Colts president Bill Polian says 18-game schedule is already a "done deal."

[Woy]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=5623441&campaign=rss&source=NFLHeadlines

INDIANAPOLIS -- Bill Polian says the 18-game NFL season is a done deal.

During Monday night's weekly radio show, the Indianapolis Colts team president called it a "fait accompli" and said the debate is over. Polian is a member of the league's competition committee and has worked in the league office.

He's concerned that getting rid of two preseason games to expand the regular season from 16 to 18 games will cost coaches and team officials opportunities to evaluate rookies. The solution, Polian says, might be hooking up with nearby teams for combined practices or controlled scrimmages.

League owners and the commissioner have expressed support for an expanded regular-season schedule, but have not said a decision has been made.

 

[Tailback U]

No surprise really. I think everyone already knew this, just hasn't been made official yet.

 

[BigHouseUSA]

Just another example of the players being pawns in the NFL's marketing and moneymaking machine.

 

[Cody]

I figured it was pretty much a done deal.

 

[Tailback U]

Just another example of the players being pawns in the NFL's marketing and moneymaking machine.

Pawns that are making millions or hundreds of thousands of dollars to play football.

I'd love to be a pawn.

Not saying I support the 18 game season, but whatever, I'm not going to lose any sleep over it or cry about it. It's not like in ten years I'm going to be sitting around saying, "Man I remember the good ol days when teams used to only play 16 games."

 

[SHOGUN]

:fedor:

 

[BazookaJoe5]

As a season ticket holder, I don't want this. Even if I wasn't, I wouldn't want this.

I'd rather pay for the two shitty preseason games and get to watch legitimate NFL level players the other 8, than get an extra "real" home game and end up having guys who are practice squad level guys playing significant roles going into the postseason...because that is what is going to happen, adding more games. You already have guys like Seneca Wallace and Shaun Hill playing QB due to injury in Week 3 of a 16 game season...I mean, come on...

 

[mgoblue2290]

And I like the NFL a little less now. Add this with the fact that it is now illegal to look at a quarterback or accidentally brush arms with a receiver, shit is going downhill.

They are over indulging and could definitely end up shooting themselves in the foot.

 

[Rush]

Not sure how to feel about this. I'll wait until Ram29jackson posts his thoughts and then thank his post.

 

[SuperKevin]

If I were the players union I'd argue that everyone's salary needs to increase accordingly. They need to add 2 more weeks of game checks to their pay

 

[BigHouseUSA]

Pawns that are making millions or hundreds of thousands of dollars to play football.

I'd love to be a pawn.

Not saying I support the 18 game season, but whatever, I'm not going to lose any sleep over it or cry about it. It's not like in ten years I'm going to be sitting around saying, "Man I remember the good ol days when teams used to only play 16 games."

Regardless of salary. Players should be the ultimate deciders in this. They are the one's putting their bodies on the line.

 

[Fox1994]

I think they should be a bit more worried about making sure we have football, but it is what it is - stupidity.

 

[NAHSTE]

Commissiotator Goodell with his continued efforts to water down the game. Fucking ass clown.

 

[red33]

Regardless of salary. Players should be the ultimate deciders in this. They are the one's putting their bodies on the line.

thts fine then isnt there another LG, UFL or something, even the Canadian LG they can play in then.

18 gm schedule sucks but its not the end of the world. I mean how long have we had a 16 gm schedule? Also football isnt the only sport to do this.

Football is king right now, the LG needs to capitalize as much as it can cause there is always the chance it turns into baseball or basketball where franchises left and right lose money.

Im assuming this will mean higher player salaries, im sure logically it does. If the players really have an issue then just go onstrike like normal people.

 

[NAHSTE]

thts fine then isnt there another LG, UFL or something, even the Canadian LG they can play in then.

18 gm schedule sucks but its not the end of the world. I mean how long have we had a 16 gm schedule? Also football isnt the only sport to do this.

Football is king right now, the LG needs to capitalize as much as it can cause there is always the chance it turns into baseball or basketball where franchises left and right lose money.

Im assuming this will mean higher player salaries, im sure logically it does. If the players really have an issue then just go onstrike like normal people.

So the best way for the NFL to prevent the problems that hit baseball and the NBA is to do exactly what they did wrong? Over-expanding and diluting the product?

 

[dave]

This is moronic.
If the NFLPA has any balls, they'll sit out until the league backs down on this one.

Hell, if I were Peyton Manning I'd say to the NFL: "I am officially sitting out two weeks every year during the season ... I will draw the weeks out of a hat."

Every team's superstars should do the same.

 

[St. Francisco]

Just another example of the players being pawns in the NFL's marketing and moneymaking machine.

I would imagine that this will be one of those things that the players union agrees to in exchange for receiving something they want in another area. Give and take, that's how this crap works.

 

[mgoblue2290]

So the best way for the NFL to prevent the problems that hit baseball and the NBA is to do exactly what they did wrong? Over-expanding and diluting the product?

Exactly. The NFL, as far as teams and games go, is literally perfect right now. 32 teams, 16 games, it just makes sense. I would like to see the game get a little tougher and be less passing game orientated, but for now, that is what is selling. They absolutely need to get rid of the no touching the QBs helmet rule.

I do think that 18 games will be a problem and injuries will definitely increase as will players taking not only more plays off, but games off as well. Over time the quality of the NFL will go down.

Sometimes expansion is necessary and this is not one of those times. The NFL will regret this decision, if it happens, at some point.

 

[St. Francisco]

I'm curious to see how they do the scheduling. Right now, it works out perfect to where you play every team once every four years.

 

[Apocalypse]

I'm sure there are other ideas of scheduling out there, but i happened to like Howie's idea in the pregame on Sunday..

If it's the 18 game schedule, divide it into 3rds and have 2 bye weeks, he said that it would obviously help players recover from injuries during the 2nd bye, among other things.


What are your guys' thoughts, or have a different scheduling idea?