The battle lines began hardening before the ink was dry on the last Collective Bargaining Agreement (“CBA”) between the NFL owners and players, and now eighteen games has emerged as the new line in the sand for the next CBA.
The fans, as usual, are held hostage to this new negotiation because the status quo, with four preseason games, is still being foisted upon them. It seems that no one connected to the NFL wants a four game preseason anymore, certainly not the players and coaches, who fear a drastic, season-ending injury with every snap, and definitely not the fans, who must pay for these glorified scrimmages.
Currently, there is one primary impediment to the implementation of an eighteen game schedule, with, presumably, its concurrent reduction of the preseason to two games: player safety. Closely following any debate concerning player safety, however, is the always present issue of money, with the threat of lawsuits looming in the background.
An agreement which incorporates the concept of the personal bye could solve both of these thorny issues by restricting the number of games played per season by every player to an agreed upon number, say sixteen. The personal bye permits the league to expand the number of games in the season, with a corresponding reduction in the preseason, without any additional risk, and possibly with increased health and safety for the players.
The key, as always, is money!
Future CBA negotiations could develop in this manner. The owners propose an 18 game schedule and the players union immediately rejects the idea of more games because of the risk of injury. Nobody want a strike and the owners must consider their image in light of the plethora of concussion law suits filed by former players so they introduce the idea of the personal bye.
This is a very smart tactical legal move for two reasons. One, the owners appear to accept the players demand for no more games. Negotiations can continue toward an 18 game schedule. Second, and perhaps more important, the owners obtain a get-out-of-lawsuit-free card if the players reject the concept of a personal bye. Think about it. Judge and jury are hearing evidence in a concussion lawsuit in 2016. The owners submit evidence that they tried to hold the line or reduce the number of games played by each player in a given season but their proposal was rejected by the players! This is persuasive evidence that the players understand and accept the risk of playing football but assume the risk anyway.
Would the players accept an 18 game season, with a two game preseason, if each player were required to sit out one game in both halves of the season?
While there would be plenty of grumbling, the suspicion is that the players would accept an 18 game season if the money was right. For the star players, though, losing “face” time on television would be a tough pill to swallow. Their egos would be bruised, star players may lose endorsements if they don’t play each week, and careers are short so players must make hay when the sun shines. But if enough money is on the table, the players will consent to an 18 game schedule.
And that again brings us back to the topic of money.
Would an 18 game schedule provide enough of an increase in TV revenue to compensate the owners and the players?
This is the point in any contract negotiation where the lawyers and accountants take over and “the devil in the details” is hashed out. Particularly if roster sizes are increased to accommodate the personal byes necessary, the salary cap will have to increase significantly. Also, the owners will realize very little increase in stadium revenue for the two additional regular season games because they already charge full price for preseason games. They may realize a slight increase in concessions but that’s about all.
An increase in TV revenue should be significant, but it is not the only benefit to the owners. An 18 game schedule gives them more flexibility to expand overseas with the potential to develop markets in Europe and elsewhere.
Finally, if player safety is assured, there is a better chance of adding an additional layer of playoff games. Calm down, all of you six team format pursuits, the additional games might only involve one play-in game each for the AFC and NFC. The six team tournament would remain intact but an additional “Play-In Sunday” could be added to the playoffs by requiring the sixth and seventh ranked teams in each conference to play for the last playoff spot.
There are many possibilities for an increase in regular season games and a corresponding decrease in preseason games if the owners and players accept the concept of the personal bye.
Written by Robert Ward, Ellicott City, MD
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