NEW YORK (AP)-NFL commissioner Roger Goodell can envision a Super Bowl played in mid-February if the league expands its regular-season schedule to 17 or 18 games.
Team owners are expected to get a proposal, perhaps as soon as next month, that would eliminate two preseason games and add one or two to the regular schedule. Goodell said Friday at a meeting with Associated Press Sports Editors such a format could push the Super Bowl back to President’s weekend.
“The idea has merit, I think,” he said Friday, referring to more regular-season games. “You are taking the quality and improving it, taking two meaningless games and making them meaningful within the 20-game framework.”
A Super Bowl that late in February could conflict with such other events as the Daytona 500, the NBA All-Star game and, every four years, the Winter Olympics. Then again, there is not bigger sporting event in America than the NFL’s title game.
Goodell outlined a scenario that would have two preseason games in August, followed by a dark week on Labor Day weekend, followed by the opening week. There still would be a bye for each team during the season and the week off between the conference championships and the Super Bowl. This year, that off weekend will be filled by the Pro Bowl.
