NFL owners support expansion to 18-game season, commissioner says

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NFL owners are in ‘overwhelming support’ for expanding the regular season to 18 games, Commissioner Roger Goodell told reporters at the owners meeting Wednesday in Atlanta.

But instead of voting on the enhanced season now, Goodell said the owners are working on making it part of the ongoing negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement.

‘From our standpoint, we think we’ve moved this concept along,’ Goodell said. ‘There’s a tremendous amount of momentum for it.’

But, he added, ‘right now, we have to get more specific as far as what we’re talking about, how it can be successful and bring that to the players.’

Goodell said a lack of progress in CBA discussions will likely prevent the expanded schedule from taking place in 2011.

‘The reality is we’re focused more on 2012,’ Goodell said.

Goodell said the expanded schedule would be good for fans who want ‘less preseason and more regular season.’ It would also ‘offer owners an opportunity for added revenue,’ he said.

‘I look at this as an opportunity to create an agreement that will be good for players, good for the league and take our league to the next level,’ Goodell added.

-- Chuck Schilken