???The National Football League is the greatest professional league in the country for one reason - dramatics.
???As Heidi Klum would say, "One minute you're in, the next, you're out."
???The NFL's scheduling is a topic that can be debated over and over again for many reasons. Unlike its sister leagues in the MLB, NBA and NHL, each game truly matters.
???If the Red Sox lost their first four games, big deal - they have 158 left. If the Bills lost their first four games, let's just say they are in a pretty big hole with only 12 games to go.
???Recently, many have speculated that the NFL might shrink the four-game preseason to three or even two games, allowing for an extended regular season.
???I don't see why the button hasn't been pushed yet.
???By extending the regular season by two games, the league will allow the NFL's 32 teams the ability to make magic happen and possibly sway the momentum that was limited by a 17-week regular season.
???Personally, I feel that we are nearing the greatest time for the opportunity to fulfill this. In 2002, the NFL instituted a realignment, which formed a new scheduling formula for the newly set divisions in the league. AFC teams could expect to play out-of-division AFC teams every three seasons, while playing each NFC team every four years.
???This formula, set through 2009, allowed the NFL to look at the situation and see if it was right for the league.
???It's time for a change.
???While I don't know what teams would play each other for the extra two games each year, I could throw my idea in the ring. While the current formula allows for the same-ranked foe from two different divisional teams in the same conference, throw some inter-conference play in there. If the Bills are playing the NFC West, a same-ranked AFC West team at home and an AFC North team away, they can play a same-ranked team from the NFC North and the NFC South or the NFC East either home or away.
???The possibilities are endless.
???By having these two games, it would only mean good things for the league, its teams and its fans.
???Preseason games aren't sellouts and adding another regular season home game to every team's schedule will only help the financial situations of all these teams. More importantly, pointless injuries will be hindered by 50 percent.
???While many believe that all four preseason games help coaches understand how a player might benefit their organization, dropping two isn't going to change much. If a player is going to be good, they will open eyes in each of the two preseason bouts. If they are bad, let's just say the only football game they'll be playing is fantasy football on Yahoo!.
???There really isn't anything bad that could occur due to these two extra games minus the timing.
???If the games were played at the exact same time as their predecessor preseason battles, it might be 70 or 80 degrees in Buffalo while it's over 100 in Dallas and Phoenix. Also, the use of dual stadiums because of baseball might cause an issue.
???What to do? Give a week off after the two preseason games, and push everything back one week, except the Super Bowl. This would allow one warm-weather game and one cold-weather game to be added to the schedule. Also, there would be only a one-week gap before the Super Bowl which is more than enough time.
???Commissioner Roger Goodell has thrown the idea out there. Now he has to make it happen.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
