Even though the 2020 CBA does not contain language giving owners an option to expand the schedule to 18 games, enough steam has built on this matter that players are anticipating another game will be added to the regular season in the not-too-distant future. How the NFL will go about this remains to be seen, but it now looks likely the league’s slate could expand twice in the same decade.
The NFL bent significantly on working conditions in 2011, drastically changing how offseasons run and the format for in-season practices, in exchange for a rookie wage scale and the players giving up a small revenue percentage. More practice restrictions came in 2020, with fifth-year options now more favorable for players and the league’s drug policy relaxed. A move to 18 will require more concessions from the league. While no talks have occurred, per Roger Goodell, they are widely expected to commence down the road.
[RELATED: ‘Considerable Support’ In Place For 18-Game Schedule]
One may need to be roster size. Players privy to NFLPA discussions know an NFL push for 18 games is on the horizon, according to Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio, who indicates one of the areas the union will need to see augmented is the 53-man roster. Clubs are currently permitted 53 active-roster players; that number rises to 55 on gamedays. Teams can dress 48 players. That number may increase, with Florio adding the union will be expected to seek at least 55 players on regular-season rosters. That would mean 57 on gamedays and 50 eligible to suit up.
The league did not intend to move straight from 10- to 16-man practice squads in 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic prompted midsummer adjustments. One of those brought the 16-man P-squad, which remains in place today. It is not known if the NFLPA will seek more P-squad slots, but Florio expects it will push for increased flexibility regarding elevations. Currently, teams can elevate a P-squad non-quarterback three times per season before he is exposed to waivers. For emergency QB purposes, teams will go into this season with unlimited elevations.
It would not surprise, then, to hear rumblings of more IR-return slots being introduced. Teams currently have eight such activations available during the regular season, but an offseason rule change greenlit two more for the playoffs. Teams also no longer no longer will need to carry injured players they are planning to activate over to IR upon setting their initial 53; two players can be stashed before the final roster is set. While a move to the 2020-21 COVID-era setup — which featured unlimited IR activations — may be a stretch, more freedom to bring back recovered players will likely come up as well.
The NFL will need to approve more than a roster expansion for this to happen, as the players would have rare bargaining power due to the CBA running through March 2031. Two bye weeks, nixed by TV networks in 2020, will likely merit a more lengthy discussion if/when the 18-game push commences in earnest.
Many around the league anticipate the move from 17 to 18 happens via CBA amendment, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones adds. That would open the door to the schedule expanding again during the decade, but Jones adds some have suggested the notion of the league and union hammering out a new CBA altogether could also be a solution.
The sides memorably could not prevent a lockout during the 2011 CBA talks, but they did come together on a deal that avoided another CBA-driven work stoppage in 2020. That said, the number of issues that will arise from the schedule again expanding would make it somewhat farfetched to envision another new CBA coming out years before the current deal expires. This would be the first major test for new NFLPA chief Lloyd Howell, as DeMaurice Smith was in place as executive director for the 2011 and ’20 agreements.
Goodell already spoke of the elimination of a second preseason game. Starting the regular season one week earlier than the current schedule’s opener, moving Week 1 to Labor Day weekend, and then adding a second bye would allow the Super Bowl to coincide with Presidents’ Day weekend — a previously rumored NFL goal. The NFLPA’s upcoming proposal to reorganize the offseason — which is not going over well with coaches or execs — looks to be part of the union’s plan for capitalizing on its leverage.
Securing an 18-game schedule before 2029 would bolster the NFL’s position for TV rights, as the league can opt out of its early-2020s deals in 2029. This should be viewed as a strong NFL consideration, Jones adds, and increased TV revenue obviously will lead to bigger cap spikes — as the past two offseasons have shown.
The NFL’s 14-game era spanned 17 seasons, its 16-game schedule 43. Unless a major course change comes, the 17-game schedule seems unlikely to make it through a decade. Long a fringe talking point, the 18-game season will obviously be a central storyline within the league for the foreseeable future.
Teams also no longer no longer will need to carry injured players
18 games. Two byes. No PS games. Expanded rosters. Some variety of a Minor League circuit. This should provide some benefit for everyone.
I wouldn’t eliminate the preseason but limit it to two games. No reason for a minor league circuit as the CFB powers are essentially headed that way themselves and expanded practice squad would allow developing players opportunities under NFL coaches. I also believe a 3rd QB for emergency play only should be added that doesn’t take one of the two PS elevation spots. Agree on the other three points
I mean, whatever the players want in this scenario. The teams generally prefer the joint practices.
Money!!!!
Jerry Jones wants to add more regular season games so that the Cowboys can win more games.
You mean regular season games
That is the joke, yes.
i was thinking 60.
I assume if rosters are expanded, the salary cap will rise.
Isn’t the salary cap tied to revenues anyways? An extra regular season game will increase revenues and the cap.
The American way is to make a bad product better by offering it to the public more often or in a variety of flavors…lol.
They are just converting a pre season game to a regular season game. They are not really doing more… just means a meaningful game you will watch over a pre season game.
I love to see more football, but it’s sort of meaningless without practice. The first quarter of the season is pretty bad these days, and removing practices and limiting what can be done in them really hurts the end product. It also increases the probability of injury. Anything from poor tackling or poor blocking or whatever bad technique can’t be good for players. With holdouts as common as they are and college technique not nearly as strong amongst non-QBS, the early season truly is a practice substitute in today’s NFL. It really seems like it hurts players’ injury likelihood to me, in addition to being a worse product to watch.
The extra game of course also increases players’ injury likelihood and demands for recovery. It’d be a bit selfish to not consider what impact it would have on their recovery and injury risk. It only makes sense to add another bye and significantly increase roster sizes and/or practice squad allowances to compensate. It’s a big ask from them to do one, and the NFL needs to realize that’ll have to spend more to get more. The NFL will obviously be bullish on not sharing any more money than they have to, but honestly that would be the best way to get what they want. Choosing to cut practice time instead of simply sharing more money is asinine on their dnd. Of course, as we all know, Goodell and most owners doesn’t seem to care about the actual quality of the games, just the number of how many ads they can sell in a season.