With the current collective bargaining agreement set to expire after 2020, there has been a lot of talk about the regular season expanding to 17 games under a new deal, which would be one game more than the current setup. However, many players from Sunday’s Pro Bowl game didn’t seem too thrilled about the possibility, including Jags team captain Calais Campbell.
With him being the Jags’ union representative, ESPN discussed the matter with Campbell this weekend and he told them a 17-game season would be extremely tough on the players as they are already struggling to make it through 16 games.
“When I talk to the guys, I don’t think many people want to do it. Really, you talk to guys and I don’t think anybody wants to do it. It’s going to be very, very tough. I know the ownership’s really hard on it. We’re definitely talking, trying to figure out what we need to do, how we can make this thing work. It’s going to be a process, but 17 [games], that’s very tough.”
The pending decision to add another regular season game (or not), of course, is something the owners are in favor of because it would garner more money. Discussions about ways to make up for playing an extra game like a spike in pay, more guaranteed money, a better revenue split, expanded game-day rosters, an additional bye week, and expanded playoffs are all options that have been weighed per ESPN.
Another big suggestion that has been discussed on the web is eliminating parts of the offseason process. Taking away a preseason game is an idea that has been floated out there but that doesn’t help the regular season starters much because they don’t participate in the process much. That said, shortening organized team activities is a route some have been open to with perhaps an additional bye.
Jags rookie Josh Allen also spoke out on the matter this weekend, too. He stated that adding another regular season game would especially be hard on rookies as they don’t take much time off to transition from playing the college game. With some even attending all-star games like the Senior Bowl or Shrine Game in addition to rookie minicamp and the other offseason events, it would be a ridiculous load for first-year players.
“We’re the ones that are the future, and I feel like if they don’t consider us, if they don’t consider the rookies’ bodies and minds, that’s how guys get lost,” Allen told ESPN. “I guess they say they’re going to pay us more, but my body, my mind comes before money. I think about my family. I think about myself. That means a lot. Mental health is really a serious thing and I feel like that can play a part into that. […] You’ve got all those different things. It’s not just the season. You’ve got OTAs. You’ve got minicamp, training camp. You’ve got preseason. You’ve got all the things, and then rookies don’t have time [to adjust].”