NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell yesterday said that he "would like to see the league reduce the preseason to three games, and perhaps two at some point down the road," according to Bob Glauber of NEWSDAY. All teams "currently play four preseason games," while the two teams playing in the annual HOF Game have five. Goodell during a visit to Giants training camp said, "When I go around to fans, that’s maybe the No. 1 thing I hear." He added, "The NFL should do things to the highest possible standards. Preseason games are not that. ... Almost every coach has agreed we could get done what we need to in three games." Glauber notes there are "no immediate plans to reduce the preseason schedule." Goodell said that he would "need to consult" with the NFLPA "before making any decisions." He "suggested that it is possible that the two sides could agree on reducing the preseason schedule without having to re-open CBA talks." The current CBA expires after the '20 season (NEWSDAY, 8/8). Goodell noted that cutting the preseason to three games would "not have to be in conjunction with an increase of the regular season from 16 games to 17 games." In N.Y., Gary Myers writes at least Goodell "seems to realize there's little redeeming value to playing four preseason games." Except for "hard core fans," these games are "unwatchable" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 8/8).
