One of the hot topics of discussion on sports radio and message boards is the possibility of the NFL expanding the schedule from the 16 games to 17 or even 18 per season. At the NFL league meetings this week in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., the topic came up for discussion among the owners.
Based on a report from USA TODAY’s Mike Jones, it doesn’t sound promising for an expanded schedule anytime soon:
The potential of an 18-game regular season was met with strong opposition among owners, so the focus shifted to a 17-game slate.
However, nearly half of the owners oppose that setup as well and would prefer to continue playing just 16 games.
This is before the players and the NFLPA even enter the negotiations. They would need to agree to the expanded game schedule in the next collective bargaining agreement. The current CBA is set to expire after the 2020 season.
It sounds like the 18-game schedule is dead in the water, and the idea of playing an odd number like 17 isn’t floating well among owners either.
