Phil Simms Says Players Would Vote for Longer NFL Season

Phil Simms says that a longer NFL regular season schedule isn’t too far away, and that players would favor it.

The former Super Bowl MVP with the New York Giants said that players would vote for an 18-game season. However, it’s not likely that they will be given the opportunity to make that choice anytime soon.

Phil Simms puts it down to the lure of television money. Put simply, more games equals more money. The financial factor means that NFL team owners would support the idea, too, according to Phil Simms.

Simms was speaking on Chris Simms Unbuttoned, his son’s podcast.

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“More money,” Simms said.

“More game checks. It’s pro-rated. Give me two more game checks. If you put it up to a vote by the NFL players, it’ll overwhelmingly go over and say yes. Some of the elite quarterbacks and a few players, no. Well yeah, you’re making $25 and $30 million. But the guys that are making a million or less … two more game checks? Are you kidding me? Think about what those checks look like and how much that is and how much of a difference it makes in their lives.”

The current collective bargaining agreement expires in 2020, creating an opportunity to change up the regular season.

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“The players probably won’t have much say in it. It’ll probably be a select few players with their (executive) committee and (NFLPA executive director) DeMaurice Smith,” he said.

“If you put it up to vote, there’s no doubt the players would vote to go 18 games. I do think it’s heading that way. Just think when the owners get into all of this. Two more weeks of TV money. TV would want it too. Just because it’s the greatest thing on every network.”