The NFL is in a lockout with the players. The most contentious issue seems to be that the owners want to increase the number of games to 18, while the players oppose this idea.
What are the advantages, and disadvantages, to the football audience of 18 games?
Advantages: There would be two more games of football.
If this starts earlier in the year (August) then there will be Southern teams that will have an advantage with the summer heat. There is also the issue of player safety. (Yes, players have died in practice in the heat.)
If the games roll into January/February, then we will have Northern teams that will have an advantage with the cold weather. Also, there is nothing fun about watching a game played in freezing weather, snow, and mud. Unless the games are going to be played indoors, it appears that there is no discernible advantage to the fan of playing an extra two games.
Disadvantages: There would be two more games of football.
Football is a violent game, and after a lengthy season, the human body breaks down, and runs out of gas. If we had two more games, the skill players would be so beat up that injuries would limit their contributions, and we would be playing with backup players. This would not just be for the guys that touch the ball, we would also have backup players that would have to step in for the offensive and defensive linemen. In other words, everyone would be hurting and need to have lesser skilled players that could step in.
This means that we would have a lesser quality product to cheer. (Yes, there are always injuries, but why devise a system that guarantees a worse product?)
In summary:
I love football, but quality football games require quality players, and a longer season means that injuries would force teams to use more replacement players, and we would end up with a less exciting game.
Let's not do this, please.
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