Let us hope that this doesn't happen for the upcoming NFL season

NFL plans for season as short as eight games
Posted by Mike Florio on June 6, 2011, 9:48 AM EDT
AP
At a time when signs of real optimism finally are beginning to emerge regarding a labor deal that would allow the season to start on time, Daniel Kaplan of SportsBusiness Journal reports that the NFL is planning for a season that would be as short as eight games.
An eight-game season would begin in late November, with a whopping five weeks allowed for free agency, training camps, and maybe a single preseason game. This would require a deal to be reached in October.
In 1982, the NFL played only nine games due to a strike, and no one ever questions the legitimacy of the Redskins’ Super Bowl trophy. That year, the NFL set up a 16-team tournament, with only 12 teams not making it to the postseason. In each conference, one 4-5 team landed in the No. 8 spot, nudging out two other 4-5 franchises in each conference. (The two 4-5 teams — Detroit and Cleveland — lost in the first round.)
Still, one less game feels less legitimate. Several 4-4-or-worse teams undoubtedly would qualify for the playoffs. And while in 1982 the 8-1 Redskins and 7-2 Dolphins advanced to the championship game after the strike wiped out seven games in the middle of the season, there’s a chance that a 3-5 team could get hot and win the whole thing, which would could move the asterisk from the NFLPA to Super Bowl XLVI.
With the league able to play the Indianapolis Super Bowl as late as February 12 and thus the conference title games on February 5, the regular season could end on January 15, which would allow an eight-game season to begin on Thanksgiving weekend, possibly with the Lions and Cowboys kicking off the season in their traditional fourth-Thursday-in-November spot and the first full Sunday landing on November 27.
Though Kaplan reports that the league is looking at five weeks of prep time, we’ve previously heard that the absolute minimum is three weeks, which would put the drop-dead date on which all of us would tell the league and the players to drop dead in early November.

This kind of in depth reporting is of interest mainly to those who make a living via the NFL and the fans. I personally have only a passing interest in the pi$$ing contest that the owners and players are engaged in. If there is a shortened or even no season this year it won't affect me one iota. I dare say that the NFL owners and players mistakenly believe that they are important - they aren't except to themselves. The fans will find other things to entertain them and when these morons come to terms expect prices to rise due to lack of interest and revenue. Stupid is as stupid does.

Don't worry. there will be a FULL NFL season. Players can't afford to sit out. Things will work out fine.

DonDiego harbors the same fears as Roulette Man, no NFL, no NFL betting, no Fantasy Football, . . .etc.
Empty Sundays, . . . empty Monday nights, . . . even empty Thursdays and Saturdays, . . .
And no trips to enjoy a live-game among one's fellow fans.
What's the point of even having an Autumn?
It'd be horrible.

But he opines BAGIANT's prediction is true.

Presumedly to improve their chances of increased salaries and benefits, the players employed an unusual tactic in this labor dispute. They disbanded the Players' Union, thereby ending the "labor dispute". And then players sued for greater compensation claiming the NFL violates the Antitrust Laws.

DonDiego is pretty sure that both the NFL Teams and the players really do not want these suits to go to a final adjudication. If the NFL were declared to be an illegal monopoly, the jig is up for the most profitable sports enterprise ever. Whatever remains after whatever changes have to be made will produce less wealth, . . . probably a lot less, . . . than the owners and players are accustomed to splitting.

So DonDiego expects a settlement; the suggestion of an 8-game Season is likely a bargaining tactic. He supposes both sides have a pretty good idea as to when that settlement'll be, . . . and if it eliminates, say, two preseason games, . . . and even, maybe, 2 regular season games, . . . that'll be OK with DonDiego. But no more!

Meanwhile the teams sent our their season ticket invoices 3 months ago and demanded payment in full.

Back here in NYC, I am waiting for the lawsuit on behalf of the people who purchased PSL's (I declined) with the expectation of pro football every year.

The NFL schedulers have made it possible that a full season can still be played if there is no more than three weeks missed.

1. All of the teams playing each other in Week 3 of the season have the same "bye" weeks scheduled. This means that they could forego their bye week and make up the game.

2. The NFL would push back the beginning of post season by one week.

3. The NFL would get rid of the extra week between the championship games and the Super Bowl.

I sit here shaking my head after reading all of these comments about the NFL. Sounds a lot like a bunch of addicts sitting around trying to figure out how they are going to get their next "fix". Meanwhile, the "cartel" (owners) and the "pushers" ( players) are squabbling about how to split up the money.

I'll admit to it. I'm an addict and love both college and professional football. GUILTY.

I used to enjoy the NFL, the game. Now the owners and players have taken the enjoyment out of the game with their outrageous season ticket pricing, PSL's,parking fees. food and drink pricing. Add to the experience having to put up with foul mouthed, rude, drunk and unruly "fans". Yes sir, that is what I really want to do with my hard earned money and my leisure time. I know that my opinion is in the minority here, but as time goes by a few of you might come to the same conclusion that I have come to- there is a lot more to life than the NFL.

That is what is called the "off season".