As the NFL Lockout drags on — Tuesday is day 87 to be exact — the league is continuing to look at scheduling alternatives if the dispute is not resolved in time.
One contingency plan includes a a season as short as eight games, according to the Sports Business Journal. The season would likely begin in November, assuming an agreement is reached sometime in October. This would allow for a brief free agency and training camp period before the games begin.
When drafting the regular season schedule in April, the league allowed itself room to maneuver by scheduling teams with the same bye week together, allowing for games to be made up if bye weeks are later eliminated. This alteration, as well as opening two possible Super Bowl weekends, would still allow for a 16-game season.
It remains unclear how an eight-game schedule would play out. Division games would still likely account for six of each team's games, with the other two games to be determined.
