Future NFL

[Warren]

Originally Posted by barrett

The NFL makes the huge majority of their money on their national TV deal. I really don't get why they don't just go to an 18 or 19 week season with 2-3 byes per team. You still sell an extra 2 weeks of TV games, but without having to kill the product. Going over 16 games just means the playoffs become even more random since you will have %10-%20 more injuries.

In 1993, every team had two bye weeks so the 16-game regular season was spread over 18 weeks. Ratings dipped so they went back to one bye the next year. I wouldn't be surprised to see them try it again. I would think that revenue from the extra week of games would more than offset a drop in ratings in the various TV markets in weeks when the local teams were off. Plus they could spin it as a player safety move.

I'm just relieved that Sean Gilbert lost his bid to be the NFLPA executive director. That was a work stoppage waiting to happen.