1/14/2011 CBA News

[Soul Rebel]

Does anyone know if they go to 18 games, if they will cut the preseason back by 2 games? I've always thought 2 games was enough to get the season going, and many injuries occur during what is essentially walk-through games leading up to the season. If they cut it to 2 games, add 2 games onto the regular season, they are still playing 20 total games. Add a bye week, a few roster spots, and I don't really see the issue.

[Highlandfire]

For those of us who've been around for awhile, we all heard the same thing when the league went from 12 to 14 games and from 14 to 16 games. It's not a new argument, it's the new technology and the new awareness that is bringing information on injuries to the forefront.

And, as Uptown stated, the same players who are complaining about playing 2 more games will be the same ones bitching about not being able to rip someone's head off.

Look, the owners are not going to plunk down an 18-game schedule without other considerations. There are several associated clauses that will be in the new CBA to help teams with an 18-game schedule. Additional roster spots, additional practice squad players, probably a second bye week, reducing the number of contact drills during training camp and OTAs, additional compensation, etc. Trust me, once the players realize they're going to get paid more for those 2 additional games, the whining will stop.

Exactly. These punks just don't want to work two more games. Like you said this thing started out with 12 games, we went to 16 just fine. More injuries? Well don't keep trying to take other players heads off with cheap shots and that won't be an issue. One thing I do think that needs to be reduced is offseason work. You can't work a body 12 months out of a year the way they do and expect it to last. Back off the OTA's and it will all even out.

[Happy Panther]

I really have to shake my head when they talk about stuff like this. Have the players ever heard of COBRA? If I made the kind of money these fools make I would have plenty left over to purchase quality health insurance for my family. The average American makes this work on a 5 figure salary. No reason that some millionaires can't do the same.

The difference being you don't work in a field where the injury rate is 100%

[Anybodyhome]

Exactly, part of the deal includes reducing the preseason to 2 games; reducing the amount of contact drills during OTAs, mini-camps and training camp and adding a bye week.

If you took out a calendar and looked at the entire season from the start of training camp, the 18-game season could be accomplished in almost the same time frame as the current season.

[DaCityKats]

Exactly. These punks just don't want to work two more games. Like you said this thing started out with 12 games, we went to 16 just fine. More injuries? Well don't keep trying to take other players heads off with cheap shots and that won't be an issue. One thing I do think that needs to be reduced is offseason work. You can't work a body 12 months out of a year the way they do and expect it to last. Back off the OTA's and it will all even out.

Punks, dude you wouldn't last at a high school practice.18 games are a lot just like y'all are saying the players are contradicting themselves so ate the owners.

[BIGH2001]

The difference being you don't work in a field where the injury rate is 100%

What does that have to do with anything?