interesting that the sport with the least games is BY FAR the most popular. I think something could be said about that. I also realize that the NFL is trying to get more and more games into its schedule while players are fighting it. It took how many decades to get one more game?

I also realize that football is more violent, but consider how many players are missing NBA and MLB games due to injuries each year. It's growing incredibly fast, especially among pitchers in the MLB and across the NBA. Shortening the seasons is certainly worth a really long hard look.