Since the coronavirus has suspended sports indefinitely, now is a perfect excuse for the NFL offices to restructure the season. Roger Goodell and the NFL has pushed a smaller preseason and extended regular season. Plus, there may be a possibility of an extended playoff system.
Even though the preseason does not start for months, with no cure for the virus, a shorter preseason is likely. Since the shorter season is expected, the NFL shortening the preseason to two weeks or less would be tremendous.
Also, a 17th game in the regular season or a seventh playoff team provides an extra week that teams lose in the preseason. The NFLPA may not agree to restructure this idea permanently; however, the veterans can experiment while rookies can get their feet wet in the new system.
What would be the benefits of the experiment?
Besides experimenting with the future, it provides safety and rest for the athletes. Many former and current athletes contemplate playing the preseason, 16 games, and a postseason.
This experiment allows the athletes to rest a few more weeks and play an extra game down the line when they are in the best form and adrenaline pumping.
What can be the cons of the experiment, though?
The lack of the preseason affects coaches and staff as they evaluate their players before they need to cut down the rosters. Plus, players can be prone to injuries in the postseason if they extend the regular season or an extra team in the playoffs.
Although there are pros and cons, now is the perfect time to reenact the rules. The NFL will join the other big leagues by suspending play and jumping in later. Instead of fans and players being angry about it like other leagues, the fans can use this time to learn about the new process.
