NFL Insider Peter King Sounds Alarm on Future of the League

Veteran sports journalist Peter King, who recently retired as a full-time NFL insider, remains deeply engaged with the sport and its ongoing developments.

In a candid discussion with Michael Grant of Awful Announcing, King voiced his concerns about the future trajectory of North America's favourite sport, particularly criticizing the push for a more extended regular season and the rising influence of sports gambling.

King did not mince words about the NFL's ambition to extend the regular season. "I think it's terrible that the NFL wants to play 18 games," King stated.

"I think it's terrible, as Mike Florio (of Pro Football Talk and NBC Sports) has reported, that there are those in the NFL who want to play 20. You've got to be incredibly naive to think that's not going to have an impact on their (players') long-term health."

Rumours are rife that the NFL might strike a deal with the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) for an 18-game season as early as next year.

Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated suggested that the union should demand earlier free agency access and tougher restrictions on franchise tags before agreeing to any schedule changes.

The current collective bargaining agreement, which expires in 2031, mandates that the NFLPA must consent to any season expansion.

King's apprehensions extend beyond just the length of the season.

He also highlighted the ethical and societal implications of the NFL's burgeoning relationship with sports gambling.

"I think it's extremely shortsighted to be selling your soul for more millions," King remarked. "You ask about football in 10 years. What about society in 10 years? Will Gamblers Anonymous have 10 times the number of (addicts) in 10 years than it has now because of sports gambling? Will there be kids addicted in high school who go to college and flunk out of college because all they care about is the next bet?"

The 2023 NFL season saw the league partnering directly with several betting companies, with these partnerships involving significant advertising during games and NFL RedZone broadcasts.

Jenny Vrentas of the New York Times reported in February that these deals are valued at nearly $1 billion over five years.

Despite his lack of concrete evidence, King expressed his fears: "Maybe (I'm) an alarmist. I have no proof. I don't know what's going to happen, but I can see it happening."

While King's concerns may seem speculative, the reality is that the NFL is aggressively seeking every possible revenue stream.

The league's alliances with betting giants like DraftKings, FanDuel, and Caesars Entertainment are expected to continue, driven by the pursuit of maximizing annual revenue.