AARON RODGERS SAYS NFL DISCUSSED FULL WEEK OF OVERSEAS GAMES

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers said talks over the 2020 NFL collective bargaining agreement included a proposal to stage 16 games in 16 foreign locations during one week. Rodgers spoke after the Steelers beat the New Orleans Saints 16-10 in Paris on Sunday. He said he had wanted to take part in the NFL’s international games. “The reach of the league is fantastic, and I think I always wanted to be a part of it,” Rodgers said. He described the proposed week as “phenomenal for the game”.

Rodgers did not play an NFL game outside the United States until 2022. He has since started games in England, Ireland and France. Rodgers said team owners had pushed for a 17-game regular season to gain extra revenue. He criticised that push in a comment about player safety. “Now, the owners wanted to push for 17 games for the extra revenue because they care so much about player safety, but it would have been nice,” he said.

Rodgers said he still wanted the NFL to stage a full week of international games. “I think there are great opportunities for expansion in those things,” he said. Rodgers has said this NFL season will be his last. His comments set out his account of the 2020 negotiations and his continuing support for more games abroad. The available account does not establish whether the league or team owners plan to revisit the proposal.