Get rid of 2 preseason games, expand the season to 18 games, and limit most players to 16 games. Give each team a fixed number of exemptions so a certain number of players can play extra games (with the player's permission).
Some specifics:
- Expand rosters to 60 players.
- Keep existing contracts since they're based on 16 game seasons.
- Players can, at their option, make themselves available for a 17th or 18th game. Players who are genuinely concerned about safety would have the option of not exposing themselves to any additional injury.
- Players who played a 17th or 18th game would be paid by the NFL, not be their team. The rate would be 1/16th of the franchise tag amount for their position. (Based on this year's numbers QBs would get an extra $1.3M a game for games 17 &18 down to punters and kickers, who would get an extra $302K a game).
- Teams would have to announce who was being held out early in 'game week' - maybe on Monday. Pick 7 guys who are exempted from contact practices that week, then the other 53 guys operate like the 53 man roster operates today (where another 7 players would be inactive on game day).
Advantages:
- No additional bye weeks needed. Most players would get two weeks off during the season.
- Guys with minor injuries would have some meaningful time to heal. Sprain an ankle or tweak a hammy in week 2? Take weeks 3 and 4 off, get healthy, and play in the remaining 14 games.
- Star players who are healthy will play almost every week so the quality of the NFL product would remain high.
- Two preseason games would be replaced with two regular season games
AlbaNY_Ram
