[Zen_Ronin]

The 18 game season is 100% going to happen (I assume preseason will be shortened to 2 games). I think every team playing at least one international game per year seems a bit of a stretch. Either way Goodell wants both within the next 5 years.

https://www.si.com/nfl/colts-mascot-was ... with-a-pie

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has some lofty goals for the league in the next few years.

Goodell mentioned over the weekend that he's hoping the NFL will play eight international games next season. But, now, he's bringing up more long term goals, including the league's plan to expand to 18 games per season. He hopes to execute this plan within the next five years, via Sports Business Journal.

On top of this, he wants to increase the international game total to 16 a season, which, in theory, would allow all 32 teams to play an international game each season. The NFL hosted five international games this year, which was the most in a single season in league history.

“We’re looking at a change from the 17-and-3 format to maybe 18 regular season games and two preseason games,” Goodell said Thursday at Liberty Media’s investor day. “And that will open up more inventory to allow us to play more globally.”

This possible expansion would come shortly after the league moved up to 17 games a season in 2021. It was the first time the NFL expanded since 1978.

The timeline for this goal times nicely with the NFL's television deals, which are set to expire after the 2029 season. If the league's schedule expands in five years, then new television deals would be needed, most likely.

However, the NFL and NFLPA's Collective Bargaining Agreement doesn't expire until after the 2030 season, meaning Goodell would have to argue before the bargaining period.

If these changes are made in the next few years, the NFL schedule will be completely different than what it is now.

[ramsman34]

They need to hav 2 byes plus manipulate both the international games and Thursday night games to give players more rest. If they are truly concerned about player health and safety, they need to give them as much recovery time as possible. 18, for some 22-23 games is extremely hard on the body. They will need to make roster and game day roster expansion a factor as well. IMO.

[majik]

18 regular season/2 preseason

2 bye weeks one tied to a team’s international game one tied to prior to a Thursday game (limit to one Thursday night game)

Game day roster expansion, overall roster expansion. Teams are kinda stuck with the current game day roster limit in terms of taking players out in blowouts. Nothing worse than having a starter hurt in a meaningless part of a blowout because you have no one to replace him.

[Dare]

I have no problems with an 18 game season. But IMO they need to do away with the Thursday night games. The traveling team is at a severe disadvantage.

International games is another matter. It's all about NFL cartel greed. What would make more sense is to form new teams in Mexico and merge with the CFL.

CFL has nine teams right now. Drop one team and you have two 4 team divisons. Create 8 teams in Mexico and other Latin American countries (Brazil, and Argentina come to mind). That would create another 2 four team divisions. That would create an international NFL.

Canada and the Latin American teams would play each other separately but concurrent with the NFL.

Playoffs:

Both the NFL & IFL would conduct their playoffs at the same time in the same format but separately. This would result in an NFL & IFL playing for a world championship replacing the Super Bowl with the World Bowl. This would have the advantage of no conflicting time zone issues. All teams playing by the same rules.

This concept could be expanded to Europe and Asia/Australia. This inturn would lead to the champions of all four leagues meeting in a two game playoff for World Football Supremacy.

Think I'm crazy? Why do you think the NFL is already expanding into Europe and Mexico/South America? In Asia you would have Australia, Japan and the Philippines as logical participants. The NFL is simply prepping the stage.

[PARAM]

International games suck. And they are a burden to any team who plays them. That's why if they're going to have them, they need to stick to the teams who were 4-13, 5-12 the previous year. Let the Germans, Brits, Mexicans and Brazilians watch the worst the NFL has to offer. Give them incentive to come to America to see the good teams.