Poll: Many NFL fans want more games despite risk (1:04)Poll: Many NFL fans want more games despite risk (1:04)
Many NFL teams have lost star players to season-ending injuries this season or played without them for significant stretches — but a new poll finds that many football fans want more games, even if it means more risk.
The NFL is nearing the midpoint of a season marked by high-profile injuries that have knocked several key players out of action the rest of the way. Dolphins five-time All-Pro wide receiver Tyreek Hill (knee), 49ers All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner (ankle), five-time Pro Bowl edge rusher Nick Bosa (knee), Giants wideout Malik Nabers (knee) and sensational rookie running back Cam Skattebo (ankle) have all suffered season-ending injuries.
Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans will see his streak of 1,000-yard receiving seasons end at 11 because of a broken clavicle. And those are just the injuries among the biggest names.
But the poll suggests that for the most part, blame isn’t landing on the league. The NFL has taken strong measures to reduce injuries by making several rules changes over the years, including overhauling the kickoff.
This year, the NFL implemented a modified dynamic kickoff rule to eliminate high-speed collisions, which had contributed to a high number of injuries.
In an effort to increase safety on the field over the years, the league has also previously banned certain types of tackles, expanded protections for defenseless players, made it illegal to use the crown of the helmet to hit an opponent and more. The league has increased protection of quarterbacks, and overall concussion numbers have decreased because of safer helmets and use of protective helmet covers.
Still, football is a violent, physical sport and it’s difficult to prevent a player from tearing a knee ligament or dislocating an ankle. Sometimes, injuries like a torn Achilles tendon occur without any hitting.
After expanding the season to 17 games in 2021, the NFL is weighing adding another regular-season game.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has stated the goal is to add an 18th game and reduce preseason games from three to two. Adding another game requires approval from the NFL Players Association, and interim executive director David White told The Associated Press it’s not inevitable that the union will agree to it.
The collective bargaining agreement runs through 2031. The two sides haven’t discussed renegotiating it and Goodell said last week that conversation is on hold until the players association selects a permanent executive director.
“It’s carefully thought through,” Goodell said. “I’m not sure we’ve ever selected an artist where we didn’t have some blowback or criticism. It’s pretty hard to do when you have literally hundreds of millions of people that are watching.”
There’s another area that Americans do agree on: moving the Super Bowl to a holiday weekend. A majority of U.S. adults overall and NFL fans support moving the Super Bowl to Presidents Day weekend, so that it’s always followed by a federal holiday on Monday.
Poll: Many NFL fans want more games despite risk (1:04)Poll: Many NFL fans want more games despite risk (1:04)
Many feel the NFL is doing enough to avoid injuries
NFL fans would support another regular-season game, even with injury risk
Americans are split along party lines on Bad Bunny as the halftime show
Last week, Goodell reaffirmed the league’s decision to put the artist on its biggest stage.
Bad Bunny performs in Spanish and is expected to do so at the Super Bowl.
Poll: Many NFL fans want more games despite risk (1:04)