Colts proprietor Carlie Irsay-Gordon needs to play 18 regular-season video games

PHOENIX — The prospect of including one other sport to the NFL common season isn’t going away any time quickly.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell acknowledged in February that an 18-game schedule shouldn’t be shut, and the NFL Players’ Association has lengthy been towards the growth of the common season due to well being issues.

But the potential of an 18th sport is one thing the house owners need, and one thing Colts principal proprietor Carlie Irsay-Gordon wish to see.

“I think, as long as the players want it, which I think they would, because it would mean more revenue, and I think ultimately a better product, I think it’s reasonable and something we should work towards,” Irsay-Gordon mentioned. “I think we do need to look, also, into the way we do our offseason program.”

A transfer to an 18th regular-season sport must be collectively bargained with the NFL Players’ Association, and for that purpose it’s not one thing that might instantly occur on the NFL’s annual assembly on the Arizona Biltmore this week.

Expanding the common season is at all times going to be a subject of dialogue, although, as a result of the way in which NFL groups deal with the preseason has made it a more durable ticket to promote than ever earlier than. Wary of exposing their greatest gamers to damage, NFL groups have more and more restricted their starter’s taking part in time in preseason video games.

An 18th regular-season sport places one other premier ticket on the schedule within the place of a sport that isn’t simple to promote.

“If we can make it work, I do think that it would be good,” Irsay-Gordon mentioned. “Preseason is, as far as the fan product goes, I know the commissioner’s been open that it’s not the best product that we have. I would say, for development of our team, I don’t think we can get rid of it.”

The 17-game schedule creates imbalance.

By necessity, each staff is scheduled for an uneven variety of residence and highway video games annually, and Irsay-Gordon acknowledged it makes it troublesome to mission the price range on an annual foundation due to that sport.

The new Colts proprietor additionally acknowledges the participant’s issues about well being.

“Another game means more impact on the body, so I think we need to just make sure we’re continuing to innovate with our method and approach during the offseason program,” Irsay-Gordon mentioned. “We’ve improved a lot with the ramp-up period to training camp, because a lot of injuries go down there.”

Without providing an in depth plan for modifications to offseason exercises, Irsay-Gordon indicated she believes the NFL can alter the offseason program in a means that might assist mitigate the consequences on the participant’s our bodies.

“I’m more of the mind that everyone works hard in our business,” Irsay-Gordon mentioned. “I think we need to start thinking about working smarter.”

Joel A. Erickson and Nathan Brown cowl the Colts all season. Get extra protection on IndyStarTV and with the Colts Insider newsletter.