DANA POINT, Calif.—For those who would like to see a shorter preseason, rejoice. A change might be coming soon.

The NFL could move to a 17-or 18-game regular season, possibly as early as 2011. That means the preseason would be reduced by one or two games. Any additional regular-season games would be tacked onto the end of the schedule.

Talk of an expanded schedule gained momentum during the NFL owners meetings this week to the point where Commissioner Roger Goodell could present a proposal to the owners in May.

“It’s possible that we could vote in May, but we want to have core discussions on this,” Goodell said on Wednesday.

The NFL moved from a 14-game regular-season schedule to 16 games in 1978. The league also went to four preseason games from six.

Goodell said it’s time for another change, and he thinks the fans agree with him.

“Anytime you have change, there is some reluctance,” he said. “But it’s clear we don’t need four preseason games anymore. Fans don’t believe preseason games are up to our standards. A key point is the fans also recognize players they want to see are not in those preseason games. That’s why they are not attractive. They want to see those players play.”

Goodell added that he has not approached the NFL’s broadcast partners with the idea, though he expects they would be interested in televising more games.

But first things first. An expanded schedule would have to be part of the negotiations on a new collective bargaining agreement between ownership and the players union. The owners opted out of the deal last May, which means 2010 would be an uncapped year if a new deal is not in place.

Other issues that need to be discussed are when the regular season would begin, scheduling bye weeks, the playoffs and offseason events such as the combine, college draft and minicamps. Moreover, playing 17 games would mean half the teams will have nine home games. An 18-game schedule would eliminate the imbalance.

Goodell said there’s a possibility that a 17th game would be played on a neutral site, including foreign countries. Having an additional game on the schedule might increase the likelihood of the Bills playing a second regular-season game in Toronto.

“That’s been one of the appealing features of converting preseason games into regular-season games is it gives you more inventory, more games that you can take to neutral sites, either internationally or domestically,” Goodell said. “So that is a compelling feature.”

The owners Wednesday passed several rules. One of the most significant allows a loose ball that could be a fumble or incomplete pass to be reviewed.

The rule stems from referee Ed Hochuli mistakenly ruling Denver quarterback Jay Cutler threw an incompletion in the final seconds of a Week Two game against San Diego last season. Television replays clearly showed the ball slipped out of Cutler’s hands. The Chargers had recovered the fumble, but it was given back to the Broncos and they scored the winning touchdown on the same possession.

A second replay rule will now allow officials to review a play to determine if a loose ball hit the sideline. In last January’s NFC Championship Game, a short kickoff by Arizona was mishandled by a Philadelphia player near the Eagles sideline and recovered by the Cardinals. But the Eagles retained possession because officials ruled the ball hit out of bounds before the recovery even though replays showed the ball never touched the sideline. Other rules passed were:

A new draft order in 2010 to ensure the 12 playoff teams, regardless of record, get the last 12 picks. The Super Bowl winner would get the final selection and the runner-up would get the 31st pick. Every other playoff team would be slotted based on when it is eliminated.

The elimination of a re-kick after an illegal onside kick. The ball now goes to the receiving team.

On all fumbles and laterals that go out of bounds, the clock will start when the ref signals ready for play.

Even though Bills owner Ralph C. Wilson couldn’t attend the meetings because of a shoulder injury, his presence was felt.

The NFL put up an exhibit commemorating the 50th anniversary of the AFL. Among the displays were photos of Wilson and other original AFL owners, the jersey worn by Bills Hall of Fame offensive lineman Billy Shaw in the 1964 AFL title game and the $15,000 contract ex-Bills safety George Saimes signed n 1964.

“It’s too bad he couldn’t be here, especially now that we’re talking about the 50th year of the AFL,” Pittsburgh Steelers owner Dan Rooney said of Wilson. “He was very much a part of that.”