When I first heard word that Roger Goodell announced that he would like to expand the NFL schedule from 16 games to 18 games by decreasing preseason games, my reaction was, “This has got to be the doings of Bud Selig.  Who else could propose something so dumb?”  Low and behold, it was Goodell and he seemed dead serious.

There has been debate for a long time that the NFL Preseason is a little on the ridiculous side.  The NFL, and subsequently its franchises, promote and sell these games as they would a regular-season game, between the advertising and ticket prices.  I guess they didn’t pay attention to the fact that the fans clear out the stadium and turn off their televisions by time the fourth-team players are fumbling over each other on the field in the humid August night.

Now, as a sports fan, I can’t stand the NFL Preseason, as I’m sure most can’t.  Usually the first game is exciting because we see the starters for a quarter or so of football after it being absent from us for so many months.  However, I do understand the benefit to the coaches who are finalizing their rosters.  It is impossible to get a real sense of what unproven talent can do in nongame situations — no matter how perfect practice drills may be.

It is great business for the NFL, no doubt, to have two more meaningful football games.  There’ll be higher television ratings and more revenue at the stadiums; everybody will be happy!  I mean, it would make sense, because the NFL is apparently losing so much money that it had to lay off a huge chunk of its workforce due to the economy, despite showing little to no reduction in revenue.

I digress.  Full disclosure: Being a film and video guy, I remember that many people were laid off from NFL Films in Mt. Laurel (near my South Jersey home) as part of the layoffs.

Anywho, having 18 games for a fan — in the words of Dana Carvey’s version of George H.W. Bush — just wouldn’t seem prudent.  It would reduce how important each game is in the standings.  Part of the thrill of watching the NFL week to week is knowing that there has to be a “do-or-die” mentality because each loss stings.  It is much more difficult to overcome a two-game deficit in the NFL than in Major League Baseball.

We already have seen teams at 8-8 sneak into the playoffs.  With 18 games and 6 spots per conference, we could see sub-.500 teams make the playoffs.  That doesn’t exactly sound like fun, competitive playoff football to me.  Then again, it’d probably be a God send for some of those teams in the West, considering what a “powerhouse” they’ve been lately. (Please note sarcasm.)

As a sports fan, there comes a point in the season for every sport where I get sick of the regular season.  I want some playoff action, especially regarding hockey.  In baseball, when August and September comes, no doubt it is exciting, but you just want to get it over with and get to October.  In football, we want to get to January as soon as possible.  Win or go home!  Nose to the grindstone!  Winner take all!

As you can see, I’m running out of little cliché motivational sayings.

Not to mention that the most obvious problem in adding extra games to the NFL schedule: Injuries will play a much larger role.  Football is such an intense sport, and the injury bug plagues teams like the monkey from Outbreak.  Do we really want to increase the chances of good teams folding because the players drop like flies?

Long rant short (Editors Note: too late!), keep the system how it is.  It works, methinks.  I love my NFL season.  Don’t make it so that I stop caring until playoff time like other sports.

Pretty please, Mr. Goodell.