Will NFL gamers comply with 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 stay 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 stated 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 would fairly change a preseason sport with a regular-season sport any day,” Goodell stated. “That is simply choosing high quality. If we acquired to 18 and two, that is not an unreasonable factor.”

Identical to that, a once-dormant dialog was reignited, ripping by means of group chats and locker rooms. An extra regular-season sport looks like a no brainer win for the league and the followers. That 18th sport means extra income for the league and its house owners, and it could push the Tremendous Bowl again to Presidents Day weekend, that means many would take pleasure in a Monday vacation after the Sunday night time Tremendous Bowl.

However for gamers, it is not so clear-cut.

“I believe it is as much as each participant to resolve,” Indianapolis Colts middle Ryan Kelly stated. “In the event that they stated, ‘Hey, you guys get 70% of income and we’ll take 30 as house owners,’ lots of guys would join that if you happen to make $100 million taking part in quarterback [the current revenue split is approximately 52% to 48% in favor of owners]. So I believe all people’s acquired 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 taking part in the Tremendous Bowl on Presidents Day weekend. Though most had 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 had been nonetheless wrapping their heads across the chance and the ripple results.

“Eighteen video games sounds nice when Roger’s on the Pat McAfee [Show],” stated Kelly, who’s on the NFLPA’s govt 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 acquired to regulate to it,” Kazee stated with a shrug. “I acquired so far in my life, I am an outdated head now, about to be 31. You simply acquired to regulate to every little 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 constructive for each side. Folks take a look at it as one other week to feed your loved ones. … I adore it.”

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% had 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 stated. “In the event that they’re gonna make us do another sport, then they should add one thing to the verify. I am completely high-quality 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? Positive. Let’s do it.”

However to those that went by means of 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 verify 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 house owners are intent on including an 18th sport earlier than the expiration of the present CBA in 2030, the union might use the chance to extend the gamers’ share of income.

“They are not paying us sufficient cash already,” Elliott stated. “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 taking part in 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 had been fully in opposition to regular-season schedule enlargement. Fellow Steelers security Minkah Fitzpatrick is a part of that group, too.

“Why can we maintain including video games?” Fitzpatrick requested. “I believe 17 is greater than sufficient, plus a playoff. … The dudes that play 100% of the snaps within the common season are most likely barely taking part in within the [removed] preseason sport, so it would not actually do an excessive amount of.”

For a lot of of these gamers, no quantity of compromise and more money can account for the additional threat to participant well being and security.

“You are speaking about participant security, however how do you could have participant security whenever you add a sport?” Steelers offensive lineman James Daniels stated. “In the event that they had been fearful about participant security, it could take away video games, nevertheless it’s not about participant security, it is about cash and further video games — an additional prime-time sport — that brings tens of millions of {dollars} to the NFL, tens of millions of {dollars} to cities in every single place. I perceive it from each side.”

Buffalo Payments offensive lineman Dion Dawkins echoed Daniels, including that longer seasons can enhance the harm threat and shorten careers, all whereas lowering alternatives for gamers to organize for his or her inevitable life after soccer.

“It is onerous to develop your self,” Dawkins stated. “I am so massive into taking part in ball, like No. 1. However you continue to need to develop your particular person 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 may actually dive into who you actually are. And your most dear asset is whenever you’re taking part in. While you’re not taking part in, no person cares, and it sucks, however you must construct your self so whenever you’re performed taking part in, you are related.”

Whereas greater than half of gamers surveyed raised factors for and in opposition to 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 stated. “You undergo a lot bodily and mentally and every little thing. But when we’ll prolong it one other sport, I believe one other bye can be fairly good. However on the similar time it is longer … I do not actually understand how I really feel 100% on it but.”

And plenty 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 extensive receiver DK Metcalf stated. “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 believe [fans] ought to have that break day [after] anyway,” Payments defensive lineman DaQuan Jones stated.

Panthers working again Miles Sanders deflected the query.

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

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 taking part in an extra-long season.

“A pair individuals are going to really feel like [NBA MVP Nikola] Jokic — able to go dwelling,” Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Nate Hobbs stated. “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 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 house owners first formally proposed an “enhanced” schedule in 2010, providing to remove 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 in opposition to it. “Do not get me mistaken, I really like the sport of soccer,” then-Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis stated in 2010. “If followers wish to present their love, they need to let everybody know that we aren’t machines. I have been blessed to play this sport for therefore lengthy, however it is time to begin interested by what legacy and impression adjustments like this can go away for the gamers of tomorrow and us after we retire.

“I do know our followers might 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 value 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 further regular-season sport, transferring to a 17-game schedule starting with the 2021 season.

Whereas league house owners had been practically unanimous in efforts to increase the schedule throughout earlier CBA negotiations, there are indicators that not all can 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 stated in Could. “I can not say I am essentially loopy about extending the season. I fear extra about participant fatigue and put on and tear on the gamers transferring ahead. That is one of many the reason why we’ve got 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 house owners 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 interact in negotiating a wholly new CBA — consider it as ratifying a brand new structure fairly than merely including an modification.

In these negotiations, the union would undoubtedly give you its personal want record to facilitate acceptance of the extra sport — an inventory that would embrace a revamped offseason exercise schedule in addition to an improved income cut up. As soon as negotiations had 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 possibility that does not come alongside usually, one the league’s gamers are fastidiously mulling as calls intensify for extra video games and longer seasons.

“I am all the time right down to play extra soccer,” Raiders extensive receiver Davante Adams stated. “However it makes extra sense whenever you’re combating 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.