Patriots Owner Robert Kraft Hints At Major NFL Change That Could Lead To Lockout

The New England Patriots are one win away from the Super Bowl, but owner Robert Kraft is already letting fans know what the future holds.

During an appearance on “98.5 The Sports Hub,” Kraft revealed the NFL’s desire to add another game to the schedule as well as a desire to have every team play one international game.

“We’re gonna push like the dickens now, to make international (exposure) more important with us,” Kraft said on Tuesday. “Every team will go to 18 (games) and two (preseason games) and eliminate one of the preseason games. Every team, every year, will play one game overseas. Part of the reason is so we can continue to grow the cap and keep our labor happy. Because we’re sort of getting near the top here, you know, with the (domestic) coverage.”

The Patriots’ owner noted that 93 of the top 100 television programs are NFL games. There is not much more room to grow in the United States. Simply put, the more money the NFL makes, the higher the salary cap can be, and the higher the salary cap is, the more money players can make.

When the last collective bargaining agreement was approved in February of 2020, the NFL expanded the playoffs from 12 to 14 teams starting with the 2020 season and added a 17th regular-season game starting in 2021. The NFL also removed one preseason game, giving each team three.

The move sparked plenty of debate about player safety and the need for the preseason. Now, adding another game to an already grueling schedule should spark plenty of debate. Especially if every team will have to endure international travel as well.

The current collective bargaining agreement is set to expire after the 2030 season. The NFL Players Association has been against adding an 18th game, citing health and safety as the primary reason. However, if owners want to add an 18th game to increase revenue, and the players association pushes back, a lockout could be coming.