The ruling on the Sunday Ticket could accelerate the push for 18 games

It doesn’t take a crystal ball to know that the NFL wants to expand the regular season to 18 games. It also doesn’t take psychic powers to know that the league should be prepared to potentially write a check for $14.088 billion (plus prejudgment interest, post-judgment interest and attorneys’ fees) after all appeals have been exhausted.

Put those two together and the league could build up a war chest for the worst-case scenario between now and the time the Supreme Court either dismisses the case or rules against the NFL. (If the Supreme Court does take the case, it will likely rule in the league’s favor, especially if Clarence Thomas can be counted on.) earn his free Super Bowl ring.)

It will take about three years to get there, maybe four. In the meantime, why not accelerate the inevitable?

There’s nothing stopping the NFL and the NFL Players Association from agreeing to new terms whenever they want. The CBA is a living, breathing document that doesn’t have to expire before it’s replaced. (From 1993 through 2011, it was always renewed a year or more before its term expired.)

While players will not have to pay any of the $14.088 billion, changes to the Sunday Ticket could impact revenue, either by reducing the value of the package or by reducing the payments received from Sunday afternoon broadcasts.

One way to ensure that the rising tide lifts all boats is to add games and windows. One extra game and one extra farewell becomes twenty weekends of football in the regular season. As previously explained, the NFL should be willing to do so resumes Labor Day weekend to land the Super Bowl over Presidents’ Day weekend.

That would be great, because it would lead to more. Thursday night, Friday night, Saturday night, Sunday night, Monday night to start the season. Get the most out of the money to make up for the $14.088 billion.

With 18 games and a new five-night spectacle to kick off the season, the NFL could also go to the networks and re-negotiate TV deals.

If the NFL ultimately wins the Sunday Ticket case at the Supreme Court, all that new money would be gravy.

Pigs are getting fat, boars are being slaughtered? If the NFL takes the right steps while the Sunday Ticket case continues, the hogs will continue to be slaughtered.