When the NFLPA and the league owners get together and talk about the upcoming CBA, they could mean something just might be brewing that could change the league forever.
Mark Maske of the Washington Post is reporting that some owners around the league genuinely want to revisit the possibility of an 18-game regular season, something a lot of players have been against for years. Not only that, those same owners also want an expanded playoff field. In return, the owners are willing to offer the NFLPA concessions on the commissioner’s disciplinary authority and the sport’s marijuana policy.
What isn’t clear from the report is exactly how many owners are on board with these ideas. However, the owners truly believe the 18-game schedule would generate an insane amount of revenue and could be more appealing if they decide to reduce preseason games, all while increasing roster sizes among other concessions.
The league could also increase the number of playoff teams from 12 to 14, with one team having a first-round bye instead of two.
Whatever the two sides need to do to come to a resolution to prevent a possible lockout, it needs to get done, because millions of dollars would be at stake and hundreds of players could have their careers turned upside down with a work stoppage.
