By F. Dale Lolley, Staff writer

dlolley@observer-reporter.com

The NFL is unlikely to increase its regular season to 18 games but there's a growing sentiment to go to 17.

Steelers president Dan Rooney said he's not a fan of more regular-season games but would support it as a way to increase revenue for some teams that are struggling with attendance at preseason games.

The increase in the regular season would be added at the expense of preseason games, which is why Rooney doesn't support going to 18 games.

"I think we have to be concerned about training football players, particularly quarterbacks," Rooney said. "You come to camp now with a minimum of four quarterbacks. You have to play your No. 1 sometime. Now how do you get in someone like (Dennis) Dixon? He's a guy who looks great for the future. You can say that about everybody. You can also say it about the officials."

The schedule was last expanded in 1978, going from 14 to 16 games, with preseason games reduced from six games to four.

If the league goes to an unbalanced 17-game schedule, Rooney feels the extra game could be accounted for by playing more games in foreign countries or having teams from each conference host one extra home game each season on a rotating basis.

Slipping sales

Despite their success on the field, the Steelers are lagging in a key part of the NFL marketing game - jersey sales.

According to the latest numbers from NFLShop.com, Steelers jerseys did not rank among the top 10 hottest sellers since March.

In the previous list (Feb. 8-April 1), Steelers safety Troy Polamalu ranked 10th.

The Dallas Cowboys had four players in the top 10 behind Brett Favre, the top seller. Quarterback Tony Romo was second, running back Marion Barber fourth, tight end Jason Witten eighth, and wide receiver Terrell Owens 10th.

Costly suspension

Adam Jones' suspension by the NFL isn't only going to cost him money, it's going to cost the Cowboys as well.

According to the NFL Network, the Cowboys will be fined 50 percent of Jones' salary - $20,588 per game - for each game he misses, up to $200,000. The penalty will be applied even if Dallas releases Jones.

Return of the Creamsicles

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are finally jumping into the throwback frenzy.

Tampa Bay announced this week that it will be starting a "Ring of Honor" for its former stars, and in 2009, the Bucs will wear throwback uniforms to honor the 30th anniversary of its 1979 team that advanced to the NFC Championship game.

For those too young to remember, that means the old orange and white uniforms with the crazy-looking pirate on the helmet will be taken out of mothballs.

Depending on your opinion, the old Bucs uniforms were one of the best or worst of all-time.

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