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New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft said a couple weeks ago that 18-game NFL season is inevitable for the long-term growth of the league, but NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell pushed back on Monday.
"We have not had any formal discussions about it and, frankly, very little, if any, informal conversations," Goodell said at his Super Bowl opening night news conference. "I’ve heard people talk about it. It is not a given that we’ll do that. It is not something that we assume will happen. It is something we want to talk about with union leadership."
The Patriots will face the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl 60 on Sunday. Seattle receiver Cooper Kupp is the perfect person to ask about an 18-game season since he’s experienced both the highs and lows of the NFL with record breaking years and a lengthy injury list.
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“There hasn’t been a whole lot of talk” in the locker room, Kupp said Monday. “I know players are gonna have a very strong opinion about it.”
Since his Super Bowl MVP season with the Los Angeles Rams, Kupp has missed over 20 games, mostly from ankle sprains. Kupp was asked Monday what he thought about other players expressing disdain for a longer season as it would be harder on the body.
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“It’s a valid concern,” he said. “For the 18th game to happen there’s obviously gonna be some negotiating happen, … there’s gonna have to be some talks about what makes that worth it to the players. When we get to that point, we’ll cross that bridge.”
The 32-year-old receiver signed a three-year contract with Seattle before the season.
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