Goodell wants to increase regular-season games
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell wants to keep the number of combined pre-season and regular-season games the same. However, he wants to change the composition of those games, which is currently four pre-season games and 16 regular-season games.
Goodell hopes to propose in May that the league increase the number of regular-season games to 17 or 18. That would reduce the number of pre-season games to two or three.
With a 17-game schedule, a possible solution to avoid half the league having an extra home game and the other half having an extra away game would be to have 16 games held on neutral sites. Such a move would allow also the league to schedule more international games.
With an 18-game schedule, it would be easier to schedule nine home and nine away games.
Goodell hopes to propose in May that the league increase the number of regular-season games to 17 or 18. That would reduce the number of pre-season games to two or three.
"It's possible that we could vote in May, but we want to have core discussions on this," Goodell said Wednesday. "Anytime you have change, there is some reluctance. But it's clear we don't need four preseason games anymore."Serious discussions would need to happen with the players/union and broadcast partners.
With a 17-game schedule, a possible solution to avoid half the league having an extra home game and the other half having an extra away game would be to have 16 games held on neutral sites. Such a move would allow also the league to schedule more international games.
With an 18-game schedule, it would be easier to schedule nine home and nine away games.
