Sure, it may take a few years to finalize, but it certainly seems like we’re heading towards an 18-game schedule in the NFL.
Commissioner Roger Goodell has made it clear that he’s in favor of adding yet another regular season game to the slate (while most likely removing one preseason game to compensate).
In the midst of the speculation, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow has emerged as a vocal advocate for player well-being, suggesting an innovative solution to accommodate the added workload.
Burrow’s remarks came in response to recent comments made by Goodell, who acknowledged the league’s contemplation of extending the regular season.
While Goodell’s statement sparked debates across the football world, Burrow wasted no time in sharing his perspective, advocating for an additional bye week to help mitigate the strain on players.
Addressing reporters, Burrow reiterated his stance, proposing a novel concept that goes beyond merely adding another week of rest.
“Maybe you could do something like, the first bye is kind of how we have it now, and the second bye everybody has it at once, and you make it like the Pro Bowl Week, like an All-Star break for the NBA,” Burrow suggested.
Highlighting the potential benefits of his proposal, Burrow emphasized the importance of considering player welfare amidst discussions of expanding the season.
“People get paid a lot of money to have those discussions and make those decisions,” Burrow noted, acknowledging the complexities involved. “But we’ll see how it plays out.”
Burrow’s idea draws inspiration from the NBA’s longstanding tradition of hosting the All-Star Weekend, a multi-day event dedicated to showcasing the league’s top talents without overlapping regular-season games.
By aligning the second bye week with an NFL equivalent of the NBA’s All-Star break, Burrow envisions an opportunity for players to recuperate while also engaging fans with special events.
The NFL currently features one bye week per team per season, typically scheduled between Weeks 4 and 12.
However, Burrow believes that the rigors of an 18-game season necessitate a more comprehensive approach to player recovery.
“Eighteen games is definitely a big ask,” he explained. “That’s not easy. Adding that extra game, obviously it’d be great for revenue. But I feel like adding that bye week, if you’re going to have an 18-game schedule, is pretty critical for our bodies.”
“If you keep that first bye week – some teams have that first bye (in) Week 5, Week 6 – and then you’re going 12, 13 games in a row? That’s not easy,” Burrow continued.
“Probably a Thursday night game thrown in there, too. That’s never easy. So, those two byes are pretty critical.”
What are your thoughts on Burrow’s suggestion?
What do you think is the PERFECT regular season length as far as number of games?
Should the NFL bump the schedule up to 18-games?
Touching on Burrow for a second – with him back healthy, the Bengals assumingly ascend right back to being legitimate Super Bowl contenders.
Do you think Burrow will hit the ground running and take Cincinnati on another deep playoff run?
Where do you rank him among the top quarterbacks in the NFL???