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Originally Posted by mooby
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.
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I never said you were stupid, I just have heard the same arguments before, and I am pretty sure the same arguments were presented back when the league went to 16 games.
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Originally Posted by mooby
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.
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There are so many other factors, Mooby, that goes into a player's NFL career. For instance, consider a dominant player, say, Jerry Rice who played in the NFL for nearly twenty years (if not actually twenty.) Also, consider the fact that Jerry, barring injury, played in at least 18 games a season all through his career if you count playoff games. And keep in mind, I'm not even counting preseason games in this scenario. Your dominant players should already be conditioned to playing a lengthy season. I would argue that a dominant NFL player could have himself conditioned to play 25 games a season if need be. What would be wear and tear on their careers would be having to play a couple of those games overseas, something I don't agree with necessarily.
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Originally Posted by mooby
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.
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Well, hasn't it already Mooby? You're talking about 2k rushing seasons and I remember when it was a huge accomplishment for a running back to rush for 1000 yards a season. Also, two games, I don't believe, is going to pad the stats THAT much. Honestly, what pads those stats are the ever changing rule changes that are making it easier for offenses to move the ball.
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Originally Posted by mooby
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.
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Mooby, the same argument will be used 30 years down the road and 30 years past that. My only question to you is, how do you know what these guys can take and what they can't? Have you played in the NFL? Have you went through their off season conditioning? My assumption is no. All I'm saying is, I would find it hard pressed to argue how much an NFL player can withstand without going through it myself. Saying that these guys can't get into better shape? Well, I disagree with that until I actually see evidence that supports that theory with my own eyes. I would find it much more believable that some NFL players probably do just enough to land a roster spot, but then again, I don't know that for sure either. Like I said, keep in mind, the players that consistently play for playoff teams are going to already be conditioned into playing more than just 16 games a season.
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Originally Posted by mooby
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.
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Well duh....of course it's all about money. I agree with you 100%! It's always been about money. The NFL, like it or not, is a business. The Washington Redskins, like it or not, is a business. While I do have concern (I really do I'm just playing devil's advocate) for the players, at the same time, these guys are getting paid millions of dollars to play a game. I wished people had the same concerns for factory workers having to work in unsavory conditions all year long to earn $10/hour. I wished people had the same concern for school teachers or police officers having to risk their lives every day to earn not even a fraction of what these players earn playing a sport for a few months out of the year. Don't get me wrong, I do realize these players risk their health for our entertainment...but let's get real....they get paid A LOT of money. Sure, I'd like to see the retired players have better health benefits, but that's a whole different can of worms.
Honestly, I don't care either way. I am not hardcore for a longer regular season, and I won't be disappointed if they decide to keep it at 16 games a season. But, I just don't buy into the arguments of wear and tear on players (at least not so dramatically more than the wear and tear they already experience in the current season) nor do I believe it will affect the historical data and stats that past players have achieved. Records are made to be broken and that doesn't water down the accomplishments of those players during their time on the field. At least it doesn't in my eyes. If so, then by your POV, we are already watching a watered down sport. If this is the case, then we're all fools because we're glued to the TV set each Sunday and Monday night cheering on (or in some cases booing on) our favorite team.