The Pros and Cons of an 18 Game Season

The 18 game schedule is anything but a foregone conclusion at this point. What started as a novelty by Commissioner Goodell quickly gathered snow as it headed downhill until it nearly reached avalanche status. As we wait with baited breathe as the owners and players argue over billions, we can take a look at the pros and cons from the fans point of view.

Pros
An 18 game schedule is a pro in and of itself! Who wouldn’t love more football? Two more games a year is a bonus.
Fans will be able to see more teams they normally don’t, and see rookies get more exposure with the need to rest starters.
With a longer schedule, it is likely that some of the mediocre teams will be exposed over a longer schedule and the deeper teams will prevail.

Cons
Heightened risk of injuries to star players is a big con. Can you imagine the backlash if Peyton Manning broke his arm on a tackle in game 18?
More money for the owners that many fans despise is a definite drawback.
With the longer season, we will probably see more players pulling back to pace themselves over the longer season, and more backups will receive more playing time.

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