An 18-game NFL regular season isn’t a slam dunk.

NFLPA executive director Lloyd Howell pushed back on it Wednesday even though NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has openly talked about it as if it’s inevitable.

The two sides haven’t had formal discussions about expanding the season, which would require renegotiating the collective bargaining agreement.

“It’s a players’ decision as to what they will agree to do or not,” Howell said. “Right now when I have talked to players over the last two seasons, no one wants to play an 18th game. No one. Seventeen games, for many of the guys, is too long.”

Of course, the players’ union would want the league to make several concessions in order to agree to an 18th game.

Jalen Reeves-Maybin, a linebacker for the Lions and NFLPA president, wouldn’t specify what the players may want in return.

Players are expected to want more money, another bye week, amendments to the offseason calendar, improvement of playing surfaces, a larger roster and much more. Time off between games, especially international games, is another issue. Distribution of revenue will be a major point, too.

Goodell said Monday there’s “a lot of work to be done” before the NFL possibly could expand to 18 games.

“If we do, 18 (games) and two (byes) might be a possibility,” he said. “We know fans love football and they want more football. But we have to be incredibly sensitive and smart with the balance and how we deal with that.”

The current CBA runs through the 2030 season but the two sides could agree to amendments anytime.

super TICKET PRICES

Prices on the secondary-ticket market for Sunday’s Super Bowl in New Orleans are much less than last year’s big game and declining, but still high by historical standards.

The average price for the Chiefs-Eagles game at TickPick was $6,552 as of Tuesday. If that amount holds, it would be that website’s third highest for a Super Bowl.

Last year’s game between the Chiefs and 49ers had an average price at that site of $9,136. The only other Super Bowl to attract a higher average price was four years ago when the amount was $7,046 for Chiefs’ game against the hometown Buccaneers when the crowd was limited to 25,000 fans because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The lowest price for this year’s game was just less than $4,000, which has declined about 30% since the matchup was set.

KITTLE’S SALUTE

49ers two-time All-Pro tight end George Kittle is the USAA 2024 Salute to Service award winner.

Kittle beat out Vikings running back Aaron Jones and Chargers defensive end Morgan Fox for the award.

The award recognizes the “exceptional efforts by members of the NFL family to honor and support the military community.” Kittle will be recognized at NFL Honors tonight.

Kittle hosts military and frontline heroes at every 49ers game, donating more than 400 tickets in the last six years. Kittle and his family amplify community stories, nearly 60 of those involving veterans, through the Hidden Pearls Podcast founded in 2020. Kittle and his family created an app offering free mental health resources to veterans, including the meditative practices he uses while playing.

Kittle also has donated more than $250,000 to military nonprofits and further highlighted military organizations through My Cause My Cleats, including the Pat Tillman Foundation, TAPS, Merging Vets and Players, Operation Freedom Paws and Operation Surf.