It doesn’t sound like we will be getting extra Miami Dolphins football any time soon — unless they earn it
The NFL’s push for 18 games a season doesn’t sound like it has a lot of momentum. That means the Miami Dolphins may need to get one the hard way.
The buzz around the NFL’s scheduling outlook has brought up the number ’18’ plenty of times. That could be, if the NFL owners get their way, the number of regular season games played in the not too distant future. More Miami Dolphins football? Sounds great!
There’s just one problem. The NFL’s players have to agree to that arrangement, which may be easier said than done. Because as their newly elected Executive Director, JC Tretter, outlined during an interview with Tom Pelissero on ‘The Rich Eisen Show’, none of the players are really feeling the idea.
It doesn’t sound like we will be getting extra Miami Dolphins football any time soon — unless they earn it
“Our guys have to make a decision on what they want to do. I wouldn’t say any player would voluntarily go to 18 games. I think sometimes I get asked, ‘hey, how will we know the impact of 17 games? Like how will we know what that extra game is?’ We already do. Like 16 was a lot. You know, you did you didn’t walk around locker rooms when there was a 16 game season, everybody was like, ‘I feel great. I’d love to play another one.’
17 was a big ask. And guys are beaten up. You walk into those locker rooms post week eight. You go into those training rooms, it’s the walking dead. It’s the walking wounded in there. Guys are beat up…Our players have to make a decision of what they want. So far, it’s been clear they do not want to play more games. They are playing enough football already.”
— NFLPA Executive Director JC Tretter on the prospect of an 18th game
The vibes are bad for an 18th Miami Dolphins football game, gang!
Now, here’s the thing. Tretter knows what he’s doing. He’s talking publicly about negotiation talking points with a microphone in front of his face. The game within the game is public messaging. Tretter, in the same interview, even smiles and gives the NFL credit for their ability to publicly and privately deliver a message on their wants. I would expect the negotiation around moving the schedule to 18 games will be hotly contested in the years to come.
And that means the only way we’re getting an 18th meaningful game is if the Miami Dolphins earn it the hard way and make the playoffs.
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