I've said this for years, the NFL plays way too few games. No team sport in the world plays so few. Having played both Rugby and Soccer I can tell you that both sports put a hell of a lot on your body, they play for the full 90mins or 80mins and pro athletes in those sports play a hell of a lot more games. If there is a genuine concern about the wear and tear, then insert more bye weeks, make bigger rosters, surely that helps the NFLPA get more members full time careers.
Going to 17 games a season is nothing really, they should go to 22 in my view. That way they could make a much more consistent schedule where everyone plays everyone in their division twice, everyone outside of their division but in their conference once and then play the remaining 4 games against a division in the other conference. Get rid of all pre-season games and you only need to find 2 more weeks here.
Just my 2 cents, I'm sure I've angered a bunch of folks here so bring it on :)