The National Football League is currently considering an increase of their schedule to 18 games. In addition, instead of playing four pre-season games, they want to drop it down to two. Is this a good idea?
More Regular Seasons Games Means Increased Injuries
We all know that football is a high impact sport that is prone to injuries. The increase of competitive play by two additional games will lead to more players getting hurt. Too many NFL careers are cut short due to injury. In fact, according to the NFL Players Association, the average NFL player's career lasts all but three and a half years. That's not much for a career in a profession by any means.
Four Pre-Season Games Are Needed. Not Two.
You can't evaluate a player's performance and skill set while in camp. You have to see how they perform in live situations on the field. Cutting down the number of pre-season games from four to two puts more emphasis on in-camp evaluation. There's a big difference in going to your music teacher everyday to learn now to play the piano, and then play live in front of an audience. The two are in no way the same.
Further, it's unfair to the draft pick trying to make the team. You can work your butt off in camp but get little playing time to prove yourself in the pre-season. With only two games to showcase yourself, you'll be lucky to even get playing time. Two pre-season games are not enough.
But I Hate Pre-Season!
So do I. If you are a season ticket holder, you are paying expensive ticket prices for those pre-season games. You would find more value if those pre-season games were turned into regular games that actually counted.
Owner And Player Greed
Are some teams not turning in a healthy profit? Or has greed on both the player and owner's part resulted in taking on too much risk? Just like a public company, teams have valuation. When do you know your team is valued too high?
There are risks in everything just like how Las Vegas bet on itself and its economy came pummeling down. In the article A Sports Economy Bubble? I suggested that sports in general are about to burst.
It's The Owners And NFL That Want This For A Reason: More Mooooolah!
They say its a win-win situation for everyone. This increase in schedule is being pushed by the NFL commissioner and team owners. You don't see the players clamoring for this do you? A small increase in pay for the extra risk in getting in a career ending injury? There goes the new Mercedes SLR.
Lets face it. More games means more revenue for the owner - nothing new there. They make more money in television contracts, gate sales, and merchandise. Well here's an idea. Why not try to make more by cutting expenses? For example, why not put in a salary cap for rookies?
Outrageous Rookie Salaries Is A Problem
Every rookie into any sporting league wants to start off making hordes of money. Rather, put in a salary cap and then pay them on their performance instead from a set aside pool held in escrow by the league. Just like in any professional office environment, pay someone a base salary and give them incentives.
It's ridiculous for some unproven rookie to come into the league signing on at $61 million in a six year deal like JaMarcus Russell of the Oakland Raiders did. Russell played all but 25 games throwing 23 interceptions, 15 fumbles and a less than stellar 65 quarterback rating. The Raiders later released him after he walked away with over $38 million in three years.
Historical Statistics Will Be Ruined
But of all the points discussed above, this one bothers me the most. By switching to a 18 game season, all the historical statistics become cheapened. Any stat that involves aggregate calculation (sums) now becomes secondary.
For example, how meaningful is Eric Dickerson's 2105 rushing yards in 1984? Or Dick Lane's all time 14 interceptions in a single season, which hasn't been broken since 1952? How about Jerry Rice's 23,546 all purpose yards?
Won't all these well earned records be put aside in a 18 game season?
Greed and More Greed.
It was Horace who once said:
"He who is greedy is always in want.”
Don't change what is deep rooted history for the sake of gaining more money at the expense of the fan. Ultimately, any marketing and sales pitch like the NFL is pushing here eventually is passed onto the consumer.
About Kerry Kobashi
Kerry is the founder of KerryOnWorld. He lives in Silicon Valley and has worked as an engineer and project manager. He owns Kobashi Computing a consulting company.
