Battered players skeptical of expanding NFL season

[December 03, 2009]  ASHBURN, Va. (AP) -- Injuries are stacking up in the NFL, as they often do late in the year, and players are skeptical about the notion of expanding the regular season.

There have been 44 players placed on injured reserve in the last two weeks, and no shortage of big-name stars who have had to sit out a game, like Ben Roethlisberger.

The NFL is looking at lengthening the regular season from 16 games to 17 or possibly 18. Players interviewed by The Associated Press expressed concern that the quality of play would suffer and careers would be shortened. Some openly questioned whether the wear and tear would be worth the extra money they'd receive.

The NFL points out that an expanded regular season schedule would actually include the same number of total games, because the preseason would be shortened by the same amount.

[Associated Press]

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