PATRICK MAHOMES has made a major demand to the NFL over plans to overhaul the regular season schedule.
The Kansas City Chiefs is one of the most influential figures in the NFL.
Patrick Mahomes has raised concerns over changes to the regular season schedule[/caption]
Mahomes is one of the most influential voices in the NFL[/caption]
He is a three-time Super Bowl champion, and on a $450 million contract over ten years.
There are talks underway for the league to add an 18th game onto the regular season.
The quarterback was asked by Alex Sherman of CNBC about the idea, which he is NOT a fan of.
And Mahomes has demanded a second bye week for teams if the new schedule is introduced.
“I think that you’d have to find a way to have more bye weeks, more time spread out,” he said.
“Because, I mean, you’ve seen the amount of injuries that have kind of piled up there at the end of seasons.
“You want to have the best players playing in the biggest games.
“And so if there were a way to get to 18 games, I’m not, I’m not a big fan of it.
“But if there were a way, I think you got to add some bye weeks in there to give more time for guys’ bodies.”
Cincinnati Bengals star Joe Burrow has echoed the need for a second bye week if the 18th game is added.
The last time that happened was in 1993, but it did not go down well with broadcast networks.
Adding an 18th game will also cause issues with the NFL schedule in other ways.
The Super Bowl would have to be moved from its regular slot in early February to later.
However, the season could always start earlier in the year,, with rumors of a Labor Day Weekend kick-off.
NFL WEEK 1 SCHEDULE
(All times ET)
Thur 4 Sept
8.20 pm – Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles
Fri 5 Sept
8pm – Kansas City Chiefs at Los Angeles Chargers
Sun 7 Sept
1pm – Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Atlanta Falcons
1pm – Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns
1pm – Miami Dolphins at Indianapolis Colts
1pm – Las Vegas Raiders at New England Patriots
1pm – Arizona Cardinals at New Orleans Saints
1pm – Pittsburgh Steelers at New York Jets
1pm – New York Giants at Washington Commanders
1pm – Carolina Panthers at Jacksonville Jaguars
4.05 pm – Tennessee Titans at Denver Broncos
4.05 pm – San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks
4.25 pm – Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers
4.25 pm – Houston Texans at Los Angeles Rams
8.20 pm – Baltimore Ravens at Buffalo Bills
Mon 8 Sept
8.15 pm – Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears
It is almost guaranteed that the extra tie to be added in the coming years.
But discussions with the NFL Players Association will need to continue.
There is concerns around injuries and burnout that are a cause of debate.
Fans have mixed opinions of the plans, with almost all agreeing it is coming.
“Can’t blame them. Consider reducing preseason games to two as well,” one said.
Another added: “Pretty sure every player in the NFL holds an 18 game season to a 2 bye week standard.
“It’s common sense, and an easy middle ground for all sides.”
