NFL Moves Tentatively Towards 17-Game Regular Season

The NFL and the NFL Players Association have been talking about extending the NFL season for a while now. 

That idea appears closer than ever to fruition, according to Wednesday reports.

However, an 18-game season will not be possible yet. However, the NFL and NFLPA will work towards extending the regular season by one game, taking the total to 17. 

According to the Washington Post, the league and the NFLPA “have made meaningful progress toward a new labor agreement”.

However, San Francisco 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman says that nothing is set in stone yet. Sherman serves on the NFLPA executive committee, and says the two sides are nowhere near an agreement. 

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Via the Washington Post, team owners “have shown a willingness to make concessions.” We do not yet know what the conditions are, but the NFLPA will have to be on board with any decision. 

While one extra game might not seem like much, it would change a few different aspects of the league season.

“A 17-game season would be accompanied by a reduction in preseason games. It also could come with an expansion of the NFL playoff field from 12 to 14 teams, although people familiar with the situation previously have suggested that expanding the playoffs would not need to happen immediately because it does not require the union’s approval.”

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The Players Association projected that extending the regular season by two weeks could boost revenue by $2.5 billion. As a result, the salary cap would increase by about $15 million.

Despite the financial rewards, players still did not agree. The players are concerned about the risk of injury following a gruelling football season. While there are still contentious matters, an agreement to extend the season could be in place by the 2019 postseason.