Top NFL Executive Says Move To 18-Game Schedule Is “Probably Inevitable”

A key NFL executive says moving from a 17-game schedule to an 18-game schedule is “probably inevitable.”

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Dallas Cowboys Chief Operating Officer Stephen Jones made the remark to The Athletic’s Scoop City podcast. Jones, the son of Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, believes the switch will happen eventually.

“I’m on the competition committee. We’ve talked about this, knowing that it’s probably inevitable,” Jones said. “I do know, at the end of the day, the players enjoy the compensation that’s coming their way, and they get, for the most part, half of every revenue dollar that comes through the door. So, certainly getting paid well.

“We all know when we go to 18 games, our revenue’s gonna jump, and certainly should only help in terms of the money available to pay players and get players the compensation.”

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Jones said an additional bye week would be considered with a larger schedule.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell talked about an 18-game schedule earlier this year. He said taking away preseason games could help solidify that plan.

“I think we’re good at 17 now,” Goodell said on The Pat McAfee Show . “But listen, we’re looking at how we continue. I’m not a fan of the preseason. … The reality is, I’d rather replace a preseason game with a regular-season game any day. That’s just picking quality.”

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