Preseason NFL: why?

[gamecockcat]

Every single year there are major injuries during preseason games that are hardly more than a scrimmage. Panthers lost QB Corral last night. Bucs lost starting OL. Broncos have lost 3, I think, guys who were slated to be significant contributors.

Even if there aren't injuries, fans end up watching games played mainly by guys who likely won't make the 53 man squad. Broncos have barely played any of their starters and Russell Wilson hasn't taken a snap in preseason.

Why not eliminate the preseason altogether, allow every team to start the season with 63 players and then cut back to 53 by, let's say, game 3 or 4, with the 10 remaining on practice squad? College teams don't need preseason. Most pro teams have scrimmages with other teams during camp. Why have any preseason games when it's mainly scrubs or nonroster players who participate?

If it's all money, bump the regular season ticket prices by 15% and do away with preseason crap games.

 

[JC CATS]

Every single year there are major injuries during preseason games that are hardly more than a scrimmage. Panthers lost QB Corral last night. Bucs lost starting OL. Broncos have lost 3, I think, guys who were slated to be significant contributors.

Even if there aren't injuries, fans end up watching games played mainly by guys who likely won't make the 53 man squad. Broncos have barely played any of their starters and Russell Wilson hasn't taken a snap in preseason.

Why not eliminate the preseason altogether, allow every team to start the season with 63 players and then cut back to 53 by, let's say, game 3 or 4, with the 10 remaining on practice squad? College teams don't need preseason. Most pro teams have scrimmages with other teams during camp. Why have any preseason games when it's mainly scrubs or nonroster players who participate?

If it's all money, bump the regular season ticket prices by 15% and do away with preseason crap games.

You convinced me, except with ticket increase, I barely can afford to go now

 

[StubbornPenny]

Back in the day they made sense in working yourself into shape and scouting. Now, all that is handled in the off-season. It’s pretty stupid to keep doing, not to mention dangerous.

they still exist only because owners force season ticket holders to buy pre season games too, so they like spreading it out. Thing is, season tickets holders hate these games too, and would probably just as well pay the same amount for less games (not to mention the regular season is now 17).

the risk for injury could be greatly diminished if they just ran some 7 on 7, no sacks, and some ST drills.

 

[HerrosHeroes]

$$$$$$$$$$
These stadiums are damn near full for meaningless games.
This country has gone crazy over football!

 

[megablue]

$$$$$$$$$$
These stadiums are damn near full for meaningless games.
This country has gone crazy over football!

Football is America’s sport.

 

[kywildcatsfannumber1]

Tony Romo agrees!

 

[SaltyCat22]

I’d attend more NFL games if they weren’t on Sundays at 1:00 or 4:00 PM. The ambience of college football is just infinitely better. Saturdays are awesome, Sundays stink.

 

[Riddickulis]

I think maybe the NFL should pay for all the injuries sustained in the preseason. Players salaries until they return. That may change the way they do things. Only way to really punish someone is to hit them where it hurts. The pocket book..

 

[Kats meow]

Basketball analogy: Why play exhibition games in the Bahamas. Why scrimmage in practice?

 

[gamecockcat]

Basketball analogy: Why play exhibition games in the Bahamas. Why scrimmage in practice?

A lot fewer injuries in basketball. There aren't 10 non-scholarship players playing for UK. UK doesn't scrimmage with Indiana or UConn prior to the season like most NFL teams do in preseason camp.

I understand the sentiment but think your analogy falls short.

 

[UKSanders]

I think maybe the NFL should pay for all the injuries sustained in the preseason. Players salaries until they return. That may change the way they do things. Only way to really punish someone is to hit them where it hurts. The pocket book..

I am pretty sure they do that. I have a close friend who was close to making the Steelers roster but was in the final cut.

He said by the time the coaches called him in to tell him, he knew he wasn’t going to make it, so he was kinda hoping for a minor injury because the team couldn’t release him and had to keep him at the league minimum salary either until he was recovered or maybe for the season

 

[FtWorthCat]

They used to play 6 preseason games. I agree though, 1 is too many.

 

[gojvc]

I think maybe the NFL should pay for all the injuries sustained in the preseason. Players salaries until they return. That may change the way they do things. Only way to really punish someone is to hit them where it hurts. The pocket book..

You don’t add a 17th game if you have any interest at all in player safety.

 

[Deeeefense]

If it's all money, bump the regular season ticket prices by 15%

The main revenue stream is from TV not ticket sales.
I noticed the Bengals aren't playing any starters tonight, and I believe I heard the announcer say they won't play any starters in any of the preseason games. That is essentially a vote in favor of what you are proposing it seems to me.

 

[Johnfarrel]

Every single year there are major injuries during preseason games that are hardly more than a scrimmage. Panthers lost QB Corral last night. Bucs lost starting OL. Broncos have lost 3, I think, guys who were slated to be significant contributors.

Even if there aren't injuries, fans end up watching games played mainly by guys who likely won't make the 53 man squad. Broncos have barely played any of their starters and Russell Wilson hasn't taken a snap in preseason.

Why not eliminate the preseason altogether, allow every team to start the season with 63 players and then cut back to 53 by, let's say, game 3 or 4, with the 10 remaining on practice squad? College teams don't need preseason. Most pro teams have scrimmages with other teams during camp. Why have any preseason games when it's mainly scrubs or nonroster players who participate?

If it's all money, bump the regular season ticket prices by 15% and do away with preseason crap games.

Makes too much sense to be implemented.

 

[fabcat]

They use them to evaluate players they’ve drafted or free agents. They could probably get away with have the inter squad practices like the Titans had with Tampa last week and having Arizona in this week. But money is lost if they don’t have a game to sell tickets ect: but 3 is too many IMO.

 

[NavyCat88]

I don't think it is as much about preparing sure-fire starters for the season as it is roster management for players on the margin.

NFL teams don't operate with a final roster in preseason. The league is slated to go from 90 to 85 to 80 to 53 by 30 Aug.

They obviously use the preseason games to evaluate rookies and UDFAs. But also, the "live game" hitting and wear and tear in the preseason games exposes aging vets who just don't have the resilience to play reliably anymore.....evaluations for IR.....etc.

Pre-season is simply extended try-outs for final roster spots IMO. The injuries are a negative byproduct, but remember, they're starting the process with 90-man rosters, so I suppose the league uses the pre-season personnel numbers to buffer the injury impact.

GBB!

 

[KMKAT]

We know why they play them because a team like the Falcons has to evaluate everyone during a rebuild.
Ex: A national lacrosse player of the year at Maryland, Jared Bernhardt, who then played QB at Ferris St for one year, won the D2 championship and now is trying to stick on their roster as a WR. He's excelled in back-2-back preseason games. Sometimes it takes the lights to come on for someone to shine.

But they did have an injury to their top draft pick in Game 1 also.

That's why they play these games and they make you pay regular prices. Fans aren't exactly smart on the money side of things.