A lot has changed in the NFL over the years, and more changes are expected, with rule changes and expansions being considered every offseason. One of the more recent moves Roger Goodell is said to be looking into is extending the regular season by one more game, again, to 18 games instead of 17.
This is on the heels of adding another game just five years ago, but the league is already considering making the season even longer. That's not something NFL players want to see happen, as many have already expressed their distaste for the idea.
But several owners, now including Robert Kraft, have not shot down the idea. In fact, they've publicly expressed their approval of the notion, despite what the players have said. And for the Patriots, that now includes their owner, who is open to 18 games.
Fortunately for them, if there is a silver lining to be had, Kraft has a few things he'd want to see happen along with an 18th game added, and that might make the biggest difference for the entirety of the league.
Robert Kraft wants to see the NFL extend the regular season (again) on 3 conditions
There likely isn't much that could change players' feelings about adding another game to an already long season, but it's clear owners will do what they can to convince them that it's the right thing to do.
That's something Kraft appears to be trying out already, as he suggests that an 18th game should also come with one fewer preseason game (from three to two), a second bye week, and each team playing one international game a year.
It's easy to agree that taking away a preseason game is a good suggestion, and adding another bye week is the most sensible way to go about adding another game. Given the supposed focus on player health and safety, it would be egregious to ask them to play another game without giving them more time off.
Those feel like conditions more players would agree to, but thus far, they haven't been too keen on playing another game under any circumstances, understandably.
Forcing each team to play an international game isn't something they'll likely love either, since the travel and jet lag that come with that isn't exactly fun to deal with.
We haven't heard from players based on what Kraft suggested, though, so we don't know with any certainty just yet. But based on what Patriots players and others have said in the past, it would be fair to assume that more accommodations will need to be made for them to even seriously consider being okay with playing an 18th game.