tonyr0802 Posted April 27, 2007 Share Posted April 27, 2007 Looks like the NFL is considering adding an extra game to the season, cutting one from the pre season, to accommodate over seas games. Link By Mark Maske and Cindy BorenWashington Post Staff Writers Friday, April 27, 2007; Page E11 NFL officials are considering adding a 17th regular season game to accommodate the league's desire to play overseas games, Commissioner Roger Goodell said yesterday, although the idea is in the formative stages. Goodell and other league officials had not even discussed the possibility with the leaders of the NFL Players Association as of yesterday. But if the NFL decides to increase the number of regular season games it will play in foreign countries beyond the one to two per year to which owners now are committed, it could decide to add a week to the regular season to devote to a slate of overseas games while subtracting a week from the preseason. "One negative [to playing overseas games] is you're taking a game away from fans here," Goodell said before an annual meeting of sports editors at league headquarters in New York. "We've discussed whether to cut one preseason game and add a 17th week. It would create more inventory, and that has some appeal. We're chewing on that. The issue is: How do you create more inventory?" NFL teams currently play 16 regular season games apiece over a 17-week regular season; each club is given a bye week during the season and plays four or five preseason games. Goodell also said that holding a Super Bowl in a city outside the United States is a long-range possibility. Citing the game's global appeal, he said it would be "reasonable to look at" that eventually. There have been previous pushes to shorten the preseason and lengthen the regular season, aimed at increasing revenues and limiting the players' exposure to injuries during meaningless exhibition games. But many owners and league leaders have been wary of diluting the importance of each week during the regular season. In this case, however, the league's desire to increase its popularity internationally could end up taking precedence. Former commissioner Paul Tagliabue made that a priority before leaving office last year, and Goodell has continued to emphasize it since being elected Tagliabue's successor by team owners. In October, the owners voted to play as many as two regular season games per year outside the U.S. over the next five seasons. One overseas game is scheduled for next season, with the New York Giants and Miami Dolphins playing in October in London. The league played its first regular season game in a foreign country in 2005, when the Arizona Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers played in Mexico City. On other issues, Goodell said that the league plans to require teams to have all players undergo annual neurological examinations. Many teams already do that, but Goodell said the league is taking steps to try to protect players from concussions. One measure he mentioned was educating players in the simple method of properly fastening chinstraps and he indicated he already has told coaches to be more careful in dealing with players who have suffered concussions. "I've been very clear to coaches that at no time should competition issues take precedence over medical issues," Goodell said. Goodell said the league is looking for ways to provide improved medical coverage to former players at a reasonable cost, and might create assisted-living facilities for needy former players. "We're not trying to fix blame here," he said. "We're trying to fix the issue." Boren contributed to this report from New York. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PantherDave Posted April 27, 2007 Share Posted April 27, 2007 (edited) I'd still love a 20 game season with two bye weeks per team, but it would compete with the #2 NCAA Hoops until March if they did such a thing. Then again move the season up a month, but August is mighty hot in many places Edited April 27, 2007 by PantherDave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Menudo Posted April 27, 2007 Share Posted April 27, 2007 I'd still love a 20 game season with two bye weeks per team, but it would compete with the #2 NCAA Hoops until March if they did such a thing. Then again move the season up a month, but August is mighty hot in many places More NFL Football.............sign me up !!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Wolf Posted April 27, 2007 Share Posted April 27, 2007 More NFL AND Fantasy Football.............sign me up !!!! Fixed... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ursa Majoris Posted April 27, 2007 Share Posted April 27, 2007 17 or 18 games is reasonable as long as there are two bye weeks but 20 games is not. BTW, where is the game played in an organized fashion other than NFL Europe and Canada? Anywhere? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaP'N GRuNGe Posted April 27, 2007 Share Posted April 27, 2007 Bad idea. A full week of games overseas? Think about the cost and risk of security alone in this day and age. Wouldn't be a bad idea to add a regular season game or two and cut down the preseason, but keep them state side. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Next Generation Posted April 27, 2007 Share Posted April 27, 2007 Bad idea. A full week of games overseas? Think about the cost and risk of security alone in this day and age. Wouldn't be a bad idea to add a regular season game or two and cut down the preseason, but keep them state side. Agreed. Put a team in London, Kentucky or Berlin, Georgia and let the fans in London, England and Berlin, Germany live vicariously through those teams. "Hey bloke, London's playing Berlin in NFL Football." "Yeah, isn't it great? We get to watch and don't have to fear for our lives that we'll get crushed to death for cheering on our team!" "Just wait until the play in Philly!" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Wolf Posted April 27, 2007 Share Posted April 27, 2007 (edited) Agreed. Put a team in London, Kentucky or Berlin, Georgia and let the fans in London, England and Berlin, Germany live vicariously through those teams. "Hey bloke, London's playing Berlin in NFL Football." "Yeah, isn't it great? We get to watch and don't have to fear for our lives that we'll get crushed to death for cheering on our team!" "Just wait until the play in Philly!" Philly fans...America's answer to European soccer hooligans. Edited April 27, 2007 by The Wolf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Menudo Posted April 27, 2007 Share Posted April 27, 2007 Agreed. Put a team in London, Kentucky or Berlin, Georgia and let the fans in London, England and Berlin, Germany live vicariously through those teams. "Hey bloke, London's playing Berlin in NFL Football." "Yeah, isn't it great? We get to watch and don't have to fear for our lives that we'll get crushed to death for cheering on our team!" "Just wait until the play in Philly!" "Hello Mate ! We think that it would be a smashing good time to see the room where you keep all of your Super Bowl Trophies" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Next Generation Posted April 27, 2007 Share Posted April 27, 2007 "Hello Mate ! We think that it would be a smashing good time to see the room where you keep all of your Super Bowl Trophies" Are you sure you're not a closet 'Boys fan? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Menudo Posted April 27, 2007 Share Posted April 27, 2007 Are you sure you're not a closet 'Boys fan? No, I hate them too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cdrudge Posted April 27, 2007 Share Posted April 27, 2007 Bad idea. A full week of games overseas? Think about the cost and risk of security alone in this day and age.I don't think they are proposing a full week of games overseas. Think of it like how they do bye weeks. Each week 4 or 6 teams could go to an overseas venue to play a game against one another. I think the long term goals maybe would have all 32 teams play in a total of 16 games overseas, but in the near term I think things would still be limited to a handful. The rest of the games would be "bonus" regular season games for stateside fans. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T-Scorp Posted April 27, 2007 Share Posted April 27, 2007 (edited) I saw that the NFL was also considering playing the SuperBowl outside the US too!!!! But not until after 2010 (Just a brief mention inthe above article.) Not that the normal Joe can afford to go anyways but to hold the Superbowl in Berlin or London...... Edited April 27, 2007 by T-Scorp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
godtomsatan Posted April 27, 2007 Share Posted April 27, 2007 Sounds pie in the sky-ish to me. I'm all for more games, but I think they should expand teams first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.