NFL Possibly Going to an 18-Game Season by 2011

Roger Goodell is proposing to NFL owners to add two games to the NFL season while reducing the pre-season by two games.

I don’t know about you but this, concerns me from the standpoint of being a Detroit Lions fan.  The 2008 season marked a historical one for the Lions, as they became the first team to go 0-16.  Do we really want to risk an 0-18 season?

OK, now that we got that out of the way, I honestly think going to 18 games would be a smart move for the NFL. 

Pre-season games are pretty boring, mean nothing and only increase the chance of injury.  Granted, most of the starters are out after the first quarter, but injuries to second- or third-string players reduce the depth of your team.

With the way college players come in with a fairly good knowledge of pro-style game plans, getting them up to speed or evaluating them isn’t as critical to do during the pre-season as it once was.

With the way the NFL combine is run, the numerous private workouts and teams requesting workouts, coaches are able to evaluate the heck out of players.

Technology has also allowed for more in-depth study of game situations.  The film they study is against more realistic game situations than they can simulate during a pre-season. 

Of course, expansion would boost revenue for the NFL.  And there is nothing wrong with that.  In fact, the way season ticket holders are forced to purchase pre-season games when plunking down huge sums of money for regular season games, having to only buy two pre-season games would be more palatable than four games.

I’m sure there are purists out there will state having only two pre-season games isn’t enough to evaluate those players drafted in the later rounds, the ones that rarely have private workouts or get invited by teams to workout. 

But with ‘voluntary” practices already starting, I’m sure the NFL would also allow teams to begin practices earlier to get the teams to their 53-man roster.  Besides, those players who are on the edge are generally on the roster as extra bodies to hit, saving the first and second string players from risk of injury.

Outside of the risk of a team going 0-18, an additional two regular season games is what fans want.  I know that I look forward to the start of the season…but this means we could have regular season games starting in August rather than September. 

Football is hardly a summer game, and baseball may be hurt financially since the NFL is such a big draw on Sundays.

If the owners approve, we could see an 18-game season as soon as 2011.  I’m all for it; how about you?