NFL Season Extension Talks

So here’s the deal, the NFL, money grubbing as they are, are trying to make the season an 18 game season. Are you kidding? The riggors of this sport are already crazy and injuries happen more often than a hobo eats a ham sandwhich.

The players have shown some agressiveness against the longer season, but in my opinion not enough. Now they have issued some demands of their own if there is an 18 game season. Here are some of the main points.

• Voluntary offseason workouts would be reduced from the current 14 weeks to five weeks or 20 days (four days a week, four-hour maximum per day).

• Significantly reduced contact between players during training camp with four practices a week consisting of helmetless and padless periods.

• Two in-season bye weeks.

• Expanded rosters from the current 53 to 56 or 57, in addition to practice squads.

• Increased pro-rated salaries for players under contract.

• Reduction of the amount of games players need to become vested to qualify for post-career health care and pension benefits.

Now, most of these are great, more byes, more players and more money. Yeah ok we get it but, the reduction of off season workouts and less contact practices?! Do you want to get hurt the minute you step on the field?! Do you want the product you put on the field to get worse cause you’re not prepared?! The league, besides Ray Lewis and a few others, already is dismal at tackling and you want less contact practices? Ugh.

The little time put into contact in practice has shown in the last few years with the increase in poor tackling. Sometimes it just seems like tacklers are lost and flailing at the offensive players. Seriously, less contact in practice will lead to more injuries on the field and, I know it’s hard to believe, but even worse tackling.