The Bucs And The 17th Game
March 28th, 2021
“Tom, you ever been to Shapiro’s Deli in Indy? No avocado ice cream there. The cream horns kick @ss though, trust me. I’ll buy. “
How big of a heavy-hitter is Adam Schefter of BSPN? The dude runs with speculation and it is picked up all over the place by every two-bit outfit covering the NFL. On a Palm Sunday/Passover Sunday/Holi, no less!
That also demonstrates what a powerhouse the NFL is and how embedded the NFL is in the hearts of true, red-blooded Americans.
Schefter Twittered out this afternoon the NFL “is expected” to approve the 17th regular-season game this week. That means it could happen, or it couldn’t happen. But it likely will happen.
For the Bucs, this isn’t great news.
It means Tampa Bay will travel to Indianapolis to face the powerful Colts for their 17th game; the schedule is expected to be released in May, not in the normal April timeline.
(Additionally, per the Washington Post, the NFL is considering playing four “17th-game” contests on international soil beginning next season. This means a game could be London or Mexico, and there has been chatter of Germany or a South American nation hosting. Just to spitball, how cool would it be to have a game in Australia? The story notes the NFL wants to guarantee every team plays internationally at least once every eight years.)
So while the 17th game is a step in the right direction for football fans, Joe is hoping for an 18-game schedule with no more inhumane and wicked preseason games.
Hell, if NFL strongman Roger Goodell offered a 14-game schedule and no preseason games, Joe might embrace that if that’s what it takes to rid humanity of this unholy evil known as preseason.
March 28th, 2021 at 2:20 pm
Rest the starters every chance we get throughout the season
March 28th, 2021 at 2:23 pm
The 17th regular season game is a terrible idea, owners are just looking to squeeze even more money out of their product at the expense of player safety, which they never miss a chance to pontificate about in front of the cameras but could not care less about when looking at their revenue streams in private.
March 28th, 2021 at 2:25 pm
Bucs need to stay healthy. Depth will be key. We need to draft well.
March 28th, 2021 at 2:26 pm
Joe gates preseason.
I don’t like it either.
But I think 2 games are needed to try out draft picks/UDFA and to generally just get everything rolling.
I know, no preseason in 2020 and we won the SB.
Still, a little preseason action is necessary IMO.
March 28th, 2021 at 2:33 pm
Not a fan at all of this 17 game season idea.
March 28th, 2021 at 2:36 pm
Got to go with Dooosh on this one. Need to get your young guys some real game experience prior to the start of the season – just to get in the flow. It provides veterans with a tune-up, but if they don’t play in pre-season probably not that big a deal. It definitely helps young, development players though and also helps coaches better evaluate their talent.
On the Australia jaunt. You’d definitely have to schedule that game before a teams bye week.
March 28th, 2021 at 2:40 pm
The league should allow for larger rosters plus a 2nd bye week if they go through with this.
March 28th, 2021 at 2:43 pm
Vita vs. Nelson! That’s going to be awesome.
March 28th, 2021 at 2:54 pm
Joe,
I’m curious how you know the Bucs would play @Colts in a 17th game. Where does that info come from?
March 28th, 2021 at 3:02 pm
How do u cut cap and add a game? Injury risk is real. Hopefully the Indy game mean nothing but if it does just another team left scratching their heads.
March 28th, 2021 at 3:13 pm
Joe says:
With a 15 hour time difference, it would suck just like that pre-season game in Japan did.
London is bad enough.
Maybe a game in Buenos Aires would be better.
March 28th, 2021 at 3:14 pm
2 PS games are all that is necessary.
March 28th, 2021 at 3:17 pm
It’s been out there for a few weeks. Both SI.com and CBS have the 17th game matchups. It’s NFC South vs. AFC South. First place team plays first place team; second place team plays second place team, etc.
March 28th, 2021 at 3:25 pm
2 pre-season, 18 games, 2 byes would make more sense and keep players healthier.
March 28th, 2021 at 3:26 pm
Thanks, Joe!
March 28th, 2021 at 3:34 pm
Need prerseason games to evaluate new talent. Not crazy about 17 games
March 28th, 2021 at 3:38 pm
Can’t imagine the NFLPA going along with it this year without raising the cap to provide compensation. Sure it’s this year?
March 28th, 2021 at 3:41 pm
I love how people on pft are all complaining that your putting players at risk. But as we just witnessed last year. Us fans have no problem watching our team play 20 games in a season. They forget that all playoff teams play at-least 17 games. One more week to get to fire up the grill hang out with my friends and family and enjoy some cold beers at 1 on a Sunday. Well probably next year only a handful of 1:00pm games. I feel a bunch of prime time games coming and 4:25pm start times for the defending super bowl champs.
March 28th, 2021 at 3:43 pm
My only complaint about 17 games is your ruining the history of the game. Now all season and career stats will be inflated with one extra game a year versus the players who only got to play 16. Now we we see a 6k passing yard season a 2k receiving season. And there will be 5-10 qbs throw for 40tds a year every year now
March 28th, 2021 at 3:50 pm
I like the extra game, throw in an extra bi week and I’ll like it even more.
Next step would be to crank it up to 18 regular games.
Then expand the roster and salary cap.
These are blunting moves to make it harder, if not impossible for a competing professional football league.
Big Picture People!
In BA I Trust!
March 28th, 2021 at 3:56 pm
Can you point to a team that struggled because they couldn’t evaluate talent this year because of a lack of a worthless preseason game?
How exactly did the Bucs (or the Chiefs, or the Packers or the Bills, etc.) suffer and not evaluate talent without preseason games this past season?
March 28th, 2021 at 4:01 pm
Seeing this a lot in the comments so Joe figured he better chime in.
The salary cap is based (in large part) on a percentage of gross NFL revenue from the previous season. This has already been negotiated and approved by both owners and the players association (union). The 17th game has also been included in the new media rights deals if the NFL decided to go to 17 games (which by all credible accounts will happen).
March 28th, 2021 at 4:07 pm
I’m all for a 17th game, but it’s stupid not to add a second bye week as well.
March 28th, 2021 at 4:14 pm
If the Colts are the final game of the regular season, hopefully the Bucs have the division and #1 seed for the playoffs wrapped up by then and can give many starters some much needed rest.
March 28th, 2021 at 4:14 pm
The NFL will do whatever it wants, however it wants, whenever it wants all in the name of “cash money, homey”.
March 28th, 2021 at 4:18 pm
I like the idea of two bye weeks. That would negate the disadvantage of having an early bye.
March 28th, 2021 at 4:48 pm
Joe
“How exactly did the Bucs (or the Chiefs, or the Packers or the Bills, etc.) suffer and not evaluate talent without preseason games this past season?“
You just named a bunch of teams that were already top tier before 2020. Teams that depend on draft and FA and new coaching need to be given time to warm up in preseason.
March 28th, 2021 at 4:52 pm
Also gives Covid another week to make someone miss a start or two. Yes, it will still be making headlines 6 months from now.
March 28th, 2021 at 4:55 pm
Can’t see the players being happy about this.
March 28th, 2021 at 4:58 pm
Then they shouldn’t have agreed to it.
March 28th, 2021 at 5:00 pm
The Bucs were a losing team entering the season with a brand new quarterback and starting a rookie on offense and defensive each.
Many believed Josh Allen was a lousy quarterback if not way overrated and inaccurate. He had the best year of his career (with a new receiver by the way).
The Chiefs had a starting running back and a starting offensive lineman opt out because of the virus. In place of the running back who opted out, the Chiefs turned to a rookie and a guy who new to the team.
Yet each team not only survived, but some improved and rookies developed all without one preseason game.
March 28th, 2021 at 5:17 pm
Joe only likes Joes opinion. Joe = A$$hat
March 28th, 2021 at 5:20 pm
If we have to go to Germany and play someone tough, start every scrub and keep our stars from being injured. This is bs. Pay the fines and tell that idiot Commish to stick it where the sun does not shine.
March 28th, 2021 at 5:24 pm
Takes two days just to GET to Australia. Then once you’re THERE, everything tries to kill you
March 28th, 2021 at 5:27 pm
If they make those Week 17 games international, they’re going to suck, because no way do they send playoff teams out of the country the week before the playoffs start.
March 28th, 2021 at 5:35 pm
Typically teams playing International games have a bye week the week after. Wouldn’t a 17th week International game be extremely unfair if one of those teams are playoff team and their opponent they face followimh week had a home game?
March 28th, 2021 at 5:45 pm
Anonymous Says:
March 28th, 2021 at 5:17 pm
Joe only likes Joes opinion. Joe = A$$hat
***********************************************************
ROTFLMAO!!!
Sure takes a lotta balls to call someone an a$$hat in their own house under the name “anonymous”!!!
March 28th, 2021 at 5:58 pm
Expand the roster……increase the cap….play as many games as possible….
March 28th, 2021 at 6:11 pm
Joe it’s pretty simple guys gotta wake up and strengthen their bodies. You’re missing live game film being used. That sounds like something involving evaluation of players and schemes to me.
March 28th, 2021 at 6:22 pm
The 17th game is only a factor if you make it past the first round of the playoffs. Every team starts every year praying they get that 17th game (the playoffs). So don’t whine now about worrying someone will get hurt by playing an extra game. Yes, the players should be compensated for the extra game, just as they are compensated for the playoffs. But, I’m not sure, but I believe the player contracts are for a season, not 16 games.
March 28th, 2021 at 6:34 pm
Anyone else watching the Super Bowl reply on NFL network?
March 28th, 2021 at 7:39 pm
It’s a shame a sport we all love so much is held hostage by such greedy s***s. They make plenty of money, international games hurt the teams/fans/players.
March 28th, 2021 at 7:52 pm
An international 17th game is ridiculous! One playoff team may play on London and the other plays after a 2-3 hour flight ? Then returns to play a playoff game the following week !
That’s an absurd handicap !
March 28th, 2021 at 8:09 pm
I doubt the final week of the reg season will have any international games.
They haven’t even had Thursday nor Monday nighters on the last week lately.
March 28th, 2021 at 8:31 pm
The NFL are such hypocrites. They don’t give a damn about player safety. If they did, they would not even consider adding another game to the season. I don’t like it. I think it’s stupid, just going to cause more injuries.
Everyone hates preseason but the reality is about a dozen players plus several more on the practice squad need those games to make teams and keep their dreams are alive.
Personally I think they should have 3 preseason games and keep a 16 game schedule along with the playoffs the way they are.
Just don’t force preseason on season ticket holders. That is theft
March 28th, 2021 at 9:47 pm
How can they say they care about player safety when they do this???
March 28th, 2021 at 10:07 pm
Not the greatest news for an aging team
March 28th, 2021 at 11:00 pm
Cutting the cap and adding a game sucks for the players. Rookie contracts suck as well. The players need to negotiate better, some rookies are always contributing way beyond their pay, that is almost a crime equal to no pay by the NCAA. Old ass non superstar veterans need to cough up more bucks to the young guys.
March 28th, 2021 at 11:21 pm
I see the Super Bowl wearing off and Bucs return to their handwringing and worryworting. The “powerful” Colts my ass. Colts blogs should be upset they could have their season on the line with the champs coming into town, and should be hopefully the NFC South and #1 seed is already locked up.
March 28th, 2021 at 11:23 pm
See: Preseason; games.
March 28th, 2021 at 11:32 pm
Not to be greedy but let’s get AB!!!!!!!!!!! Hell of an off-season so far but bring back nino brown!!!! I mean Antonio Brown!!!!! LFG game over!!!!
March 29th, 2021 at 12:22 am
I absolutely love football…especially Buc football…but a 17th just feels like too much of a good thing. There will be unintended consequences.
March 29th, 2021 at 12:46 am
Coming at this from a different angle, I think preseason is important…to the players trying to make teams.
To me, the solution is simple:
• Make Preseason free to season ticket holders
• Non-season ticket holders pay for preseason tickets
• Don’t play the projected starters
• Expand the Practice Squad in size and farm the youth
It gives incentives to buy season tickets. The young guys get a fair shot.It
As to the number of regular season games, add a second half bi-week, increase roster and cap, and make it 20 games. That would make me very happy.
You could then add a couple new teams.
March 29th, 2021 at 12:48 am
On a side note, I had no idea the Colts were good again.
March 29th, 2021 at 12:50 am
Last time they increased the number of games, people whined about player safety too.
March 29th, 2021 at 11:00 am
If we’re doing week 17 international games, no playoff hunt team should be involved. Those games should be early in the season, or flexed so that matchups between teams who are out of the playoff hunt go.
March 29th, 2021 at 11:06 am
Need at least two preseason games to evaluate talent. Baccaneer Bonzai: like your ideas on preseason. Makes a lot of sense.