The goal should be 4 preseason games at a highly reduced cost (I would say 50% seems fair, given how much time starters get over the course of 4 (IE: some of games 1 and 2, a lot of game three, a very small part of game 4)). And then 16 regular season games.

Watching some (pro) football is better than watching no (summer college) football. Plus I like to see all the young players get time and think “that guy could be good in a few years!” They almost never are good in a few years, but the thought is nice.

I also agree with a previous post that stated that most fans, season ticket holders or otherwise, probably don’t want an 18 game season. I can speak to polls or hard data, but anecdotally, I don’t think anyone wants two extra games. How much better is it going to be to pay full price to see David Carr or whoever Tom Brady’s backup is at the end of the season versus before the season starts?

Furthermore, I support rules changes designed to reduce the number of plays in a game, so that the number of plays in a (regular) season stays the same despite the two additional (regular-season) games. This can be accomplished by keeping the game clock running after incomplete passes, and during extra-point tries, except in the last two minutes of the first half, and the last five minutes of the game (so that it does not become any more difficult for offenses to score during these stages of the game).

This will also cancel out the obviously offense-favoring effect of the rules changes designed to enhance player safety that the owners adopted late last month (the fewer plays per game will keep the average yards and points per game from rising, so that stats before and after the changes remain comparable).

I wish all the fans would not attend one game, one week and just stay home. It will never happen though as too many people have invested too much money. It would be great if the fans of the game, could get together and organize a financial protest. Tickets and parking might be prepaid, but empty stadiums one week, no concession sales or team gear purchases…it will make a small ding.

In the end, there will be football and everyone will have forgotten how much time they wasted thinking about how to solve the problems of one of the most successful businesses of the past 40 years during the spring/summer of 2011.

Are you a former 49er season ticket holder? Did you give up your season seats because of this lockout?

I think that would be cool if they did that on say Tuesday’s and made it a big deal. Right now it’s pointless to have a London or Mexico City game that almost no-one gets to watch except the home cities or Sunday ticket.

- Players would like it.
- TV networks would like it.
- Fans wouldn’t really care. They would still get to see 16 games for their favorite team plus they would get an extra week of regular season football viewing.

In addition, there needs to be two new teams – L.A. definitely, and San Antonio probably – right away, and eventually six more by say 2020-25, filling out all eight divisions at five teams each; and also two more playoff teams immediately, making 14, and ultimately 16 once the NFL has 36 teams.

The players refuse to move away from their same tired old zero-sum approach – and so long as they keep doing so, the chances of reaching a negotiated settlement remain at zero.

Isn’t 45% of $12 billion more than 55% of $9 billion?

Fans here are simply in tune to football reality. Some side with the players, most are siding with owners overall. Both have logical reasons to do so.

One this issue, a vast majority make the simple point that we fans don’t want an 18 game season. Most would rather just eiliminate 2 preseason games and make it 2-16.

I know that what I pay for is the season, not really individual games. I have no intention of going to 2 pre-season games. So I look at the cost of those as $0. I simply come up with a number that is my total cost divided by 8. That’s waht I’m truly paying for. If you don’t think that’s worth it, give up your season tickets and let someone else on a waiting list get theirs.

As a (former at the moment) season ticket holder, I do not want an 18 game season, but I do hate having to buy 2 preseason games at full pop. So for an 18 game season, I would still have to buy 1 preseason game…not that big of a difference to me. The value isn’t worth it to me…at 16 games there are far too many injuries to solid players, can’t imagine what 18 would be like. Once in a while the backups are adequate, but most of the time they are not. Not worth it. I care about the quality of the game too…

Although if they keep turning it into flag football, 18 games might not be as bad as I think.

So one last time knuckleheads, the choice is 18/2 or 16/4. Time to quit banging that 16/2 drum.

I see Jerry Jones is spending his free time trolling.

Roger, if by “season ticket holders” you mean “me and my money grubbing friends in NFL ownership”, then you are correct.

I am sure lots of actual season ticket holders want two more regular season games. I am sure almost all of them want two FEWER preseason games. But these people can actually AFFORD to go to all the games if they want.

The vast majority of football fans are just regular Joes, and poll after poll says THEY do not want an 18 game season. Then again, those of us who can’t afford to spend five percent of our income on NFL related stuff are clearly of no interest to Mr. Goodell and his pals.

The guy is a tool, and I am tired of listening to him tell fans what we want. He’s tone deaf to everything but the almighty dollar and if this goes on too long, my interest in pro football will go away entirely. It seemed unthinkable just a month ago, but that’s a fact.

and the players would promptly sue because the NFL is not “maximizing” possible income to split with them.
Overall, except for the potential litigation, I agree with you.

Roger! … I must have missed your phone call. Or perhaps your email is caught in the spam bucket … unopened, awaiting my attention.

If so, allow me to elaborate at this time:

No, I do not want an 18 game season. My choice is for the regular season to remain at 16 games, and the four preseason games to each cost only 1/4th of what a regular season game would cost. That means the 4 preseason contests would equal the cost of 1 regular season game.

At first, I’m sure 18 games sounds attractive .. but really, as violent as it is .. I’m happy to leave it at 16 games and maybe save my favorite players – allowing them to play another season or two.

Also, for teams who are not doing real well that particular season … weeks 17 and 18 could be a bit of a television embarrassment with all those empty seats and all.

I guess what I’d like to see is everyone be a little less greedy and a little more loyal to the game.

* Keep charging season ticket holders full price for preseason games – CHECK

* Don’t include these important full price preseason games in the Sunday Ticket package – CHECK

* Ignore the fact that you haven’t guaranteed that ONE game will be played next season…let alone 18 – CHECK

Goodell is the typical commissioner/frontman of modern sports. This guy makes Bud Selig appear competent. Stop putting out useless spin, and start doing your job….do whatever is necessary to MAINTAIN THE GOOD OF THE GAME!!! Including forcing the sides together to negotiate. If they refuse…..NAME NAMES!!! IN PUBLIC! I’m sure you’d get a blog entry or two here to support you. But I guess having this $1 a year job makes it too risky to put yourself in a position to be fired.

Dude, if you told NFL owners you could cure cancer if they cut ticket prices by 25%, they’d tell you ‘no thanks’.

Please, set a record for td’s on this site….:)