Green Bay Packers president Mark Murphy doesn't believe the NFL is going to make a move from 16 to 18 regular-season games in the near future. Murphy cited concerns over the health of players, since first-stringers would be facing more time on the field.
NFL unlikely to have 18-game regular season, Packers president says
The NFL probably isn’t going to expand the regular season, at least in part because of the added health concerns that would raise.
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Murphy spoke on the subject this week. Via the Green Bay Press-Gazette:
“I think with all the concerns about the health and safety of players, it’s hard to justify,” Murphy told Press-Gazette Media this week. “To go from 16 to 18 regular-season (games) would be a lot more wear and tear. It would be additional games for your starters.”
Murphy is currently a member of the NFL’s management council executive committee, competition committee and health and safety committee. Head injuries in particular have become an increasing source of scrutiny both within the league and outside of it. The NFL is in the midst of settling a legal issue with more than 5,000 former players who joined together in a lawsuit accusing the league of negligence in its treatment of head trauma.
Murphy added that he does not expect the league to cut its preseason schedule from four games to two, pointing out the importance of those games for evaluation purposes given the limited amount of contact that goes on in practices.
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