Stop it, NFL. You’re Beautiful the Way You Are.

"This isn't quite going how I planned."

Hey, I got an idea. Let’s take the formula that has molded the most successful and popular American sports league over the past 32 years and change it around a little bit.

I’ll go ahead and pretend that this is the exact way that the thought of changing the NFL regular season from 16 to 18 games ran through the head of league commisioner Roger Goodell.

It is this thought that has taken over NFL news this preseason and, more specifically, this week. The media seems to be fascinated by the idea of Goodell spitting in the face of the old smart business cliche, “If it ain’t broke,…” Well, you know. And it’s not just the media and Goodell on-board. No, it’s the owners and team executives as well. In fact it seems to be almost everyone except one group that might be kinda important.

Mr. Goodell, I’d like to introduce you to your players.

Goodell’s big Wednesday owner meeting in which he was hoping to have the new policy voted on came to an indecisive conclusion when owners decided that they would wait until players came around on the idea. An event that probably isn’t happening any time soon.

And they have good reason not to.

After all, preseason is the one time of the year that is completely designed for players, specifically the young ones. It’s the chance for guys to make teams and adjust or re-adjust to the speed of the NFL. No, it’s not the sexiest time of the year, or the best time to catch a game on TV, but it’s not really supposed to be.

With two preseason games, starters would need to play more to assure that they are ready for opening day. This leaves a vastly less amount of time for the guys who actually need the preseason reps.

Less Tebow = Bad Thing

From a fan/spectator point of view, it’s very easy to say that these third and fourth-string guys are irrelevant. That they’re just putting off their obligatory careers as bartenders or truck drivers.

Try telling that to Tom Brady or Priest Holmes or Tony Romo, all guys who spent their rookie year buried deep down on depth charts. Do they ever even make the NFL with a two game preseason? Maybe so, maybe not.

But the NFL isn’t pitching this deal as one for the players, it’s pitching it as a rewarding change for the fans.

So fans have to be totally buying into this, right? Maybe not so much.

ESPN fan polls have shown all day that fans are almost 50/50 on whether or not they are actually in favor of changing the preseason/regular season ratio from 4:16 to 2:18, a stat that has had “Sportscenter” anchors going crazy for hours.

Even though I’m only really speaking for myself here, I’ll pretend that I am speaking for all fans.

Having four preseason games is not a big deal. If you’re a die-hard fan (read: nerd) like myself, it gives you an opportunity to kick back, relax and focus on some of your favorite team’s depth chart battles and future talent. If you’re not so die-hard, you can watch the first quarter and then pretend like the rest isn’t happening. Works for everybody.

The NFL’s problem is that they are trying to pretend that this deal is for the fans and not for its wallet. This is a money move and there’s no other explanation.

Teams obviously don’t want to cut their amount of total games because of revenue, but they would like people spending more money than they typically do at preseason games. Attendance typically lags at the annual exhibitions that carry the same monetary face value on the tickets.

Eighteen regular season games means more money and more television. Just ask Lizzie Grant from “Entourage.”

I suddenly feel the need for an 18-game regular season. Focus, Bryan

Money. More than competition. More than smiling fans. This is money.

If the NFL truly wanted to make a deal for the fans, it would discontinue its status as the only league that charges the same price for preseason games as it does regular season.

Make the players happy and keep the regular season at 16 games. Make the fans happy and cut a little bit off of the $100+ that many pay to go to an exhibition game. Or maybe make it so season ticket holders can’t be forced to purchase the $100+ preseason tickets every year as they currently are.

It’s a win for everyone. Well, everyone except the NFL’s wallet.

-Bryan