Goodell Proposes Longer NFL Season (Continued)

I guess your point is, the players should just roll over and take it, why bother to fight?

 

In 1982, the strike lasted seven weeks. In 1987, it fell apart because the networks televised the scab games and paid the league as if they were real games.
I don't think that will happen again. The nets are under their own financial pressures. Of course, scab games could go on the NFL network. I'm sure ratings would soar.

 

Yeah, that's the thing. A game is a game as far as the owners as concerned. Doesn't matter whether its pre-season or regular season, unless they can find a way to raise prices. And if they have to increase salaries, they might even wind up shorter in the long run.

 

A. Packed stadium for two games more as opposed to 40,000 for each of two exhibitions.

B. The TV contract will get jacked up.

 

Not that they "should," but they don't really have a lot of viable options.

 

That damn Jim Thorpe stole too many carries from him.

 

My only question is -- if you are a running back or a linebacker or one of these high impact, shorter career positions -- why in God's name would you agree to one or even two more weeks of pounding on your body? The player's union would be asinine to accept this proposal.

 

Expanding to 18 would do a couple of things, give the better teams two more games against two better opponents, and the crappier teams two more winnable games (right now there are only two games that are scheduled according to team strength). Don't have a problem with it if they kill the Injured Reserve and make it more of a DL. I can see teams sitting any player listed anything worse than probable, I also think two more games would change the ways teams structure rosters, giving an emphasis to quantity of decent players than top-quality players. Might also be the only way Goodell will be able to jack up the next TV contract.

 

The 1972 Dolphins aren't even for it.

 

How many times has the NFL player's union made the right call?

 

Look at the leadership. They weren't exactly being led by Lech Walesa, if you know what I mean.

 

Here's a fantastic anecdote from today's Phil Mushnick column: