Cowboys' Jerry Jones sends clear message to players about 18-game regular season

Since at least the fall of 2022, Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones has made it known that he wants the NFL Players Association to accept an agreement for an 18-game regular season sooner rather than later. 

While speaking with reporters on Tuesday, Jones sent a message to the players about a schedule change that seems to be inevitable. 

Jerry Jones: Expanding the season means more money for everybody involved

"My interpretation of the 18th game would be less preseason games," Jones explained, per Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk. "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." 

For an article published on Tuesday, Matt Verderame of Sports Illustrated noted how "joint practices might become more important and prevalent than ever before" if the NFL gets its wish of replacing a week of preseason contests with a week of meaningful games as soon as next year. It's thought NFL owners will eventually attempt to replace all remaining preseason games (other than the yearly Hall of Fame Game) with regular-season matchups. 

However, the terms of the collective bargaining agreement that runs through the 2030 campaign dictate that the union must agree to expanding the regular season. 

Jerry Jones: Players should want the exposure that would come with playing in more regular-season games

Player safety is often referenced for why the NFLPA hasn't been in a rush to add a week of regular-season football to the calendar. The union could ask for an increased share of revenue to get to 18 games before the 2030s arrive, but Jones suggested that expanding the regular season will benefit players beyond what they would receive from any agreement with league owners. 

"I think it’s a better application of their careers and talent," Jones added during his comments. "Less preseason, more playing in games that have the right balance of the financial rewards as well as exposure." 

Jones and his fellow owners will almost certainly get their desired 18-game schedule at some point. Once that happens, the league's pursuit of embracing a schedule format of 20 regular-season games and zero preseason contests will likely get underway.