Should the National Football League go to an 18 game season?

24 sounds better.

too hard on the players

I would love it but I don't know if the players can handle it.It is not like baseball, these folks are hitting each other since training camp. The body can take so much.

For fans it would be great for the players not so much.The playoffs may resemble a demolition derby if that were to happen.

I don't know.

I know very little about gridiron myself, but I can judge well from my experience with Australian football.

This experience is that changes to stadium design via the supplanting of open roof stadiums with closed roof ones and artificial drying in wet weather have made the physical wear and fatigue on players much greater than it would have been otherwise. Climate change is likely to have exacerbated this problem since hotter temperatures during the football season (which in Australia has the most delightful weather you can imagine typically around 17˚C or 61˚F maximum) dry grounds and cause more injuries.

There is most definitely the “fairness” aspect to a longer season in any sport played on high-wear surfaces: the Australian Football League has huge problems with an unfair draw (which are deep-rooted in its propping up unviable clubs for a good 75 years) and what I do know about North American leagues which lack the destructive ticket price control found in the AFL suggests they still have these problems. How much an 18-game season would make the NFL draw less problematic is very questionable, however.

Leave it the way it is. I like that Super Bowl weekend is the weeken right after my birthday :)

Too much football now

It would only shorten careers and maybe cause players to "save themselves" for the second half of the season.

That will be the next logical step in establishing a 52 game per year schedule. One game each week all year and we never have to do without our football!

Not until my Patriots go 19-0. Then we can add games to the season. :P

I don't think so. With 16 regular games, 4 or 5 pre-season games, play off games and the Super Bowl and pro Bowl, it uses about half a year already. To add two more would do little to advance the game. Most of us see only selected games anyhow due to area restrictions and still can sit for at least 15 hours a week just watching them. IMHO

Not in the league's current form. I do think that they should go international and have a World Conference with a Canadian, Latin American, European and Asian divisions

The more the merrier

All they need to do is cut the preseason games and go for real from day 1.

Sure, if they'll do away with two pre-season games.

I think you'd see too many injuries and shortened careers.

They should disband, and let people who want to play just for the love of the game use the fields, free admission, and let the $4 hotdogs, $5 beers, and event rentals pay for the lights & upkeep of the stadiums.
It is obscene that grown men contribute nothing productive to society, yet get paid millions of dollars TO PLAY A GAME!!

Entertainment is productive to society.

yes grow add more players more teams , if you build it they will come

sure.. Just gives my team an extra 2 games to lose

Not sure, would that mean that the players & coaches would want even more money than they already get?...cause I think they are already over-payed.

As much as I love football the 16 games season should stay in place. I agree with the players on this aspect. Its hard enough to make it through a season injury free especially adding 2 games before the playoffs.

It's already too long.

there is no reason for it though I think the 4 preseason is good, gives some guys a little extra time to look good that they might not have had

Does anyone still watch professional football? What a waste. Over paid cry babies that don't care about anyone but themselves.

everyday....also every sport is overpaid crybabies so get over it.

I don't need to get over it because, believe it or not, I agree with you. I'm just glad that you have that same understanding.

Its entertainment...just like the over-inflated paychecks of actors/actresses, tv hosts etc. As long as the demand is there the paychecks will follow. Football is the biggest sport in America. It generates more money then all other sports...the paychecks will follow suit.

Rod, it's only a waste when someone else does it...:) :) :O

Yes, if they get rid of at least one pre season game.

I think it is long as it is.

If you are going to risk injuries in a violent sport, make them count for something in more than a tune-up game. With an expanded schedule, you would see some different playoff teams because the ones that excel in the last month can't afford a bad August and September.

I would love it if the football season didn't START in the middle of summer. There is way too much football anyway!

actually starts after labor day.

then why do i see it on tv now?

Preseason started first week of August. Actual season starts after Labor Day. Similar to baseball starting in March for spring training.

still don't really care and am not enthused one way or another.... my answer to all the hullabaloo about American Football?

meh!

peace