The NFL has recently ramped up discussions to extend the regular season to 18 games in the future. Although, the likeliness of that happening while DeMaurice Smith has something to say about it is low.
In an article by Cameron Wolfe of ESPN, Smith says that an 18-game schedule is not in players' best interests. The NFLPA Executive Director said he will look over any proposals but hasn't seen one that benefits the players.
“I don't see an 18-game schedule — under any circumstance — being in the best interest of our players,” Smith said. “If somebody wants to make an 18-game proposal, we'll look at it. I haven't seen anything that makes me think that it would be good for the players.”
In the NFL's most recent proposal, the season would be extended to 18 games but players could only play in a maximum of 16 of them. That is just one of the questionable aspects of the NFL's most recent proposal.
Coaches would have to make a decision on what games they'd want their starters playing and it would make some games unwatchable with backups in. Fans may want to see a longer season due to wanting to see more football but you have to think about the players involved.
“Fans and media discuss what would happen to ratings and revenue or whether [18 games] is a good idea or bad idea. For us, it comes down to who players are as men, and is it good for us,” Smith told ESPN. “If a coal miner is willing to spend more time in the hole, does it likely result in more money? Yeah. Is that a good thing for him as a person? Probably not. That's the question nobody confronts. It's easy to say it's more money. But is it good for us? The answer is no.”
For now, there doesn't seem to be a plausible solution for the NFL's regular season. That is until there's a proposal that Smith views as a positive for the players.
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