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Expanded Playoff Field, Relaxed Marijuana Rules Under Study As NFL Labor Talks Begin To Take Shape

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell speaks to the media during the NFL football owners meeting last week in Key Biscayne, Fla. Goodell is in the early stages of negotiating a new labor contract, which could include an expanded playoff field. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

The NFL may be two years away from expanding its playoff format again. There’s a possibility that the league will send a seventh team from both conferences to the postseason instead of the current six while reducing the number of teams that get first-round byes in each conference from two to only the highest seed.

That would add two games to the so-called Wild Card round, increasing the overall inventory of playoff games from 11 games to 13. This would increase revenue for the league and its players, through additional rights fee paid by broadcast partners. 

The Washington Post reported Thursday that the idea of an expanded postseason was quietly discussed at last week’s meeting of NFL owners. It is one of the ideas on the table as the league and the NFL Players Association hold preliminary talks on a new labor contract.

The current 10-year deal expires after the 2020 season, and there’s a feeling that negotiations could become contentious. In an e-mail on Tuesday, NFLPA Executive Director DeMaurice Smith advised players to budget their income for a possible lockout or strike.

“We are advising players to plan for a work stoppage of at least a year in length,” Smith wrote in the letter, which was obtained by Liz Mullen of Sports Business Daily.

The NFL is thriving economically, with revenue approaching $15 billion. The salary-cap structure ensures that revenue gains impact player salaries, and the cap has grown by at least $10 million for six consecutive years, up 40 percent overall since 2014. 

But there has been tension between owners and the NLFPA on many fronts, including issues of safety, drug testing and discipline. 

It’s possible the league will again push the players to expand the regular season to 18 games, reducing the exhibition schedule, but that seems guaranteed to face strong opposition from the union. That was the case in the last round of negotiations, eight years ago.

One issue that will be addressed is removing marijuana from the list of banned substances. 

The NFL and NFLPA recently formed a joint study committee on the use of marijuana as a pain-management tool by players. 

While there seems to be room to compromise on some issues, it would be a major concession for the league to reduce the power of the commissioner. The union has strongly opposed Commissioner Roger Goodell’s handling of several discipline issues, including Tom Brady in the so-called “Deflategate’’ controversy.

Goodell confirmed last week that preliminary talks have begun between the sides. He would love to have a deal completed before the 2020 season ends, eliminating the possibility of a strike.

“I do hope it’s sooner rather than later,” Goodell said last week.“I think there’s great value to all parties, and most importantly our fans, that we get this issue resolved and move forward. But there are important issues to be addressed. And we’re doing that.”

Original Article Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/philrogers/2019/05/30/expanded-playoff-field-relaxed-marijuana-rules-under-study-as-nfl-labor-talks-begin-to-take-shape/

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