Fans likely will have to endure two more four-game preseason schedules before any changes are madeGETTY IMAGES
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has reiterated his stance of "wanting to reduce the preseason schedule at a time the league and players’ association have begun preliminary talks on a new collective bargaining agreement," according to John Wawrow of the AP. The NFL has "long backed reducing the preseason schedule in exchange for expanding the regular season to as many as 18 games." Players have "balked at the proposal by citing safety issues and a desire to receive additional compensation for playing a longer regular season." Without revealing any details, Goodell yesterday said it is the "best sign" that the league and union have already had discussions some 21 months before the CBA expires following the '20 season (AP, 6/3).
PART OF THE POKER GAME: News last week came out that several NFL owners again are in favor of an 18-game schedule, and ESPN’s Adam Schefter said that is "setting the table" for future CBA negotiations. He predicted the "drumbeat is going to get louder and louder as time goes on." Schefter: "They players will go for it as long as they get what they want, some concessions as well. It’s not like the players are just going to accept it and say, ‘We’ll take a longer regular season or more postseason games.’ They’ll say, ‘What do we get out of it? Do we get money? Do we get certain concessions in this next CBA?’” ("Get Up," ESPN, 6/4). FS1's Marcellus Wiley said the NFLPA "should use health, risk and safety against the NFL" in this discussion. However, Wiley said, "I would certainly play two more real games, where the fun is and less injury in training camps and practice, versus playing four preseason games." Former NFLer D'Qwell Jackson said, "If any discussion is going to happen about extending games, maybe guys would be more open to playoff games being in the pot versus adding two more regular-season games." Jackson: "From the owners' standpoint, it's always a topic of conversation, but I don't think it's going to be approved" ("Speak For Yourself," FS1, 6/3).
LETTING THE PROCESS PLAY OUT: CBSSPORTS.com's Jason La Canfora wrote reports about the owners "possibly still clinging to the idea of pursuing an 18-game season and the NFLPA notifying all agents to urge clients to save and prepare for a lockout of at least one year are exactly what I would expect at this point" in the CBA process. Both entities have "large constituencies to serve, and there are hawks and doves within the ranks of both." It has become "increasingly clear, through the tenor and tone of reporting on these talks, that there is unprecedented goodwill and movement between the sides under their current regimes and that progress is being made." However, managing expectations and giving some "red meat to the hardliners is always a part of the making of this sausage, and it strikes as less than coincidental that both sides leaked some [last] week" (CBSSPORTS.com, 5/31). Patriots S Devin McCourty said it is "too early" at this stage in the process to make a decision on CBA negotiations. When asked about the NFLPA notifying players to prepare for a lockout, McCourty said, "That e-mail wasn’t a big deal to me. We’ve talked about guys saving money for a while now -- to be prepared for anything" (BOSTONSPORTSJOURNAL.com, 6/2).
