The National Football League is looking to make some major changes to a season calendar that has been under scrutiny over recent years. Many fans have complained that the preseason’s four games is too long, while others wished their teams (like last year’s 10-6 Chicago Bear’s) would’ve had a chance at the playoffs.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell seems like he’s come up with an idea to address those issues and opened up to NFL.com’s Judy Battista on his thoughts to adding more teams to the playoffs.
“With the competitiveness of the league, you see teams get hot the second half of the season. A reasonable argument could be made that there are teams that should qualify for the playoffs and don’t and could win the Super Bowl,” Goodell said. “I don’t think we want to expand just to have more teams. We want to create more excitement, more interest and give teams a chance to win the Super Bowl.”
While NFL coaches will argue they would not have enough time to evaluate and train players for the upcoming season, the NFL is considering several scenarios to address those concerns. One scenario could involve replacing some preseason games with scrimmages.
As for switching the league to an 18-game schedule, the idea is not dead, but official talks between the NFL and the NFL Players Assocation, the two governing bodies that would have to approve the change, have yet to be held.
When can we expect the NFL to make a change to the season calendar?
Goodell commented that any changes that would be made to the season calendar would have to be approved at the league’s annual meeting held in March. One thing that is certainly going to be brought up at the meeting next Spring is the NFL’s involvement in overseas markets. The league is already looking to add a third game to the International Series lineup (the Steelers are playing the Vikings in London’s Wembley Stadium this weekend) and there are talks of a possible expansion franchise to be permanently place in London.
Would you want an NFL season with less preseason games but more playoff rounds? Also, has the time come for NFL teams based outside of the U.S.?
