Union: No 18 game schedule

[pantherfan81]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/football/nfl/03/09/nfl.labor.18.game.schedule/index.html

2 days, get this over with already!

[YoungPanthers89]

good.

[KillerKat]

Hallelujah

[blackcatgrowl]

Reposted from the linked article:

WASHINGTON -- For the first time publicly, NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith said tonight that an 18-game season is off the negotiating table in collective bargaining talks with the owners.

Speaking before approximately 100 fans during a joint event with radio station 106.7-FM "The Fan" at the union's downtown office, Smith was categorical that the players won't expand the regular season from 16 to 18 games. He previously had been nuanced in his remarks, saying any change would be predicated on significant adjustments to teams' offseason training programs and the amount of padded contact the players endured during in-season practices.

However when contacted after a Q&A sessions with fans, Smith reiterated that 18 games is a no go with the players.

"First of all, the league has never presented a formal proposal for 18 games," he told SI.com. "But more importantly, it's something that our players don't want. Eighteen games is not in the best interest of our players' safety, so we're not doing it."

Meh. I was neutral about 18 games before, and I'm neutral about 16 games now.

If the players got the League to conceed this point to get a CBA done, I'm gonna give it a thumbs up.

[jtnc]

Ugh, I wish they would finish the deal.

[SorthNarolina]

God I hope this gets done.

[countryboi]

not yet....but 18 gamse is still coming....no biggie though.....git r deal done

[bleys]

THANK GOD! 18 games would be a huge fail on the NFL's part..

[Mr. Scot]

Good. I hated that idea.

[Woodcookedbbq]

I stand with the Union on this.

[ladypanther]

Glad to hear it. The game is too violent to add more games. The idea to add more "meaningful games' would result in more players with serious injuries in games that were in effect meaningless to the season. In this case, I think the owners wanted to justify premium prices now charged for meaningless preseason games at the risk of player safety and health.

[pantherfan81]

DeMaurice Smith told a gathering of fans tonight that the players won't agree to an 18-game season.

However, sources say the union has not formally told the league in negotiations that an 18-game season is off the table.

Mark Maske, NFL Reporter for The Washington Post

Hmmmm....

[Panthers128]

let's reduce the season to 8 games since it's so dangerous

[firstdayfan]

First off I'm sure if he is saying it in public that it's off the table then the NFL knows...second, I think this is a great move simply bc it makes getting a deal done easier bc this was a major issue...third, it was a terrible idea that seemed to start from Roger Goodell and I'm not sure it ever had a chance.