Longer season

[Harlan Huckleby]

There have been several articles in the papers the last couple days about Goodell wanting an 18-game season. Here's one:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/football/nfl/10/24/goodell.season.ap/index.html

This pisses me off. 11 may be better than 10 when it comes to guitar amps, but 18 is not better than 16 with football games. Its just screwing the fans, milking more money for a thinned-out product. I know its coming, they would play 30 games if they could get away with it, and probably will some day.

Pro baseball and especially basketball are already ruined by forcing the athletes to play a ridiculous number of games, the product is way diluted. One cool thing about football has always been the quality and intensity of a 16 game season.

Remember it used to be 12 games, that was probably even better. Injuries already control about 33% of any teams annual fortunes, more games just means more beaten-down players.

[Noodle]

I'm with you, Blue Dog. No way this is good for players. You know, the guys who go out there and kill themselves every week.

This only benefits owners. You know, the guys who . . . well, what the hell do they do, anyway? We seem to do ok without some multi-zillionaire asshat running the show.

Keep it at 16, and while you're at it, get rid of at least one preseason game. With the NFL, less is certainly more.

[BallHawk]

Completely stupid idea. It's all about money. The NFL is already doing better then it has ever done, why mix with the formula.

Also, question for those in the know: Would the NFLPA be involved in the decision making to change the schedule? Would they have to sign off on this?

[BallHawk]

Re: Longer season

Pro baseball and especially basketball are already ruined by forcing the athletes to play a ridiculous number of games, the product is way diluted

I'd have to disagree on this. In Baseball the athlete is sitting or standing most of the time. The physical effects of baseball on a non-pitcher player cannot even be compared to smashing your body into 300 pound lineman play after play.

[Harlan Huckleby]

Re: Longer season

Pro baseball and especially basketball are already ruined by forcing the athletes to play a ridiculous number of games, the product is way diluted

I'd have to disagree on this. In Baseball the athlete is sitting or standing most of the time. The physical effects of baseball on a non-pitcher player cannot even be compared to smashing your body into 300 pound lineman play after play.

I consider baseball a leisure time activity rather than a sport. Like croquette or checkers. Only kidding, but from a physical standpoint, I suppose they probably could keep playing baseball continuously, year round. But even so, I think the baseball season drags on too long from a fan intersest stand point.

Baseball is a summer game. This "Mr. October" crap is for the birds.

Basketball and hockey playoffs in June is stupid.

Football is the only sport left that sorta sticks to a reasonable season.

[BallHawk]

Re: Longer season

I consider baseball a leisure time activity rather than a sport. Like croquette or checkers. Only kidding, but from a physical standpoint, I suppose they probably could keep playing baseball continuously, year round. But even so, I think the baseball season drags on too long from a fan intersest stand point.

Baseball is a summer game. This "Mr. October" crap is for the birds.

Basketball and hockey playoffs in June is stupid.

Football is the only sport left that sorta sticks to a reasonable season.

I agree that Basketball drags on forever, especially the playoffs. But I just find NBA basketball to be me-me-me the whole season. NCAA Hoops and the Final Four are way above the NBA.

Can't speak for Hockey. Never had a franchise in Wisconsin so I never got into it.

Baseball can be a love-it or hate-it type of sport. I think most casual fans find that 162 or 82 games is way too many and they lose interest and only watch in April and September/October. I also understand that a lot of people left the sport during the strike and never returned. Personally, I find baseball interesting throughout the season, even though a game in June or July doesn't have the intensity that other sports might have.

I agree the NFL consistently puts out an intense and entertaining product week after week. Football just takes the cake in meaningful games because you have 16, not 162. It's relatively easy to sit down and watch two teams you're impartial to compared to sitting down and watching two teams you're impartial to in the MLB or NBA.

Football is intense, but I still get an equal thrill from watching the Crew take on a division rival in the 9th inning in a close game.

[mraynrand]

I love the idea of an 18 game season with only two preseason games. But I'm not out there getting decleated every week either. Football players get the shit kicked out of them every week and there are a hell of a lot of injuries. My counter offer is two less preseason games. I'm sure the commish will listen to me.

[falco]

Re: Longer season

I consider baseball a leisure time activity rather than a sport. Like croquette or checkers. Only kidding, but from a physical standpoint, I suppose they probably could keep playing baseball continuously, year round. But even so, I think the baseball season drags on too long from a fan intersest stand point.

Baseball is a summer game. This "Mr. October" crap is for the birds.

Basketball and hockey playoffs in June is stupid.

Football is the only sport left that sorta sticks to a reasonable season.

I agree that Basketball drags on forever, especially the playoffs. But I just find NBA basketball to be me-me-me the whole season. NCAA Hoops and the Final Four are way above the NBA.

Can't speak for Hockey. Never had a franchise in Wisconsin so I never got into it.

Baseball can be a love-it or hate-it type of sport. I think most casual fans find that 162 or 82 games is way too many and they lose interest and only watch in April and September/October. I also understand that a lot of people left the sport during the strike and never returned. Personally, I find baseball interesting throughout the season, even though a game in June or July doesn't have the intensity that other sports might have.

I agree the NFL consistently puts out an intense and entertaining product week after week. Football just takes the cake in meaningful games because you have 16, not 162. It's relatively easy to sit down and watch two teams you're impartial to compared to sitting down and watching two teams you're impartial to in the MLB or NBA.

Football is intense, but I still get an equal thrill from watching the Crew take on a division rival in the 9th inning in a close game.

i enjoyed reading your post - i wished i felt the same way. IMHO, football puts out an immensely better product. bottom line is just as you said - too many games in baseball. in baseball, i enjoy more following the individual pennant races than watching individual games, since each one carries so little weight

[3irty1]

The baseball season is not too long.

In baseball upsets are much more common than in football. The best teams in the league go .600. You need a lot of games to determine who's better. Also the everyday nature of baseball leads to a better product.

I agree though that football has the perfect number of games.

[Partial]

Baseball season is far too long. They could learn everything they learn from 90 games, or 3 months of daily play.

[Harlan Huckleby]

For me, the baseball season opens on the allstar game, and closes the first day of packer training camp. That three weeks is more than enough for me.

I think baseball is a great game to play. "baseball" meaning softball, I suppose.

[BallHawk]

Baseball season is far too long. They could learn everything they learn from 90 games, or 3 months of daily play.

Your theory would stand firm if it wasn't for the New York Mets.

[Harlan Huckleby]

I really am not in favor of reducing the number of preseason football games. I actually enjoy preseason football, it is a fun game guessing who will make the roster. And every year, it seems the GMs really need that game exposure to make their cuts. How would we know about Brohm & Flynn without 4 games?

If they want to go from 4 to 3 preseason games, I suppose I could live with that.

[3irty1]

Baseball season is far too long. They could learn everything they learn from 90 games, or 3 months of daily play.

Not at all.

[3irty1]

I really am not in favor of reducing the number of preseason football games. I actually enjoy preseason football, it is a fun game guessing who will make the roster. And every year, it seems the GMs really need that game exposure to make their cuts. How would we know about Brohm & Flynn without 4 games?

If they want to go from 4 to 3 preseason games, I suppose I could live with that.

Agree. I like 4. As much as the players don't like it, it does seem to do a good job of knocking the rust off. Guys who miss it are at a disadvantage.