Players say safety key in debate over 17-game regular season
MIAMI (Reuters) - Members of the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) on Thursday said player safety would have to come first amid discussions over the potential addition of a 17th game to the regular season. NFLPA vice-president Benjamin Watson, who plays tight end for the New England Patriots, acknowledged that while there were different opinions on an extended season player safety was paramount in the violent game. The NFL also used data to shape how to improve player safety, he added. We dont look at it just as do we have a 17th game. The league kind of pretends that theyre interested in (player safety and longevity), pretends that they care about it, makes all these rules, fines all these players, but then still proposes players play an extra game, said Sherman.
feeds.reuters.com