Should NFL mandate early travel for Week 1 international games?

As the conversation continues on the Rams’ apparent misfire regarding the decision to barnstorm into and out of Melbourne, there’s another question that needs to be asked about Week 1 international games played a long way away from the U.S.

Michael Holley mentioned the concept on Friday’s PFT Live. And it’s a good idea — the league should treat the Week 1 international game like the Super Bowl and require the teams to arrive early.

If the goal is to export the game to the countries, the effort needs to be more comprehensive. Get there early. Make local appearances. Have multiple press conferences in the place where the game will be played.

It takes the travel strategy out of the teams’ hands and makes the issue part of the overall obligation.

Yes, the rest of the story regarding the 49ers-Rams travel adventure will unfold in Week 2, and possibly beyond. But the 49ers seemed to be far more prepared to play given their decision to go to Australia a week early. Having both teams arrive on the same day avoids the possibility that one team will be acclimated and one won’t.

Of course, the Rams’ experience may be enough to get the selected teams to go early without being told to do so. But why even let it be a variable? The NFL is already imposing on the teams by making them play on the other side of the world. It’s not much more of an imposition to mandate the itinerary.