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PHOENIX – Robert Kraft, the visionary who bought the flailing New England Patriots in the 1990s and turned them into an NFL dynasty, was imagining the NFL's future when he spoke with reporters on Monday.
Kraft, who definitely gets it, would like to see a future NFL that plays 18 regular-season games, plays only two preseason games, includes two bye weeks and, oh yeah, has every single team playing one of its games internationally.
So there it is … the NFL's dream scenario for the 2030s.
Owner of the New England Patriots Robert Kraft. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
"I like it long term for the growth and development of the league because, to keep our league healthy and grow revenue, I think preseason games have not been what it used to be when we owned the team," Kraft told New England area reporters during a break in the NFL annual meeting. "And changing to 18 games and having that real content and being mindful of player safety, I'd personally like to see us have a second bye week.
"But then, it would allow us to also grow the game internationally. Every team in the league would play a game overseas … I think it would be a lot more exciting for the fans to have an extra game rather than the way our preseason games stack up."
This is not a daydream. It's a league that craves growth and money building a penthouse over its already lofty perch atop American sports.
And we know this because commissioner Roger Goodell has leaked a somewhat similar vision of Kraft's outline in drubs and drabs the last couple of years — usually before offering a requisite amount of temperance to lower expectations.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.
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