NFL Move to 18-Game Schedule 'Not Inevitable,' NFLPA's Interim Executive Director Says

The interim executive director of the NFL Players Association pushed back against the notion that an 18-game regular season is bound to happen.

"The league has the right to bring any issue they want to the table and, presumably, to propose what they're willing to give to receive what they want in negotiation but we'll see when that happens," David White told the Associated Press' Rob Maaddi. "We haven't talked about it yet, and it certainly is not inevitable and should not be presented as such."

Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports reported in April that "the idea of an 18th game was treated like 'a fait accompli' even though it must be collectively bargained with the NFL Players Association."

The recent turmoil within the NFLPA has led fans to wonder even more if the players' union will struggle to challenge the top priorities from NFL owners.

Lloyd Howell Jr. resigned as the NFLPA executive director in July over conflict of interest concerns since he had worked part time with The Carlyle Group, a private equity firm that received formal approval from the NFL to pursue a minority ownership stake in a franchise. A third-party investigation also flagged some expenditures Howell made from the NFLPA's account.

White took over as the interim executive director in August. A month into the job, he told Maaddi his constituents have a number of issues they may try to remedy through the collective bargaining agreement.

"Players are looking at field conditions," White said. "They're looking at information about their well-being and their injuries. They may have questions that deal with their pay. Particularly, we just came out of a time where some players made the roster and not. What are the opportunities that I have? What are the rights that I have?"

Maaddi pointed out the current CBA runs through March 2031, and something as significant as an 18th game in the regular season would require a renegotiation involving players and team owners.

From the NFLPA's standpoint, an 18th game may be a total nonstarter. The additional injury risk isn't worth it.

But an 18th game does give the NFLPA some leverage if it wants to get an equally big concession from NFL owners.