by Patrick ‘Rey’ Reynell
The NFL expanding its regular season to eighteen games seems unjustifiable outside of money.
Essentially, there is no expansion of the schedule at all. The plan is this: take the last two preseason games (there are four total) and make them count.
But tell that to the starters who usually played in only two preseason games anyway. Now they almost have to play in twenty straight weeks, albeit not for many downs in preseason, in hopes of making the playoffs. I say twenty straight weeks because some will feel they have to play in both preseason games in order to get acclimated to game-time situations.
This means more games that count. More competitive downs. More jarring hits. And despite all of that, less time to recover. Career-ending injuries can happen at any moment, in any sport, on any level. Head injuries, though, can be the silent killer.
It seems hypocritical to me that the NFL will ultimately make this change to eighteen games with the shadow of Chris Henry’s autopsy. Henry is the former receiver who was thought to have died from injuries after jumping out of a pickup truck, but was later found to have had brain trauma before that due to his football playing days. A death that has appeared to cause the NFL to be more proactive (for the time being) in dealing with head injuries.
Just this past month it was announced that the NFL would display this poster in all locker rooms. Yet the push for eighteen games continues.
The duality of football can be brutal. In last year’s college regular season, Tim Tebow took a vicious hit in Florida’s SEC opener against Kentucky. Urban Meyer made it clear in his post-game press-conference that Tebow’s full recovery superseded his team’s schedule. The Florida coach seemed like the only one.
It quickly became a discussion across all media outlets on whether Florida should play Tebow in its next game against nationally ranked LSU. I even heard some question whether the doctor who would be responsible to clear Tebow should consider Florida’s undefeated record and how not playing Tebow may affect their season.
Tebow did play against LSU. He finished his college career with no other scares. The “what ifs,” however, can be unsettling.
Eighteen games may never be the direct link to more injuries. But just as Tebow, there will always be that “what if.” I suppose that’s the risk football players take, and many now are more aware of the those risks than ever. Maybe that’s why the NFL feels it’s a good time to go to eighteen games.
One thing is for sure: the job of the medical staffs, trainers and coaches becomes that much more important by adding more games. This can be harmful if players are rushed back from an injury in hopes of his team making that final playoff push. Then again, maybe teams will see a longer schedule and be more willing to sit a player another week or two because of the extra two weeks at the end.
Even though this particular change may be about more money, the NFL and its teams can continue to keep the players’ health, and education of it, its top priority.
Casey says
I’ll be the first to admit that I have poked fun at NFL players – 16 games as opposed to 80+ or 162 for the other major sports. Not to mention that most of an NFL game is spent in the huddle with the clock running. That being said, in recent years I have gone from voicing (or yelling) my approval for bone-crushing hits to cringing. Call me old but I don’t know how those guys recover from week to week.
bill ribas says
They recover like all athletes do, by taking drugs. And my guess is this extension is because owners are losing money in some way, and need more revenue. God forbid the fans get a break.
Casey says
Aren’t you supposed to be at an anniversary dinner? 🙂
Smitty says
I think what will be lost in this is that this places more emphasis on the only two pre-season games the coaches have to get their players ready. Guys that played a quarter here or a quarter there – suddenly will be forced to play half of a preseason game, even the whole thing.
How about those guys that are vying for the last couple of spots on the roster? Is there going to be time for a coach to take a look at them in pre-season?
I think you can also kiss the chances of seeing an undefeated season again. I think if teams make the playoffs or clinch the division – coaches are going to shut guys down to save them for the playoffs.
All the way around – this is not going to go well for the NFL..
bill ribas says
Yeah, but we’re so freaking old we did the early bird special – in at 5:30, home by 7 or so.
Rey says
Smitty – Good point about the preseason. That’s why I said in reality, these guys are now going to be playing 20 weeks. And pretty much those other guys who earn spots in the preseason won’t now.
Someone did say the happiest people in all of this are the ’72 Dolphins.
Wally says
Of course this is about money … more revenue! But I think the teams will have to add numbers to the roster in order to provide greater depth because the injuries will go up. So there should be a cost too. I’m sure the added revenue for 2 more regular season games will more than offset the cost of having bigger rosters, which might actually be the main selling point to the players union.
All I know is this … if I’m tempted to watch a football game, I will if it “counts” but won’t if it doesn’t.
Lastly, NHL hockey is physically grueling and violent …. they play 82 frickin’ reg season games, as Casey points out. Surely NFL players can suck it up for 2 more and bring the total to a gigantic 18.
Rey says
I hate bringing this up time and time again, but I think the sport of football is coming to a crossroads soon. Here is another sad story possibly linked to the hits taken in football:
https://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=5569329
Casey says
Rey – I read this article early in the morning. Thought of your post. Thanks for banging the drum.