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NFL's Goodell Eyes 18 Regular-Season Games
NEW YORK, USAFri Jan 17 2025
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is eager to expand the regular season further, aiming for 18 games. On Bloomberg TV, he noted that switching from 16 regular-season games with 4 preseason games to 17 regular-season games with 3 preseason games has been successful. The next logical step, he suggests, is to move to 18 regular-season games and 2 preseason games, keeping the total at 20 games. But this isn't just Goodell's call. The NFL Players Association has to agree, and they might worry about more injuries. Surprisingly, Goodell mentions that despite the 17-game season, injuries haven't gone up, thanks to better training and rule changes. The NFL's history of long 16-game seasons changed in 2021, but Goodell is keen to push for the 18-game season sooner than later.
Think about it. The NFL used to have 16-game seasons for a long time before switching to 17 games. Now, Goodell is championing the 18-game season. But will the players be on board? They might have concerns about their health, and that's valid. Goodell counters this by pointing out that with better training and rule changes, even the 17-game season hasn't seen an injury increase. It's a fair point, but players' well-being is a serious issue. Should the season be extended to keep fans happy, or is 17 games enough? It's something to ponder.
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questions
What impact will a longer regular season have on the playoff structure and wildcard spots?
What data does Goodell reference to support his claim that the 17-game season has not increased injuries?
How will sponsors and television networks adjust their pricing and coverage with more regular-season games?