The owners and the union formerly known as the NFLPA are set to meet on June 21, with a ruling expected soon after on whether or not the lock out will be upheld.
The faces of the NFL Lockout: DeMaurice Smith and Roger Goodell
But despite the feeling among many that a deal could possibly be reached before then, there are now rumors that the NFL has plans in place for a shortened season just incase.
Sources have told the Nashville Business Journal that the NFL is “considering season lengths as short as eight regular season games” in the event that a deal can not be reached. Colts owner Jim Irsay has been qouted as saying that in order to save the pre-season, a deal would need to be reached by July 4th- which is less then a month away.
If the season is cut to as little as eight games, it is likely that changes would be made to the schedule in order to ensure match ups within each division. An 8 game schedule, is it is implemented, most likely would end up hurting the Eagles.
The NFC East is considered one of the tougher divisions in football, and an 8 game schedule that focuses on promoting the division rivalries could feature 6 of the 8 games against the Redskins, Cowboys and Giants. That would put the Eagles at a serious disadvantage in playoff standings, as teams such as Seattle would get to play the Cardinals, Rams and 49ers twice.
Another way this could play out is the Eagles would face each team in their division once, followed by the opponents from the AFC East- perhaps the second toughest division in football.
Clearly this is all speculation, but on a slow news day, it is interesting to ponder how a 8 game schedule could end up hurting the Eagles.
