Battered players skeptical of expanding NFL season

ASHBURN, Va. -- Injuries are stacking up in the NFL, as they often do late in the year, and players are skeptical about the notion of expanding the regular season.

Forty-four players have been placed on injured reserve in the last two weeks. And Ben Roethlisberger is among the big-name stars who have had to sit out a game.

The NFL is looking at lengthening the regular season from 16 games to 17 or 18. Players interviewed by The Associated Press expressed concern that the quality of play would suffer and careers would be shortened. Some questioned whether the wear and tear would be worth the extra money.

The NFL notes an expanded regular season would include the same number of total games because the preseason would be shortened by the same amount.