NFL players say more money, second bye week needed to approve 18th game: poll

The writing is on the wall. NFL owners want to eventually expand the regular season from 17 games to 18. Owners generally get what they want, so it appears to be a question of when, not if, we see expansion.

The current collective bargaining agreement runs through 2030, but NFL owners, officials and NFL Players’ Association leaders have already begun very preliminary discussions about what an 18-game season would look like and what the types of concessions each party should make to facilitate the negotiation. such a change. But the two sides are far from reaching an agreement.

For now, the majority of NFL players we’ve spoken with oppose the idea of ​​an 18-game season. Of the 108 players who answered the question AthleticsIn the second anonymous player poll, 64 said they do not support the league adding an 18th game. Meanwhile, 29 players said they were in favor of the move and 15 described themselves as undecided.

Those who are opposed to this idea are fiercely opposed.

“No. Hell no,” said one player. “It’s too much for our bodies.”

“F…no.” F— no,” a second player replied. “For what? F—no. F—no. F—no. Make it shorter.

A third said: “No. The money is not worth it. And it doesn’t affect the playoff bracket. One more additional game will not affect the playoff bracket.

More football sounds great to fans and owners, but many players have other factors to consider.

“No, because players are barely making it to 17, so adding 18, we don’t know what kind of implications that will have in the long run,” said one player, “because you’ll see that guys will have high usage one year and all the next year they’re battling injuries Physically I think it’s too much, and I know from an NFL perspective they see the money, but they’re going to lose. many star players due to injuries.

Another player worried that the continued expansion of the schedule would diminish the magnitude of each game.

“What makes football great is that there are so few games and each game counts like 10 baseball games and five basketball games. So they all count,” he said. “And 17 is pretty good, because no one is going to be .500. We don’t make links. You are either over .500 or under .500. If this ever happens, it should be mandatory on turf (fields) across the league.

Players always dispute the NFL’s claims that they care about player safety when they also hear about owners wanting additional games. But they understand the determining factor in such a decision.

“The NFL is all about making money, so of course they’re going to add another game,” one player said. “It will bring in more money.”

He hit the nail on the head: the NFL is in the business of making money. Conversely, players also want to increase their earning potential. Because of this mutual desire, even players who strongly oppose the idea of ​​an 18-game expansion recognize that they may have to give in to continue growing their share of the economic pie.

“I get it, it’s the money side,” one player said. “You know, make money while you can, just keep adding games. But I think there is more wear and tear on the body. If they want to make an 18th game, they are going to have to change something elsewhere. So I’ll be curious to see what they would do.

Another said: “No. Unless they give us a little more money, then no. It’s a long season, you know? Adding the last one, what was it, 16 at first, then up to 17. Eighteen is just crazy.

Players currently receive 48.8 percent of all revenue and owners receive the remaining 51.2 percent, but that distribution would certainly need to change if the league hopes to influence players in Game 18. Players were also asked a follow-up question about what the NFL would need to adjust to accommodate a potential 18th game. The most common answer was an extra bye week, while others cited changes to the preseason and offseason schedule and, of course, more money.

“I’m in favor if it means a bigger share of revenue for the players and if there’s an extra week off during the season,” one player said.

“If it means more money, I’m depressed,” said another. “But a lot more money.” Not just another game check. (And) two weeks off.

Another player, thinking about the earning potential, also said he would sign an 18th game.

“Yes, if the salary, regardless of inflation, reflects it, and if you increase the number of practice players per team,” he said. “Just because I always think about the little guys, so I look at minimum salaries and practice squad players. I just want the bread. I just want another $100,000 or $200,000. I’m not going to rest more as long as it’s the same playing field and everyone gets the same rest. That’s cool with me, but then again, I’m a grinder. I’ll play 20 games for another $500,000.

A few players liked the idea of ​​an 18th game simply because they enjoy playing.

“I love the game,” one said. “Want to add more?” Add more.

They believed that with proper adjustments in the preseason and with the implementation of a second pass, players would find ways to manage and adapt to the added wear and tear.

“Two real weeks off,” said one player. “It’s not a three-day week that the league is trying to get away with after Thursday’s games. Two full weeks and that brings you to the Presidents Day holiday for the Super Bowl the way they want it.

The players interviewed seem to know that whatever their reservations, an 18th game is coming and there is little they can do except work to negotiate the best financial and social package possible.

As one veteran said: “Hopefully when we get to the point, much later, I’ll be out of the league. But I know it happens.

(Top illustration: Dan Goldfarb / Athletics; (photos: Ryan Kang and Chris Unger / Getty Images)