Tom Brady Rails Against Decision to Move to a 17 Game Regular Season

NFL legend Tom Brady has made it abundantly clear that he’s not pleased with the addition of a 17th regular-season game this season and believes the decision to do so was a ‘terrible’ one that he never approved of.

The NFL has been playing with a 16-game regular-season schedule since 1978 but chose to expand to 17 for the current season in a move that has led to more than just a little frustration from those within the game. It should be noted that fans are less concerned about the change, which is unsurprising given that it means another game to watch.

The fact that Brady’s comments come after his Tampa Bay Buccaneers fell to a 27-36 defeat to the New Orleans Saints is perhaps a factor. However, the reigning Super Bowl champions are still well placed to go long into the postseason with their handy 6-2 record leaving them clear at the top of the NFC South.

Brady’s team is well placed in the NFL futures betting market, as you can see at https://www.sidelines.io, with the Buccaneers available at around (+600) to clinch back-to-back NFL titles. At the beginning of the season, the Kansas City Chiefs were the only side ahead of Tampa Bay in the betting, but they’ve now been replaced by a resurgent Buffalo Bills outfit that leads the AFC East.

Perhaps the lengthier season is more of a factor for Brady given his advancing years, we are, after all, talking about a star quarterback who isn’t yet halfway into his 22nd NFL season, and his aging frame may well be starting to feel the strain.

Tom Brady did a fair bit of complaining over the offseason, attacks on the NFL owners being chief among them, but this additional game is certainly something that irks the 44-year-old;

“I think it’s pointless. I thought it was a terrible decision. So, I don’t like the fact that we’re playing the 17th game at all. I think 16 is plenty. You’re eight games into the year, and you’re not halfway through, so that’s kind of a little frustrating aspect. Whatever. We’ll play it. It’s there.

“A lot of guys probably miss games over the course of the season anyway, so they probably don’t play all 16, most guys. But if you’re fortunate to be able to make it through a season and you gotta play the 17th game, I think there are a lot of things that I would adjust to the offseason, the regular-season schedule. A lot of people know my feelings on some of these topics. I’ve been pretty vocal about NFL issues over the last couple years, and some of the things that are done that I don’t necessarily think are in the best interest of the game.”

As is perhaps typical of a player of Brady’s standing, it’s worth noting that his frustrations have not translated to poor performances out on the field.

Brady stands second in terms of passing yards, behind Los Angeles Rams’ Matthew Stafford, and has the most passing touchdowns this season (25) and is a decent bet for the NFL MVP award this season, which would be his fourth.