Jerry Jones Responds to Mark Cuban’s Viral ‘NFL Implosion’ Warning, Defends League Expansion with Bold ‘Feed the Demand’ Take

Jerry Jones expects the NFL to add an 18th regular season game very soon.

Jerry Jones Responds to Mark Cuban’s Viral ‘NFL Implosion’ Warning, Defends League Expansion with Bold ‘Feed the Demand’ Take

Jerr Jones (Image via IMAGO)

In Short
  • The NFL is considering expanding to an 18-game regular season, with support from several team owners.
  • Jerry Jones argues that the demand for games justifies the expansion, emphasizing benefits for players and revenue.
  • Mark Cuban warns that the NFL's aggressive expansion could lead to negative consequences, citing a saying about greed.

The NFL is seriously weighing a move to an 18-game regular season. The subject is still in its discussion phase, but Jerry Jones‘ latest statement suggests that he and other NFL owners will welcome the decision to play one extra game.

The NFL has expanded its schedule to include games on Black Friday, Christmas Day, the Friday of “Opening Weekend,” and even a new Wednesday night “Kickoff Game” instead of the usual Thursday night opener. The Christmas matchups have drawn attention away from the NBA, shifting the holiday spotlight to football.

This arrangement even ticked off a basketball legend, LeBron James, who, as every Cleveland native knows, is a big fan of football himself.

I love the NFL. I love the NFL, but Christmas is our day.

James said (H/T: Yahoo Sports)

Former Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban made an intriguing observation about the NFL’s expansionist ideology. Cuban, on Sunday evening when his pregame conversation with reporters, called it, “Think the NFL is 10 years away from an implosion…Pigs get fat, hogs get slaughtered. And they’re getting hoggy.”

At the NFL owners’ meeting, reporters reminded Jones of Cuban’s words, and the veteran shared his views:

When the ducks quack, feed them. And we have that demand for our games because of the hard work and great players that we have. We have a great demand. We should address it, respond to it, and feed it.

Jerry Jones said via Jon Machota of The Athletic

Football may be a sport, but it’s also a business, and TV ratings are the bread and butter of running a successful league such as the NFL.

Jones’ argument centers on the existing Collective Bargaining Agreement, which already guarantees players a proportional share of any revenue growth the league generates. In an 18-game regular season, there will be one fewer preseason game and two bye weeks instead of one.

My interpretation of the 18th game would be less preseason games. I like that. I think that’s great for the players — emphasize great for the players. It increases the viability of the financial aspect, more gate and more money for the players as well.

Jones isn’t the only one pushing for this change; Patriots owner Robert Kraft and Colts owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon are on board as well.

I think, as long as the players want it—which I think they would, because it would mean more revenue and, ultimately, a better product—I think it’s reasonable and something we should work toward.

Carlie Irsay-Gordon said

Back in 2024, Cowboys COO Stephen Jones hinted that the league was discussing the possibility of a longer season.

I’m on the competition committee. We’ve talked about this, knowing that it’s probably inevitable. I do know, at the end of the day, the players enjoy the compensation that’s coming their way, and they get, for the most part, half of every revenue dollar that comes through the door. So, certainly getting paid well.

Stephen Jones said

Two-time Super Bowl champion calls out Jerry Jones for backing an 18-game season

Primarily, moving to an 18-game season is being seen as a power move by the owners. This will generate additional revenue for the club, with players receiving a share.

Jerry Jones Responds to Mark Cuban’s Viral ‘NFL Implosion’ Warning, Defends League Expansion With Bold ‘Feed the Demand’ Take
Jerry Jones (Image via IMAGO)

However, there is a section that wants the league to continue functioning the way it has for the last few years. Christian Fauria, who won two Super Bowls with the Patriots, shared his opinion on the subject.

I love how the guy who never played pro sports wants to tell the ones who actually do it what a better application of their talent is.

Fauria tweeted

The league already moved from 16 to 17 games in 2021. Now, the momentum is once again gaining support for adding an 18th fixture to the schedule.

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