A Fixable Unfixed Issue
 

Maybe I'm not in the loop on much, but I did follow with some reasonable attention to the offseason bs surrounding the lockout. My biggest concern seems to have been either inadvertently or deliberately shelved.

Here it is, 3 weeks into the season, and the staggering number of injuries mounting for EVERY team makes me question why so few players are on each team. 46 active for each game? 53 on the roster each week? 8 players on the practice squad???

We already have 5 players on IR/PUP, and last year we wound up having 16 players.

Why didn't the League and the Players make a change to the size of the rosters? Every year, the issues don't change. Players get hurt, not enough time to bring substitutes in, unfamiliarity and lack of conditioning causes more injuries. The cycle is so predictable and certain it's laughable that
neither side addressed it!

Can they change it now? What's the right size? What are the impediments to altering these stupid rules?

You know that's a very good question. They seem to have changed all kind of other rules, penalties, replays. Why not the teams are getting more injuries now (at least it seems to be).

I'm just guessing that the owners would be against adding to the roster size. More players=more money. Like I said...just a guess.

You're probably right. Getting everyone to agree on the cap numbers from year to year was like pulling teeth. Adding more players to the roster means bigger cap and a requirement by the owners to spend more OR more players with the cap saying the same which means the players make less.

Either way it comes down to two greedy entities, neither wanting to give up a wooden nickle more than it has to.

I agree with Saint LB - its a money issue!!

The overrding factor in why things do or don't get done-$$

Doesn't matter if it's football or cars;remember when Ford thought it would be cheaper to pay lawsuits than fix the Pintos from exploding?

Bottom line, it's an aspect of the game. All teams have the same size restrictions. So part of the game is how your manage your roster, and who you keep on your practice squad. Green Bay obviously did a great job managing that aspect, with what, 19 guys on IR last year?

One of the reasons, as explained to me, was that with fewer roster spots, good players actually have more of an opportunity to play...

and not get buried on rosters with deep depth charts...

Fewer players mean more exposure...

Teams are more likely to scrutinize who they keep...

Teams have to commit more money to few players, which means higher avg salaries...

Not saying I agree with all of it, just what was told to me...

The NFL was holding that card for expanded 18 game season is my guess.

Always about the $.