NFL: goodell wants longer regular season

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Associated Press
DANA POINT, Calif. ó More games that count, perhaps as early as August 2011? That’s exactly what NFL commissioner Roger Goodell wants.
There are several hurdles before the league can expand its regular season from 16 to 17 or 18 games. Among them is reaching a new collective bargaining agreement with the players’ union.
Still, the commissioner hopes to present a proposal to the owners in May.
“It’s possible that we could vote in May, but we want to have core discussions on this,” Goodell said Wednesday. “Anytime you have change, there is some reluctance. But it’s clear we don’t need four preseason games anymore.”
Goodell said the league has not seriously discussed the subject with its broadcast partners. He couldn’t imagine them not being interested in more meaningful games.
“I think the quality of NFL programming, that every one of our network partners would say, if they have the chance to have more regular-season programming, they’d be interested in it,” Goodell said. “A key point is the fans also recognize players they want to see are not in those preseason games; that’s why they are not attractive. They want to see those players play.”