The international games are not only here to stay, they are going to expand greatly in the next few years. The scuttlebutt I keep hearing is that the extra 17th game is going to become an international neutral field game for all 32 teams. Every team will play eight home games, eight away games, and one international game every year. There will be 16 of these games every year. I'm hearing that the players and coaches are accepting the games just as they have the Thursday games for every team every year. It's all part of the continued growth of the league and as the league generates more revenue the players know that they receive a guaranteed 48.8% of all that additional revenue in mandated salary.

Personally I love the international games because I oftentimes get to watch another game in its own timeslot.