, they are not out right here enjoying soccer. They are not right here working round placing their our bodies on the road. They do not care. All they care about is being profitable, but when you are going to generate income on the highest finish, the underside finish has to generate income too.”

Elliott was a part of the 19% of gamers surveyed who have been fully towards regular-season schedule enlargement. Fellow Steelers security Minkah Fitzpatrick is a part of that group, too.

“Why can we preserve including video games?” Fitzpatrick requested. “I feel 17 is greater than sufficient, plus a playoff. … The dudes that play 100% of the snaps within the common season are in all probability barely enjoying within the [removed] preseason sport, so it does not actually do an excessive amount of.”

For a lot of of these gamers, no quantity of compromise and extra cash can account for the additional danger to participant well being and security.

“You are speaking about participant security, however how do you’ve got participant security once you add a sport,” Steelers offensive lineman James Daniels mentioned. “In the event that they have been apprehensive about participant security, it might take away video games, however it’s not about participant security, it is about cash and further video games — an additional prime-time sport — that brings hundreds of thousands of {dollars} to the NFL, hundreds of thousands of {dollars} to cities all over the place. I perceive it from either side.”

Buffalo Payments offensive lineman Dion Dawkins echoed Daniels, including that longer seasons can improve the damage danger and shorten careers, all whereas reducing alternatives for gamers to arrange for his or her inevitable life after soccer.

“It is arduous to develop your self,” Dawkins mentioned. “I am so huge into enjoying ball, like No. 1. However you continue to must develop your individual for when soccer is over, proper? And on the subject of them 18 video games, it simply shortens that point for when the offseason comes and you’ll actually dive into who you actually are. And your most useful asset is once you’re enjoying. If you’re not enjoying, no one cares, and it sucks, however you must construct your self so once you’re carried out enjoying, you are related.”

Whereas greater than half of gamers surveyed raised factors for and towards an expanded schedule, 27% of respondents did not have a concrete response to a possible 18-game proposal.

“It is a lengthy season, man,” San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy mentioned. “You undergo a lot bodily and mentally and every thing. But when we will prolong it one other sport, I feel one other bye could be fairly good. However on the identical time it is longer … I do not actually understand how I really feel 100% on it but.”

And lots of others expressed apathy and a resignation that they’d find yourself doing no matter others determined.

“It is above my pay grade,” Seattle Seahawks huge receiver DK Metcalf mentioned. “So if we play 18 video games, I will be on the market for 18 video games.”

OF ALL THE concepts the commissioner floated in that McAfee interview, the suggestion of a Presidents Day weekend Tremendous Bowl earned the loudest applause from the followers gathered outdoors the set.

And sure, a byproduct of an 18-game schedule with a further bye week is bumping again the Tremendous Bowl to the third weekend in February, making the day after the Tremendous Bowl a nationwide vacation. A fan’s dream come true.

“I feel [fans] ought to have that time without work [after] anyway,” Payments defensive lineman DaQuan Jones mentioned.

Panthers working again Miles Sanders deflected the query.

“Hey, man, we have got to make it there first,” he mentioned.

Like Sanders, many gamers within the league care much less in regards to the date of the massive sport and extra about merely being in it — even when it means they’re enjoying an extra-long season.

“A pair persons are going to really feel like [NBA MVP Nikola] Jokic — able to go house,” Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Nate Hobbs mentioned. “However, it takes what it takes. The true champions are going to emerge, and the true, mentally sturdy survive. And I do know we have got that on our workforce, so it actually do not matter.

“Presidents Day and February all run into one another. To me, it is all the identical. It’s what it’s, man. I do know it is all for leisure.”

THE IDEA OF an 18-game schedule — and the division round it — is hardly new. League homeowners first formally proposed an “enhanced” schedule in 2010, providing to get rid of two preseason video games in trade for the addition of two regular-season video games.

In response, the NFLPA’s good-faith counterproposal requested for a diminished voluntary exercise interval, two bye weeks and a particular variety of helmet-less and pad-less practices throughout coaching camp.

On the time, a number of the league’s most outstanding figures spoke out towards it. “Do not get me incorrect, I really like the sport of soccer,” then-Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis mentioned in 2010. “If followers wish to present their love, they need to let everybody know that we’re not machines. I have been blessed to play this sport for therefore lengthy, however it is time to begin desirous about what legacy and affect adjustments like it will go away for the gamers of tomorrow and us after we retire.

“I do know our followers could not like preseason video games, and I do not like all of them, however swapping two preseason video games for 2 end-of-season video games — when gamers already play harm — comes at an enormous price for the participant and the workforce.”

Almost a decade after the 2011 lockout, a tightly contested 2020 CBA allowed for a one-game addition to the common season along with an expanded playoff area.

As anticipated, the league wasted little time implementing that additional regular-season sport, shifting to a 17-game schedule starting with the 2021 season.

Whereas league homeowners have been almost unanimous in efforts to increase the schedule throughout earlier CBA negotiations, there are indicators that not all could be on board with the transfer to 18 video games.

“Substituting a regular-season sport for a preseason sport might be extra acceptable for the followers,” New York Giants proprietor John Mara mentioned in Could. “I am unable to say I am essentially loopy about extending the season. I fear extra about participant fatigue and put on and tear on the gamers shifting ahead. That is one of many the reason why we now have to have the dialogue with them.”

Even when public opinion — and a few locker room opinion — strongly helps including an 18th sport, there is a steep mountain to climb to increase the schedule.

For the 2 sides to interact in negotiations earlier than the present CBA’s expiration after the 2030 season, the homeowners would first have to return to a consensus in regards to the 18-game schedule. Then, after presenting a proposal to the league, the possession group and NFLPA would have interaction in negotiating a wholly new CBA — consider it as ratifying a brand new structure relatively than merely including an modification.

In these negotiations, the union would undoubtedly provide you with its personal want checklist to facilitate acceptance of the extra sport — a listing that would embody a revamped offseason exercise schedule in addition to an improved income break up. As soon as negotiations have been hammered out, a vote would go to the NFLPA board and membership to ratify a brand new CBA, with a majority wanted for approval.

With a push towards 18 video games comes uncommon leverage for the gamers. It is a chance that does not come alongside typically, one the league’s gamers are rigorously mulling as calls intensify for extra video games and longer seasons.

“I am all the time right down to play extra soccer,” Las Vegas Raiders huge receiver Davante Adams mentioned. “But it surely makes extra sense once you’re preventing for one thing, too.”

ESPN reporters Ben Child, Alaina Getzenberg, Paul Gutierrez, Brady Henderson, Stephen Holder, David Newton and Nick Wagoner contributed to this story.