Rodgers touts full week of international games, jabs at 'tight' NFL owners — SkimNews
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- Aaron Rodgers said the NFL and NFL Players Association discussed games in 16 different places during a designated international week, with one of two bye weeks used for the slate and the regular season remaining at 16 weeks.
- NFL is playing a record nine international games across seven countries this season, including its first regular-season game in France between the Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orleans Saints in Paris.
- Rodgers cited existing or planned locations in Mexico, Brazil, Ireland, England, Spain and Germany as expansion opportunities, while floating another South American country or Dubai as a destination.
- Rodgers said owners pushed for 17 games for the extra revenue and "because they care so much about player safety," using their stated rationale to jab at them.
- Rodgers urged the league to mandate that visiting teams take part in local cultural events and community work on Sundays or Mondays, while accusing owners of being "tight on money" and resistant to opening their pocketbooks.
- NFL canceled multiple events in Paris amid countrywide protests over school funding and soaring living costs that brought rioting and a heavy police presence; Steelers coach Mike McCarthy said players and their guests stayed close to the hotel Saturday.
Why it matters: Rodgers’ plan keeps the regular season at 16 weeks while using one of two bye weeks for 16 international locations, concentrating the practical burden on team travel budgets. His call for mandated community events also makes owner spending, rather than the number of games, the specific point of contention.
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