The NFL and players have approved adding a 17th regular-season game, but there are plenty of people against that idea, including former Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy and former Baltimore Ravens coach Brian Billick.
Michael MacCambridge discussed in Peter King's Football Morning in America column that he talked to many different individuals about the NFL adding the 17th game.
Dungy thinks the only reason that the 17th game was added was because of the revenue that it will bring to the league and its players. He doesn't think it's actually something the fans are demanding at this point:
“I don’t see the rationale for it other than it brings in more revenue,” said Hall of Fame coach Tony Dungy. “And I think that’s why the players agreed to it, that’s why the owners want it. It’s not something, I don’t think, the fans are demanding. I think people love our regular season, because the games are meaningful. I could understand maybe expanding the playoffs, but to add an odd number of regular-season games makes zero sense to me.”
Billick said that he has talked to many different players throughout the NFL, and he hasn't found anyone that actually likes the idea. Billick thinks there is plenty of hate about the idea, but the biggest concern has to do with player safety.
For years they have tried to make football safer, but this could be sending the league back in the wrong direction:
“There are so many things to dislike about a 17-game schedule, and many unintended consequences that could ensue, but I think the biggest concern involves player safety, both the reality and the perception of it.”
“The greatest problem pro football has faced this century is what to do about the physical trauma that the game exerts on players.”
It's been made clear the NFL is all about making money, and the 17-game season is the latest example of it.
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