Quote:
Originally Posted by skinsguy
Only flaw in your theory is that the league didn't always have a 16 game season. I don't see how this would affect historical books? Besides, if this was an issue, then the NFL probably wouldn't have ever went past a ten game regular season. Also, I'm not sure it would signify shorter careers. Each team would be able to career a larger active roster.
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I'm not stupid, I know the NFL used to have a 12 game season, then it went to 14, and now to 16, so it's only fair they eventually started looking at 18. But why? The season is long enough, and if you can't figure out that adding 2 games a season will shorten a career then I can't help you.
Let's say your dominant NFL player's career lasts 9 seasons. This is just an example because we all know depending on the position they play they can play much longer than 9 seasons at an effective level. Well 9 seasons with 16 games is the equivalent of 8 seasons with 18 games. And look at that current stats. Most guys experience wear and tear through a 16 game season. Going to 18 games is not only going to give 2 more full games that they could get seriously injured in, but that's 2 more games of wear and tear. You can't tell me players experience the same amount of wear and tear in 2 preseason games as they do in 2 regular season games.
My whole point at the historical books aspect is that stats lose their meaning. 2k rushing seasons will become annual, 5k passing seasons as well too. Now granted only the top 3-5 guys might have a shot at getting that far, but I would rather have it the way it is now, something extremely hard to achieve, rather than it becoming a yearly thing.
Skinsguy your argument that the NFL never would've gone past 10 games if that was an issue is flawed. For one, the years when the NFL played 10 games, etc., is an entirely different era than it is today. I'm talking not as many teams, so obviously not as many games, and back then there was room for expansion, not just bringing new teams into the league but there was room for a bigger schedule as well. We already have 32 teams, a 16 game marathon schedule that already takes enough of a toll on these guys. These guys can't get into better shape, as the majority of NFL players work out year round to keep their bodies in peak physical condition. Their is no way they can get into so much better shape so as to better withstand the hits and the wear/tear of an 18 game schedule.
The only reason this is being brought up is money. There's no concern for any of the players, all the owners wanna do is get rid of preseason games that don't make money for them by replacing them with 2 games that will maximize revenue. And a 2 game preseason? I wouldn't mind shortening it to 3 games but 2 is not enough to get your starters ready to play and give enough time to evaluate players trying to make the cut.