The league just dropped next year's slate, and San Francisco is looking at a staggering 38,000 miles of travel — including not one but two international games. The crown jewel? A divisional matchup against the Rams in Melbourne, Australia. Because nothing says "natural rivalry" like playing your division opponent on a different continent, in a different hemisphere, during their spring.

Look, we get it. The NFL is a business, and the global expansion play is about money. Roger Goodell sees dollar signs in every time zone. But at some point, you have to ask whether competitive integrity takes a backseat to international marketing. A 38,000-mile season means more jet lag, more wear on players' bodies, and more opportunities for the kind of soft-tissue injuries that can derail a Super Bowl run. These aren't robots — they're athletes being asked to perform at the highest level while crisscrossing the globe like touring rock bands.

And let's spare a thought for the fans. Season ticket holders in Santa Clara already deal with the joy of commuting to Levi's Stadium in the south Bay Area heat. Now two of their "home" experiences are being shipped overseas. Try catching a divisional game at a reasonable hour when it's being played in Australia.

One local on Reddit summed it up perfectly: the Niners are basically being asked to play a full NFL season plus run an international travel schedule that would make a diplomat tired.

The NFL keeps talking about growing the game globally, but the cost is being charged directly to the teams and fans who already sustain it. Kyle Shanahan and his staff will have to game-plan around time zones as much as opposing defenses. If the league wants to go global, fine — but maybe spread the burden a little more evenly instead of turning one team's season into a geography lesson.