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Colts executive Bill Polian has called the move to an 18-game NFL season is "fait accompli."
The NFL and NFLPA met on Tuesday to discuss, among a variety of topics, the 18-game NFL season that has been proposed.
On Monday, Colts executive Bill Polian called the 18-game NFL season a done deal and that the debate was over.
The NFL and the NFLPA have issued a joint statement on that after meeting today.
"Today's bargaining session focused on several matters, including the proposed 18-2 season format, a rookie wage scale, and improvements for retired players. Both sides look forward to continuing these discussions and reaching a new collective bargaining agreement."
The NFLPA has been hesitant to agree to an 18-game season citing injury and monetary concerns. The owners seem intent on adding to the schedule.
The Colts Bill Polian says an 18-game NFL schedule is coming.
During Monday night's weekly radio show, the Indianapolis Colts team president called it a "fait accompli" and said the debate is over. Polian is a member of the league's competition committee and has worked in the league office.
That would be 18 regular season games and two preseason game for each team as opposed to the 16/4 split it is now.
The owners want it done because it provides a larger piece of the pie. They've previously said they would want the NFLPA to be on board with the move. The players union has been hesitant to recommend citing injury and compensation concerns.
The move would likely require a change to the NFL's offseason schedule with less required workouts. It would also mean roster sizes would likely expand.
Polian cited concerns over the amount of time personnel evaluators will get to look at their rookies with just two preseason games.
Roger Goodell has been eager to expand the NFL regular season from 16 games to 18 game for some time now. Wednesday at the NFL owner meetings, the owners voiced their own excitement over the idea.
During a five-hour meeting at a posh hotel in downtown Atlanta, the push to add two more games to the regular season picked up steam Wednesday — at least among those who sign the checks.
"I think it's a win-win all around," said Bob Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots.
The owners will have to present a plan to the players union for approval, though they already have the right to expand season as long as they cut down the number of preseason games from four to two. The owners did not vote on the measure as they still want to work out some of the kinks:
Among the issues that still must be resolved: when to start the expanded regular season, possible roster expansion to cope with more games, and changes in training camp and offseason routines to come up with ways for evaluating younger players who wouldn't have as many preseason games to make an impression.
Players have already begun griping, some even using the "it devalues the regular season" argument, which seems less reasonable than the "our bodies break down exponentially through 16 games, let alone 18 plus the playoffs" argument.
The owners and Roger Goodell want it, so you can be sure they're going to get it. It's just a question of when.
Colts Exec Bill Polian Backtracks On 18-Game NFL Season Talk
On Monday Colts executive Bill Polian created a stir when he called the 18-game schedule a done deal. Now, the league and the union were meeting the next day on the topic and both sides walked out of that meeting indicating that discussions were ongoing.
So what to make of Polian's comments that it was a done deal?
He was imprecise, he said on ESPN Radio Wednesday. SB Nation's Stampede Blue has the details:
He went on to say that there are still some logistics to be figured out regarding the NFL season.
Polian is part of the league's competition committee which is why so many people took his word when he called an 18-game NFL season "fait accompli" on Monday.
The NFL gave the NFLPA their proposal for an 18-game NFL season at a Tuesday meeting. The NFL has said they can impose the 18-game schedule without the NFLPA's consent but they've previously said they would prefer to have the NFLPA's approval.
Sep 29 11:35a by Joel Thorman - 0 comments