Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald has been around for a long time in the NFL, so his experience and expertise can come in handy on many things. With the NFL world currently debating once again whether or not to possibly implement an 18-game schedule, the legendary wide receiver has tossed his opinion into the mix, and much like everyone else, he seems to be fine with the way things are.
Speaking to the Cardinals team website (via Pro Football Talk), Fitzgerald didn’t seem to see the need for a switch to 18 games, citing a multitude of reasons as to why the current, 16-game format is fine.
“You look at the rosters, 15 or 20 percent of the guys end up on IR by the end of the 16-game season,” Fitzgerald said. “It’s a battle of attrition. As fans, they want to see a good product, right? I think a 16-game season allows for enough of your marquee players to be able to stay on the field and be able to have a show people really want to pay for and watch. Adding two more games, would it increase revenue? Absolutely. Would it increase the possibility for international games? For sure. But the game is played by players and you need players on the field, and they need to be healthy.”
The debate surrounding the issue popped up once again thanks to more talks regarding the next Collective Bargaining Agreement, with rumors that owners are once again trying to push for an 18-game schedule. The argument for the additional games is a simple one, with more revenue being the benefit, and thus more money going to players.
However, it seems as if many players – Fitzgerald included – are content with not having the two extra games so long as it means they stay healthy.
With the NFL as tough a sport as it is, it’s not surprising to see so many players publicly acknowledge that they don’t want to play more games than they have to, but with the CBA talks still ongoing, it’s anyone’s guess as to what happens.
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