Goodell offers compromise: 16-game, 8-quarter per game schedule

AP New York- As the NFL playoffs begin, Roger Goodell has faced increasing questions about the risk of a work stoppage that could interrupt or cancel the 2011 season.  Goodell's original proposal of extending the NFL regular season by two games faced a great deal of criticism from the players. 

Goodell offered a compromise today, stating ""I listened to the players' concerns that the 18 game schedule will increase the likelihood of injuries and shorten careers. I have come to accept that they are unwilling to compromise on adding games to the schedule. For that reason, I propose a 16 game schedule, with each game having eight 15-minute periods instead of four quarters."

Goodell added, "I know the excitement that can come from games going to extra periods and I know our fans love overtime football. For that reason, I know they'll love mandatory overtime football."

Because each game is likely to be more than 6 hours long, the NFL expects to experience a huge increase in advertising revenue, particularly because each game will now feature three extended halftimes.

Goodell suggested that the new schedule resolved both players' concerns about extending the schedule and Panthers owner Jerry Richardson's complaint that the NFLPA was seeking more money for less work.

"In response to our prior proposal, the NFLPA's doctors performed a study analyzing the number of serious injuries we would expect to see during the course of an 18 game season, relative to a 16 game season.  We have taken that study to hear.  And, as you can see, there are 16 games on this chart. See? 16.  So there won't be any more injuries, but we'll have twice as much bone-crunching, ligament-tearing, brain-bruising action." Goodell said.

"It's entirely safe," Goodell repeated.

Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson agreed that the proposal improved the outlook for team owners. 

"Since we can only sell tickets to a limited number of games, it's in the owners' best interest to ensure that our fans endure hour after hour of football, to maximize the opportunity for beer and concession sales," Richardson said. 

"And let me assure you, when Panthers fans see what we have in store for 2012, they'll be drinking plenty."  Richardson added.

NFLPA Director DeMaurice Smith believed the proposal could pass muster.

"Considering over half the players in the league are already suffering from concussions, I'm pretty sure they'll vote for anything, so long as it's printed on shiny paper," Smith said, adding "And come on, we're the NFLPA. Our members sign anything that gets put in front of them, knowing that every term of our contracts is entirely fictional anyway."

TSK