Whereas NFL management is likely to be enthusiastic about the potential of increasing the common season, the gamers apparently don’t share that very same enthusiasm.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has spoken brazenly about his curiosity in increasing the common season to 18 video games. Talking at a pre-Tremendous Bowl information convention on Monday, he famous that extra work would have to be performed earlier than making the choice, however expressed the need to provide followers what they need.
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“We all know followers love soccer they usually need extra soccer. However we have now to be extremely delicate and sensible with the steadiness and the way we cope with that,” stated Goodell.
And whereas followers’ pursuits are among the many prime priorities, NFLPA Govt Director Lloyd Howell argued Tuesday that participant curiosity is actually the highest — and gamers don’t appear to be .
“Their aspect hasn’t raised it, we actually haven’t raised it. … Any commentary exterior of a proper negotiation is simply commentary,” Howell stated.
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“It’s a participant’s determination as to what they may conform to do or not. Proper now, when I’ve talked to gamers over the past two seasons, nobody desires to play an 18th sport. Nobody. Seventeen video games is already, for most of the guys, too lengthy.”
Howell continued to argue that well being and security considerations, in addition to restoration time, characterize the most important hurdle in increasing the common season greater than it already has.
“It doesn’t matter what Roger says, you open up that CBA (collective bargaining settlement) and we’re going to get into subject surfaces, we’re going to get into security, we’re going to get into numerous issues,” he stated.
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Income can even be one other sizzling subject. Below the present CBA, the gamers’ share of league income elevated from 47% to 48% beginning in 2021. That was elevated to 48.5% based mostly on the league’s new tv contracts after the 17-game schedule was carried out.
However that determine is predicted to alter if the common season does broaden, Howell stated.
“If I’m asking my workforce to work extra, it’s not so simple as I’m gonna fall again on the income cut up that already exists,” he stated. “There are such a lot of dimensions that hold off the size of the season.”
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The Related Press contributed to this report.
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