Two bye weeks!

[jaybills]

Why isn't this seriously discussed more? I hate when any team has an early bye week and play with no break from week 4 or 5 on. Reduce preseason to two games to keep everything legit within the NFL calendar season. 

Edited July 13, 2022 by jaybills

[GETTOTHE50]

I could seriously use a second bye week myself. I can’t sleep before a game unless I have several drinks and I have to drink after the game to unwind. It’s never been like this before, but the expectation to experience victory is stressful. 

Edited July 13, 2022 by GETTOTHE50

[nucci]

as a fan, 2 bye weeks suck. I remember when they did this in '93. I hated it 

[JoPoy88]

2 hours ago, jaybills said:

Why isn't this seriously discussed more? I hate when any team has an early bye week and play with no break from week 4 or 5 on. Reduce preseason to two games to keep everything legit within the NFL calendar season. 

Where do you get “this isn’t seriously discussed”? It’s been repeatedly proposed since the NFL began lobbying for more regular season games in earnest. 

Edited July 13, 2022 by JoPoy88

[Doc Brown]

22 minutes ago, nucci said:

as a fan, 2 bye weeks suck. I remember when they did this in '93. I hated it 

Only 28 teams.  No NFL RedZone or Sunday Ticket.  No fantasy football.  No gambling from a cell phone.  It's a lot different than '93.

[H2o]

If they are looking for a way to extend the season, without adding another game, then it's not a bad idea really. It gives guys an additional week off to heal during the regular season. I wouldn't be surprised if another bye is added within the next couple of years. With the physical toll of 17 games and an expanded Playoffs format, where only 1 team gets a bye, I can see the players pushing for it. 

Edited July 14, 2022 by H2o

[Rochesterfan]

1 hour ago, jaybills said:

Why isn't this seriously discussed more? I hate when any team has an early bye week and play with no break from week 4 or 5 on. Reduce preseason to two games to keep everything legit within the NFL calendar season. 

 

Because 2 bye weeks sucked.  It added nothing and the league quickly got rid of it.

 

The only way 2 bye weeks comes back is as part of an 18 game schedule.

 

Why would the NFL want to get rid of a week of revenue (even preseason) for a bye week?  
 

It isn’t discussed more because it already failed and will only be used as a bargaining chip to get to the end goal of 18 games.  Everyone knows the current end goal is 18 regular season games, 2 preseason games, and 2 bye weeks.  That is where we end up after the next CBA.

 

The hope being the NFL can extend the season 2 more weeks and match the Super Bowl with Presidents Day and fulfill most people desires to have the Monday after off. 

 

 

[eball]

INteresting idea.  No clue why it isn’t talked about more.

 

 

 

Edited July 13, 2022 by eball

[SoMAn]

11 minutes ago, Rochesterfan said:

 

Because 2 bye weeks sucked.  It added nothing and the league quickly got rid of it.

 

The only way 2 bye weeks comes back is as part of an 18 game schedule.

 

Why would the NFL want to get rid of a week of revenue (even preseason) for a bye week?  
 

 

 

 

On the contrary. It could potentially generate more revenue if there were 18 weeks of meaningful games.  Sure, there would be 2 weeks off for any given team, but that's more TV exposure for other teams.  TV is where the real money comes from in the NFL.  An 18-week season with 2 bye weeks would mean more TV money.

[QCity]

Hold on.    Hear me out.   THREE bye weeks.

[Matt_In_NH]

Years ago the NFL had two bye weeks.   I remember they discontinued it partly because it diluted the overall quality of each NFL weekend.....basically there were weeks where there were not as many marquee matchups and I believe ratings were impacted or that was believed.  Personally I don't need another bye week....The NFL will end up with 18 games and 2 preseason games...that will generate more revenue than going with 2 bye weeks and 2 preseason games.  Revenue wins these types of decisions.

[PromoTheRobot]

1 hour ago, nucci said:

as a fan, 2 bye weeks suck. I remember when they did this in '93. I hated it 

 

The offseason sucks more. 

[HamSandwhich]

41 minutes ago, QCity said:

Hold on.    Hear me out.   THREE bye weeks.

Why stop there? Why play any games? Just look at the paper, do a bunch of lists of best players, coaches, etc. Those teams who look the best on paper wins! Or maybe just do Madden simulations? Either way, RIVETING! 

[nucci]

1 hour ago, Doc Brown said:

Only 28 teams.  No NFL RedZone or Sunday Ticket.  No fantasy football.  No gambling from a cell phone.  It's a lot different than '93.

Good points.

31 minutes ago, PromoTheRobot said:

 

The offseason sucks more. 

how is that relevant to my post? I don't think we were comparing bye weeks to the offseason

[SoCal Deek]

I’ll say it again. I don’t think they need two bye weeks but I would have the entire league have the same bye week right in the middle of the season. “Bye Week Sunday” would become like a national holiday promoted as a day do things with family and dedicated to acts of community service. All of the other major leagues already do it, by inserting a de facto bye week called their All Star week. In international soccer (football), they do it a couple of times each year so that some of the players can get in a game or two with their respective National teams. 

[Matt_In_NH]

4 minutes ago, SoCal Deek said:

I’ll say it again. I don’t think they need two bye weeks but I would have the entire league have the same bye week right in the middle of the season. “Bye Week Sunday” would become like a national holiday promoted as a day do things with family and dedicated to acts of community service. All of the other major leagues already do it, by inserting a de facto bye week called their All Star week. In international soccer (football), they do it a couple of times each year so that some of the players can get in a game or two with their respective National teams. 

 

The league will just take the revenue hit?  The Bye week is about revenue not players resting....that is just a side benefit.

[Mark80]

Been there, done that, hated it.

[Kirby Jackson]

2 hours ago, QCity said:

Hold on.    Hear me out.   THREE bye weeks.

So, bye week and 2 games vs. the Jets?

[Beast]

Go to an 18 game schedule. Shut the NFL down for a week twice after the 6th and 12th game, that way all teams have the same bye weeks. Also expand the playoffs by 1 team in each conference and give the playoff teams a week off before the playoffs start.

 

Trash the pre-season.

Edited July 13, 2022 by Beast

[nucci]

32 minutes ago, SoCal Deek said:

I’ll say it again. I don’t think they need two bye weeks but I would have the entire league have the same bye week right in the middle of the season. “Bye Week Sunday” would become like a national holiday promoted as a day do things with family and dedicated to acts of community service. All of the other major leagues already do it, by inserting a de facto bye week called their All Star week. In international soccer (football), they do it a couple of times each year so that some of the players can get in a game or two with their respective National teams. 

The NFL will not shut down for a full week

[Rigotz]

3 hours ago, nucci said:

as a fan, 2 bye weeks suck. I remember when they did this in '93. I hated it 

 

I respectfully disagree. Here's what 2 bye weeks means for me:

• Negotiating power with the players union. If you give them an extra bye, you can probably ask for an 18th game.
• Less injuries because players aren't pushing their bodies for consecutive weeks (imagine a week 4 bye and long playoff run)
• Less random performance impact from early vs late bye weeks.
• 2 more weeks of NFL football. Just because your team isn't playing doesn't mean the league stops.

It's a no brainer and it's already been discussed in recent ownership meetings.

 

[dma0034]

The NFL has to factor in Fantasy Football when doing 2 byes week. You pretty much couldn't have any in the final 5 weeks

[BADOLBILZ]

 

I agree about two bye weeks..........but people need to let go of the idea that the owners are going to give away a preseason game.

 

There will be 20 games played by each team..........one way or another...........that's been the format for the past 50-60 years(they played 6 preseason games during the 14 game format).........the owners aren't giving up a week worth of ticket sales and the local broadcast rights.

 

The 3rd preseason game will eventually be converted to a regular season game and there will be 18 games with 2 bye weeks and the season will end late in February.   At some point you'd assume the government would coincide President's Days with the Monday after the SB.

[Talley56]

I've always wondered if the NFL could just do all the bye weeks in the middle of the season.  Like half the league's bye is week 9, the other half week 10.  Or, if that would leave too few games during those weeks, maybe spread it out among weeks 8-10 (10 byes for two of those weeks, 12 for the other).  It seems like a no-brainer to at least consider but I'm not sure if the NFL has thought about it (tried googling it really quick, didn't see anything).  There could be downsides that I'm not thinking of but overall all teams would pretty much have a bye right in the middle of the season.  It would mean fewer games during those few bye weeks but you'd still have some to watch.  Even during the week of 12 bye teams, you'd have 10 games amongst the 20 who are playing, which gives you a TNF, SNF, and MNF game with 7 other games to spread out among Sunday at 1:00 and 4:00.

[nucci]

20 minutes ago, Rigotz said:

 

I respectfully disagree. Here's what 2 bye weeks means for me:

• Negotiating power with the players union. If you give them an extra bye, you can probably ask for an 18th game.
• Less injuries because players aren't pushing their bodies for consecutive weeks (imagine a week 4 bye and long playoff run)
• Less random performance impact from early vs late bye weeks.
• 2 more weeks of NFL football. Just because your team isn't playing doesn't mean the league stops.

It's a no brainer and it's already been discussed in recent ownership meetings.

 

I understand all of this. I just said I don't like it

[gjv]

From my perspective, two bye weeks makes alot of sense. Surprised the players union hasn't argued for a second bye week.

[SCBills]

2 Preseason Games

 

18 Regular Season Games

 

2 Bye Weeks

 

They can start the season first weekend of September, like College Football, and/or go deeper into February.  Nobody cares about anything but football until March Madness anyway. 

[Ethan in Cleveland]

18 games, 2 bye weeks, 1 preseason game. The pandemic showed preseason games are worthless. Paying full ticket price to watch guys that will be bagging groceries two weeks later is ridiculous. This gets you twenty weeks of great football as compared to the 17 of the past and 18 weeks we get now.  More revenue for the league and therefore more revenue for the players. 
Additional benefit of two bye weeks is with proper scheduling most teams that play on Thursday can be given more rest.

[TBBills]

NFL will probably have 2 bye weeks when they go to 18 games. That has been discussed at owners meetings.

[BuffaloBillies]

With Thursday games, Bills get a couple extra mini-bye weeks.

[machine gun kelly]

7 hours ago, jaybills said:

Why isn't this seriously discussed more? I hate when any team has an early bye week and play with no break from week 4 or 5 on. Reduce preseason to two games to keep everything legit within the NFL calendar season. 

Hey bud, by the league or players or coaches or former inset etc. almost every year.  What keeps coming up between the league and the union in. Serious reports is the notion of an 18 game season will be negotiated going to 2 byes, and 2 preseason games.  
 

It makes sense to lump the three together from a player safety, and business sense.  It’s not expected

from what reports keep coming out, and

no I didn’t save the articles so just do a google search and you’ll find a lot of stuff.

 

I’m all for it where 1 bye is in the first 8 and the next bye on the next 4.  More television time, and more time for the guys to heal.  I’ve also heard about a rec. to have at least 1 inter conference or maybe 2 competitive practice weeks for 2-3 days.  You’ll often hear coaches say they get as much from these practices as they do preseason games and can control the play better.

 

Anyway, good topic brother, but I wouldn’t expect until the next CBA.  I believe the current CBA ends in 2030, so maybe you get you’re wish in 2031.

 

Its all in the negotiation tactics.

[nucci]

9 minutes ago, machine gun kelly said:

Hey bud, by the league or players or coaches or former inset etc. almost every year.  What keeps coming up between the league and the union in. Serious reports is the notion of an 18 game season will be negotiated going to 2 byes, and 2 preseason games.  
 

It makes sense to lump the three together from a player safety, and business sense.  It’s not expected

from what reports keep coming out, and

no I didn’t save the articles so just do a google search and you’ll find a lot of stuff.

 

I’m all for it where 1 bye is in the first 8 and the next bye on the next 4.  More television time, and more time for the guys to heal.  I’ve also heard about a rec. to have at least 1 inter conference or maybe 2 competitive practice weeks for 2-3 days.  You’ll often hear coaches say they get as much from these practices as they do preseason games and can control the play better.

 

Anyway, good topic brother, but I wouldn’t expect until the next CBA.  I believe the current CBA ends in 2030, so maybe you get you’re wish in 2031.

 

Its all in the negotiation tactics.

I don't think the owners want to wait 8 more seasons to add an 18th game

[Logic]

Between the scheduled bye and two games against the Jets, the Bills already have three weeks off as it is. What more do you want?!

[machine gun kelly]

16 minutes ago, nucci said:

I don't think the owners want to wait 8 more seasons to add an 18th game

Nucci, no disagreement but one problem.  The CBA.  As you know this has to be negotiated and there are leverage points on either side.

 

Ill bet a plug nickel ( kidding as I don’t bet) this doesn’t see daylight until 2031. The union will just fight it until they get something they want.

 

I’d love what I mentioned to happen next year, but I do t see it happening until the CBA.  The next question is who is the 18th partner.  Right now it’s the opposite conference same previous year seeding.  I guess they could go to two NFC teams in our case with #1 seeding as would be easy.  The nice thing is we get 9 home games every year vs. every other.

IDCbut trust me Nuccman, I want it happening as soon as possible.  I just don’t see how you can’t have 1 without the other 2 in 18 games, 2 byes, 2 preseason games.  It’s too logical.  
 

The last point is when do you start the season or when do you finish?  Do we actually cross the barrier which to me would be preferred and start on Labor Day which they have been dead set against it forever, or do we deal with the season bleeding another week into February.

Edited July 13, 2022 by machine gun kelly

[ExWNYer]

5 hours ago, Doc Brown said:

Only 28 teams.  No NFL RedZone or Sunday Ticket.  No fantasy football.  No gambling from a cell phone.  It's a lot different than '93.

 

I've been participating in fantasy football since 1987 when my brother and I put together a league with some buddies (that league is still going today). But, generally, your point is correct. 

[nucci]

Just now, machine gun kelly said:

Nucci, no disagreement but one problem.  The CBA.  As you know this has to be negotiated and there are leverage points on either side.

 

Ill bet a plug nickel ( kidding as I don’t bet) this doesn’t see daylight until 2031. The union will just fight it until they get something they want.

 

I’d love what I mentioned to happen next year, but I do t see it happening until the CBA.  The next question is who is the 18th partner.  Right now it’s the opposite conference same previous year seeding.  I guess they could go to two NFC teams in our case with #1 seeding as would be easy.  The nice thing is we get 9 home games every year vs. every other.

IDCbut trust me Nuccman, I want it happening as soon as possible.

No, you're correct. However if the owners want an 18th game before CBA expires, they will get it. Of course it will cost them....

[machine gun kelly]

1 minute ago, nucci said:

No, you're correct. However if the owners want an 18th game before CBA expires, they will get it. Of course it will cost them....

Always good to hear from you bud.

[Doc Brown]

2 hours ago, ExWNYer said:

 

I've been participating in fantasy football since 1987 when my brother and I put together a league with some buddies (that league is still going today). But, generally, your point is correct. 

That must've been near impossible having to calculate the stats from the box scores every week in a newspaper, putting together a schedule, waiver wire adds, trades, etc...feel bad for the commish.  

[ExWNYer]

15 minutes ago, Doc Brown said:

That must've been near impossible having to calculate the stats from the box scores every week in a newspaper, putting together a schedule, waiver wire adds, trades, etc...feel bad for the commish.  

 

It was tough for sure but was a labor of love. No internet and no fantasy football mags. My brother started as the Commish but I have been for years now. I was always the stats guy and handled all of the scoring and paper work. We were a 'basic scoring' league (TDs, FGs, & PATs) so it wasn't as bad as trying to run a PPR or fractional league but there were no 'real time' updates.

[Chandler#81]

It’s coming -when the League goes to 18 game schedule