NFL News: Why Did the NFL Expand the Season?
The NFL season is expanding from 16 to 17 games, and then 17 to 18 games in 2022. You might be wondering why. According to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, it’s for “player health.” But something tells us that there are other reasons behind this decision.
The players have been pushing back against the idea of an expanded season because they’re worried about injuries and exhaustion, the complete opposite to looking after the “players’ health.” We think a lot of people will agree with the players on this one!
Should we expand the NFL season or not? Read on to explore what’s really behind this controversial news.
NFL Safety concerns addressed
One theory proposed to explain the NFL plans is that it was a response to player safety concerns. After all, players are more at risk of injury so late in longer seasons, due to fatigue and wear-and-tear on muscles and bones throughout their bodies, which can lead to further complications over time (such as arthritis).
While this does seem like an understandable concern for those who govern these rule changes, many football fans and some coaches disagree with such drastic measures being taken without any warning, leaving players feeling that the idea is about increased revenue rather than safety issues.
NFL hot seat coaches such as Sean Payton and Mike Tomlin have not commented. After all, they have bigger things to worry about.
More games, more sport
Expanding the season means more games, which also increases revenue for the league. Who’s winning here? It’s undoubtedly a win-win situation! The fans will always reign supreme because they enjoy their favorite sport and have better game times between football seasons (or perhaps even year-round).
The TV networks are set up nicely to benefit, mainly because they get prime time slots with long broadcasts that provide great ad spots throughout each broadcast. Rarely do things happen to benefit players or fans in an altruistic way! There has to be a money-making scheme behind the change somewhere, if only we could find it.
Better chances at playoff spots and division titles
More games mean better chances of success in a league where the top teams are jockeying for playoff spots and division titles. Some would say it’s a win-win situation that has been created as it provides teams with increased opportunities to qualify in both tournaments we play throughout each season!
More time is always a good thing, and more time also means enhanced team development, and better-developed teams include more experienced coaches and better-schooled players.
Team development
The NFL team development process is about to get a lot more interesting. The league has announced that it will be condensing all free agency into one time, giving teams a chance for an in-depth look before players hit the market and can make their intentions known about where they’d like to play next season or beyond.
The NFL is taking a leaf out of the NBA’s book. With free agency now spanning entire calendar years, it makes sense that team development would prioritize player acquisition; after all: “what good are players without coaches?” This is a question posed by those in agreement with the additional time proposed.
Later kick-off times and more night games
For fans of the NFL, the rewards for one more game are inarguable. The 17-game regular-season starts in the fall, which means less time spent waiting before we can finally have our team’s best on display every week.
The NFL is a football league bustling with excitement and the anticipation of what’s to come. The regular-season starts this fall, meaning that there are only 17 games instead of pre-season (which many fans find annoying). AFC teams will host nine home games while NFC counterparts get their turn next year, followed by an alternating schedule after that.
It’s possible that extending the season could lead to later kick-off times because teams would be playing more night games than day games. A later kick-off time would be excellent for fans who don’t want to watch the game on their TVs at an inconvenient time.
More games could also increase ticket sales, attracting more people than just die-hards with early morning schedules!
Here’s what we know – the odds have been weighed up, and this strategy has only been put forward because it makes more money for the clubs, league, and networks.
NFL going forward
Although it has taken more than 40 years to extend the NFL season beyond 16 games, it’s apparent that there are several advantages for both players and spectators.
The additional game provides a chance for teams with weaker schedules (i.e. those in smaller markets) to compete against high-profile opponents from larger cities like New York or Los Angeles without compromising on their schedule by playing two consecutive weeks of home games.
For fans, an extra regular-season game means they get another opportunity to see their team play live instead of watching them on TV at odd hours during the week. Indeed, not all football lovers will be happy about this change, but if last year’s pre-season showed anything, it’s that the league needs every advantage possible.