In a news conference held on Wednesday, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell addressed various topics concerning the league, including the possibility of an 18-game season and Tom Brady's efforts to become a minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders.

Regarding the notion of an 18-game season, which Goodell had previously mentioned as his dream schedule, the commissioner stated that it was not currently an active discussion. However, he acknowledged that the league is considering the idea in a "long-range context," with the intention of reducing the number of preseason games if it were to occur. Goodell emphasized that the NFL sees a potential trade-off in having fewer preseason games and more regular-season games, which he believes would be beneficial.

Goodell's comments at the news conference echoed his previous remarks made on "The Pat McAfee Show," where he mentioned the possibility of an extended regular season and a shorter preseason. The alteration would push back the playoffs, resulting in the Super Bowl being held on a three-day holiday weekend. However, a recent report from The Athletic highlighted that such changes are not imminent due to the wording in the current collective bargaining agreement and the lack of engagement between NFL owners and the NFL Players Association regarding the matter.

When asked about the timeline for implementing an 18-game season, Goodell suggested that it would not happen anytime soon. He emphasized the importance of focusing on quality and delivering what fans desire, which is more regular-season football. However, the commissioner seemed doubtful that fans would want an extension to the preseason.

Another topic discussed during the news conference was Tom Brady's potential ownership stake in the Las Vegas Raiders. Goodell stated that progress is being made in the negotiations, but certain issues still need to be addressed. One of the concerns raised is the access Brady would have to other teams for his broadcasting duties with Fox. It was revealed last May that Brady had reached an agreement with Raiders owner Mark Davis to become part of the organization's ownership group, pending NFL approval. However, with Brady set to begin his broadcasting career during Week 1 of the upcoming season, questions have arisen about the feasibility of his dual roles.

As of now, discussions continue regarding the potential changes to the NFL schedule and Brady's ownership bid. Both matters require further examination and agreement among the relevant parties.