Last week, the NFL submitted a proposal to enhance the NFL season to 18 games. The idea is not to add two games but to move two games from the preseason to the regular season. Most fans do not like the preseason because is not competitive and football players have said it poses the risk of getting injured for no reason. On the other hand, owners don’t find it profitable and coaches fear they might reveal too much of their strategy during the preseason.

Although a longer regular season would be great for fans who love the National Football League, it would not be so great for football players, who usually end the season playing hurt and risking further injury as well as their careers. By the end of the season, players need their much earned rest.

“Don’t get me wrong, I love the game of football. If fans want to show their love, they should let everyone know that we are not machines,” Ray Lewis said in a statement. “I know our fans may not like preseason games and I don’t like all of them, but swapping two preseason games for two end-of-season games—when players already play hurt—comes at a huge cost for the player and the team.”

Tom Brady also commented on the preseason issue: “I’ve taken part in several postseason runs where we have played 20 games. The long-term impact this game has on our bodies is well documented. Look no further than the players that came before we did.”