Speculation continues about the NFL eventually pursuing an 18-game schedule, though they are likely to face a battle with players to make it happen. One veteran made that very clear this week.
Commissioner Roger Goodell said earlier this year that he was still interested in reducing the number of preseason games, and suggested a potential solution of 18 regular season games and two preseason games. Colts center Ryan Kelly, who is also the team’s NFLPA representative, said Wednesday that the comments are evidence that Goodell is out of touch when it comes to how tough the actual games are.
“Yeah, 18 games sounds great when Roger is saying it on Pat McAfee’s (show),” Kelly said, via James Boyd of The Athletic. “But until you’re the one going out there and putting a helmet on for 18 of those games, yeah, then come talk to me.
“They don’t know what it takes to play on Sundays. I think it’s just too many games.”
Kelly added that he feels players would be tempted to back an 18-game schedule if they were given a significant cut of the additional revenue, but said that owners will have to make concessions too. In Kelly’s mind, that could include eliminating spring workouts and switching to a slower ramp-up later in the summer.
The NFL is always going to want more revenue opportunities, which is why some other scheduling demands could come with an expansion to 18 games. The question is what players will want in return, and what the league would be willing to give them.
