The Chicago Bears must operate at the whims of the NFL, and it’s always apparent that the powers that be love tinkering with the league’s makeup. They insist it’s meant to keep the game fresh. In reality, it’s because they’re trying to find ways to maximize their profits. One sticking point for owners is the size of the schedule. From 1978 through 2020, the league was characterized by a 16-game slate for every team. That changed in 2021 when they shifted to 17 games. Everybody knew at that moment that the higher-ups were determined to push it to 18 games eventually.
According to insider Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports, the owners are preparing to make their move during the NFL Owners Meetings next week. Every indication from the NFL Players Association is that players aren’t wild about the idea. They already feel the season is too long, and adding another game to the schedule only increases the wear and tear on their bodies. This means the league could be in for a difficult fight on getting this done. Concessions will be needed in the next Collective Bargaining Agreement, including a second bye week, bigger rosters, and the rising frequency of international travel.
The Chicago Bears must prepare for the inevitable.
Almost everybody agrees the owners will get what they want. The only way they don’t is if the players are willing to go on strike, which hasn’t happened in decades. Anything is possible, but it feels like the owners already have a good idea of what it will take to get things done. More than ever, teams like the Chicago Bears must do everything in their power to prepare players for the grind of long seasons, especially building better roster depth. Star power is important, but great teams are determined by how good their backups are. That is why the Philadelphia Eagles keep making deep playoff runs every year. Information on how this will unfold should be filtered out by the end of next week.