Colts’ Prez Polian Says 18 Game NFL Schedule Will Become Reality

Added on Sep 28, 2010 by Jason Kearney in

NFL

Earlier this summer there was talk about NFL ownership looking toward expanding the regular season to 18 games and reducing the number of preseason games from 4 to 2. According to Indianapolis Colts’ owner Bill Polian it’s a done deal. In his weekly radio show on Monday he twice called the change a “fait accompli” which is a fancy Latin way of saying its..uh…a ‘done deal’.

Here’s his exact words:

“I think that the owners, and principally the commissioner, have decided that it’s the way to go, and so the debate, such as it was, is over. I’ve heard recently, and I’m sorry that this didn’t get more coverage earlier, some really, really interesting commentary on it. … I wish some of that dialogue had taken place earlier.”

He admitted that many of the ‘nuts and bolts’ logistics of the shorter preseason have to be figured out–how to assign roster spots, for example:

“The short answer is that it’s a fait accompli, I’m afraid, and we’re going to have to find ways to get those evaluative experiences. We’re not going to sit back and say, ‘Oh oh, 18 games. Now we’re going to become a veteran team.’ That’s not going to work. And it’s not the way we want to play.”

One idea under consideration is having more formal scrimmages and/or combined practices with other NFL teams–in other words, something along the lines of what is done in Major League Baseball:

“In a two-game preseason, you’re going to have to play the regulars a half and a half. And that’s going to take a full game away, essentially a full game away from the rookies who are trying to make the team,” he said. “So how do you deal with that? Well you’ve got to set up evaluative experiences for them in other venues. And I’m hoping that we can get enough camp time to be able to go against the Bears, let’s say, or go against the Bengals in a controlled situation. Perhaps the Rams, people nearby.”

One of the primary gripes about the proposed shorter preseason is that in theory it’ll be more difficult for undrafted rookies to impress coaches and earn roster spots. Aside from that, most fans are in favor of two fewer meaningless exhibition games and two more ‘real’ games.

As of yet, however, nothing is in writing and there was no comment from the NFL office or the NFL Players Association on Polian’s comments.