NFL Discussing 18 Game Season

August 20th

With all of the controversy surrounding the NFL with icons such as Brett Favre, Michael Vick, and Plaxico Burress, the possibility of the league switching to an 18 game season (with 2 preseason games) has been kept under the radar.

The New York Times broke the story in late March, announcing that the NFL would vote on the idea of a 17 game or 18 game season (18 or 19 weeks with a rest week).

Let's be honest, whenever the words, "more football", come into a sentence...we all get excited. There are many positives regarding this idea.

It would generate more revenue for the league and it would have a positive effect on our economy. A longer season means more people spending money on Sundays at the bar/restaurant with their buddies, and retail stores that dish out clothing of your favorite team (just to name a few).The pre-season would be shorter and any possibility of a "meaningless" injury is reduced. The players are too expensive to have 4 pre-season games.

Yes, it seems like Christmas came early when this report came out, but there's always two sides to every story.

Let's not forget, this is a day and age when many of our beloved players can't even make it through a 16 game season. While two extra regular season games reduces the risk of a "meaningless" injury, it increases the risk of an injury. These players will have two more weeks of full pads, and full contact.

The players that are on the "grind" trying to make the 53 man roster will only get two games to show the coaches how they can play in a real game situation.

So the question is, do the pros outweigh the cons (and vice versa)?

Personally I would love to see an 18 game season. The more games the better, and let's be honest...four pre-season games? As a season ticket holder, they really do get old. It's very rare to watch a 4th or 5th string player turn his game around in two games. It's all up to the commish and the voters. At this point, all we can do is sit back and let the story unfold.

Jamieson