How ‘Bout It: Two Less Preseason Games in Exchange for Two More Regular Season Games
NFL August 22nd. 2008, 2:30pm
Heard yesterday on sports talk radio, courtesy of flying-solo Mike Francesa (we’re paraphrasing): “Within five years, we’ll have a two-game NFL preseason, and an 18-game, 19-week regular season with the Super Bowl being played President’s Day weekend. Definitely. You might see it within three years.” No sourcing, just opinion.
Amazingly, Francesa’s argument makes sense. (Surely this has been written and proposed, right? He didn’t really come up with this on his own, did he?) The preseason can be downright dangerous, and nobody plays anyway.
Adding two more games to the schedule isn’t terribly crazy – but it certainly can be profitable as hell for every franchise. Francesa even made a solid point about the playoffs in February: It’s a dead month with nothing but college basketball going on, so the league could put games on Saturdays and Sundays for January and February. (We weren’t sure if this meant adding a round to the playoffs; we’d be against that.) And lastly, holding the Super Bowl on President’s weekend would be ideal for all – any New York Giants’ fan who attempted to celebrate six months ago can attest to that.
Eli Manning approves this message.
54 Responses to “How ‘Bout It: Two Less Preseason Games in Exchange for Two More Regular Season Games”
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August 22nd, 2008 at 2:31 pm
My favorite yearly meme.
/never gets old
August 22nd, 2008 at 2:33 pm
That picture fucking rocks.
August 22nd, 2008 at 2:34 pm
I’ve heard this argument for the past couple years from a variety of sources. Of course, I have no links or names to verify.
August 22nd, 2008 at 2:34 pm
Who the hell gets Presidents Day off? This isn’t happy vacation fun land, this is ‘Merica!
August 22nd, 2008 at 2:35 pm
With the Conf Champ games occurring in mid to late January right now, I don’t think it would be wise to push that back 2 weeks. the coldest time of the year in the northeast is late January and all of February.
August 22nd, 2008 at 2:35 pm
The only problem with a two-game preseason is being able to fully evaluate everyone on the roster.
I also can’t imagine how many RB’s would brag about being a 1000-yard rusher in an 18-game season.
August 22nd, 2008 at 2:36 pm
There are those small leagues called the NBA and NHL.
August 22nd, 2008 at 2:39 pm
Seriously, 16 games is plenty – if they want to cut 2 preseason games, that’s fine. The owners can just distribute the costs between the other 9 game tickets season ticket holders have to buy. If you’re already paying $1000 for season tickets, you’re not going to get rid of them simply because you get one less preseason game for the same price.
The NFL schedule is the only one that seems “right” in length. MLB, NHL and NBA are all about 25% longer than they should be.
August 22nd, 2008 at 2:41 pm
16 games is fine. If anything, knock off that last preseason game. If games go into February, then they basically have four months off to recover prior to training camp. 18 is too many.
“He didn’t really come up with this on his own, did he?”
No.
August 22nd, 2008 at 2:42 pm
A hell of a lot more people would get Presidents Day off if the Super Bowl were the night before…
August 22nd, 2008 at 2:43 pm
Google 18 game NFL season…
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=18+game+nfl+season
This has been talked about quite a bit more than I recalled, but that radio screamer most certainly did not come up with this idea.
August 22nd, 2008 at 2:44 pm
“A hell of a lot more people would get Presidents Day off if the Super Bowl were the night before…”
True, but if they would just show the damn Super Bowl on a Saturday instead of Sunday, that would solve a few issues I have. Like being hungover at work on Monday.
August 22nd, 2008 at 2:44 pm
when does america get it’s own boxing day? canadian boxing day is the tits.
August 22nd, 2008 at 2:45 pm
The NFL is just jealous of the CFL.
August 22nd, 2008 at 2:46 pm
spence, you mean a made up holiday that we have just as an excuse to get a day off?
How about Thanksgiving? We take that fucker and make it into a whole weeklong vacation.
August 22nd, 2008 at 2:46 pm
British Boxing day is better. It might be called Boxer’s day, but I was really fucking wasted.
August 22nd, 2008 at 2:46 pm
this is exactly why Eli didn’t want his picture taken at the Champs camp.
August 22nd, 2008 at 2:47 pm
It would be a lot better if boxing was actually involved.
August 22nd, 2008 at 2:47 pm
To follow up on the theme of the day, why isnt the election day a national holiday? Close everything.
August 22nd, 2008 at 2:48 pm
America kicks ass. We function and are happy and only get like 3 days off a year. Over in France they get full months off at a time, go on strike for 2 weeks, and then bitch and complain that they smell. Lazy fucks.
August 22nd, 2008 at 2:48 pm
Super Bowl Sunday = Stupid
Super Bowl Saturday = Logical
/drunks
August 22nd, 2008 at 2:50 pm
/fixed for truthiness
August 22nd, 2008 at 2:51 pm
Hell, I know exactly where I was February 4…in front of the TV looking for all the highlights I possibly could, with the hair of the dog option sprawled out in front of me in many different varieties.
The idea of President’s Day weekend to have the Super Bowl makes perfect sense. And as far as Saturday and Sunday games in January and February, I don’t think he meant extend the playoffs another round, but the last two-three weeks of the regular season (where Saturday games are the norm in late December).
August 22nd, 2008 at 2:52 pm
Why is National Black History Month in Feburary. They give use the coldest month. Also the shortest month. Aint no niggas barbecueing in Febuary.
/
Chris Rock
August 22nd, 2008 at 2:52 pm
seriously…baguettes and cigarettes. fuckin tools.
/the only word i know in french is “surrender”
August 22nd, 2008 at 2:54 pm
No way this happens. The owners make a shitload of money on preseason games because they don’t have to pay the players. Players are going to demand, obviously, to be paid for an extra 2 games which would cost the owners money.
August 22nd, 2008 at 2:55 pm
KC Resident says:
True, but if they would just show the damn Super Bowl on a Saturday instead of Sunday, that would solve a few issues I have. Like being hungover at work on Monday.
/I think if SuperBowl were on Saturday, then you would just have legions of football fans being hungover at church on Sunday….dont know about you, but I would rather piss of my boss instead of God….LOL
August 22nd, 2008 at 2:55 pm
they spell is like this though… surrendre.
August 22nd, 2008 at 2:55 pm
Hey…anything that fills an awful awful month of Sports works for me..but I will say this…I had XFL tickets for that one season…anyone who has ever sat in Giants Stadium in February will tell you…it’s really fucking cold
August 22nd, 2008 at 2:56 pm
@rick-aint nothing like a good Chris Rock Quote.
“I ain’t shooting nobody, so call me a faggot. When the war’s over, I’ll be the faggot with two legs.”
August 22nd, 2008 at 2:57 pm
is that a bottle of MGD in his hand?
August 22nd, 2008 at 2:57 pm
Very insightful point. Maybe you’ll see one extra game instead of two as a compromise.
August 22nd, 2008 at 3:00 pm
Never heard of him.
August 22nd, 2008 at 3:01 pm
What the hell is this “church” you speak of?
August 22nd, 2008 at 3:02 pm
Even if the money issue was worked out, why would players agree to get shitpounded 2 extra Sundays every year? Most retired players will be in wheelchairs.
August 22nd, 2008 at 3:04 pm
There was a link in the roundup the other day about 2 extra games. The players want a bigger cut, and Bob Kraft said the only way to get it is by adding more games (Yes, I actually read the Roundup links).
August 22nd, 2008 at 3:06 pm
francesa thieved that from last sunday’s boston globe. which had a huge article about this. it was later posted on profootballtalk.com.
August 22nd, 2008 at 3:07 pm
Nerd.
August 22nd, 2008 at 3:07 pm
This is a stupid idea, much like when a team with a 10-6 record doesn’t make the playoffs some people go in to hysteria believing the play-offs should be expanded. The NFL has the regular schedule and play-offs handled better than any league and only minor tweaking should be considered. No extra regular season games and no extra round of the playoffs. Thanks.
August 22nd, 2008 at 3:08 pm
Onto more important matters… what kind of beer should I pick up on the way home?
August 22nd, 2008 at 3:10 pm
highlife. its been a long week, treat yourself right
August 22nd, 2008 at 3:10 pm
Exactly, if the Super Bowl was on President’s Day weekend, you could’ve watched the Knicks-Celtics President’s Day game hungover on your couch. Not that anyone wants to watch the Knicks.
August 22nd, 2008 at 3:10 pm
Fat Tire
August 22nd, 2008 at 3:10 pm
How about the quality of the game with an expanded schedule? To compensate for the increased number of injured players, rosters will need to be expanded which means more players on NFL rosters who aren’t good enough to be on NFL rosters. Look at how shitty MLB pitching is now compared to before expansion. The same will happen to the NFL.
August 22nd, 2008 at 3:13 pm
Jimmy…not to protect Fatcessa but Mike has said this numerous times over the years…he is buddies with Parcells, Jim Nantz and Phil Simms…they might be giving him the inside thoughts on stuff
August 22nd, 2008 at 3:14 pm
Magic Hat No. 9
August 22nd, 2008 at 3:14 pm
A 6-pack of Great Lakes Elliot Ness and a 6 Pack of Great Lakes Burning River Pale Ale. If you are out west, O’Dell Brewing Company 5 Barrel Pale Ale.
August 22nd, 2008 at 3:15 pm
Oh, Founders Devil Dancer
Stone Ruination IPA
Bells Two Hearted Ale
August 22nd, 2008 at 3:16 pm
one little hidden point about goodell’s plan:
one reason to push the season back (potentially) would be to have more playoff games in february which is sweeps month. nfl playoff games are guarenteed gold for tv networks (and advertisers) and networks would easily bank more cash as a result.
this, in turn, would allow the nfl to charge even more money for tv contracts.
August 22nd, 2008 at 3:17 pm
light green, bud-looking beer that comes in a baggie, smells like a skunk and has little red hairs on it.
August 22nd, 2008 at 3:17 pm
@I pulled my groin: not too mention the added costs of keeping all those players on a rost…the money earned may be eaten up rather quickly. As it is, the teams have tons of injury by week 16.
I imagine any expansion of the season would be met with fierce resistence by the Union and would require the teams to give up even more money. no way this happens in five years much less 10 years.
August 22nd, 2008 at 3:17 pm
I bought that Sam Adams summer styles variety pack last weekend and enjoyed it. Im buying some captain on the way home. cant go wrong with the Captain
August 22nd, 2008 at 3:17 pm
Dogfish 90 Minute IPA is also good.
Go here for everything you have ever wanted to know about sweet sweet beer.
August 22nd, 2008 at 3:20 pm
Cracker Jack -
What are your plans after work? If you plan on chilling on the back porch I humbly suggest Sunshine Wheat. If it is raining, Maker’s.
“What the hell is this “church†you speak of?” Mags
Sinners!!!