One person familiar with the situation, speaking on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the deliberations on the topic, said there will be “discussion” by the owners next week of the expanded-playoffs proposal and a “possible vote.” That person said a formal vote being taken next week “seems unlikely right now [but] that could change.”
Another person with knowledge of the matter said that “no decision will be made on a vote until the meeting.”
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell potentially could make a decision on whether to take a formal vote of the owners after seeing how the discussion goes.
Under the proposal, seven teams in each conference would qualify for the postseason instead of the current six. Only one team per conference would receive a first-round playoff bye, rather than the current two, and there would be six first-round postseason games league-wide instead of the current four. One of those first-round playoff games potentially would be played on a Monday night.
The additional postseason games would be intended to generate increased revenues for the sport, particularly through its television deals.
The owners are scheduled to meet in Atlanta next Tuesday.
Have a question about the Redskins? Send an e-mail to mike.jones@washpost.com with the subject line “Mailbag question,” and it might be answered on Tuesday in The Mailbag.
More draft coverage from The Post:
Mailbag: How the draft picks fit
Bog: Trent Murphy’s Dad | Early Lead: Scouts find so much weakness
NFL coverage: Redskins home | Fancy Stats | The Early Lead | D.C. Sports Bog
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