The National Football League Players' Association has already made it abundantly clear it has no interest in adding two games to the regular season schedule. The average length of an NFL player's career is already far shorter than counterparts who play basketball, soccer, baseball, and more; going from 16 games to 18 games would only further risk the health, longevity, and earning potential of players.
Apparently undeterred by the NFLPA's resistance to a lengthened regular season schedule, the league's owners are reportedly broaching news way to increase the players' interest in implementing the change. According to Andrew Beaton of the Wall Street Journal, among the several ideas owners have proposed is extending the regular season to 18 games, but preventing all players from appearing in more than 16 games.
But the conversations around an expanded schedule have approached a new level of creativity, three people familiar with the discussions said, with the possibilities including expanded rosters and mandating players only participate in a certain number of games.
One idea owners have proposed: limiting players to 16 games, to assuage health and safety concerns. That would mean even if the Kansas City Chiefs played 18 games, quarterback Patrick Mahomes would play in just 16 of them.
The NFL's current collective bargaining agreement expires after the 2020 season, but both sides have already engaged in negotiations on a new deal, with hopes of reaching an agreement even before kickoff of the upcoming season.
The owners' push for an 18-game season is reportedly being led by the Dallas Cowboys' Jerry Jones and New England Patriots' Robert Kraft. Prior efforts of owners to lengthen the schedule were unsuccessful, including in 2011, when contentious CBA talks sparked a lockout that ended just before the regular season.
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