While most of the discussion surrounding negotiations between the NFL and the players union continues to focus on financial transparency in the hope of reaching a new collective bargaining agreement, Jim Trotter of SI.com reported a new detail Wednesday night.
NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith told Trotter that an 18-game season is off the table in negotiations with owners. The 18-game season was considered one of the major issues in the labor battle.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has said repeatedly that fans want 18 games. The two extra games reportedly will generate $500 million more for the league. The players argue that increasing the amount of games in the regular season is a safety issue.
"First of all, the league has never presented a formal proposal for 18 games," Smith told SI.com. "But more importantly, it's something that our players don't want. Eighteen games is not in the best interest of our players' safety, so we're not doing it." Here is Trotter's story that addresses the main issues as the two sides stare down a Friday afternoon deadline to agree on a new CBA. Any optimism or hope that was generated by the extension last Friday has faded as the sides argue publicly over how much financial data the owners should turn over to the union.
