If the NFL decides to extend its regular season to 18 games, the expectation is that the league's offseason will be altered. Currently, players generally are asked to report for voluntary lifting and offseason work in March, in many cases just six weeks or so after the end of the season. Then, players usually have a month or so off before training camps open. And one idea that's gaining traction among players includes not starting the offseason work until mid-May. Opening in May would allow more down time and more of a true offseason, and offseason lifting programs could then lead to a shorter OTA-minicamp period in June. Teams could give players a week or so off around the Fourth of July, then camps would open.