It has to be 100% driven by money, right? Obviously, the fans are not considered since very few starters and major subs play in exhibition games. NFL teams have plenty of time to prepare, many/most have scrimmages with other teams in fall camp, etc., so there is no reason why teams aren't ready to play real games immediately. College teams don't have/need exhibition games. Yes, many teams schedule a 'win' for the first game or very early while NFL teams don't have that luxury. But, it's a full-time job for NFL players and teams. After OTAs, voluntary workouts and preseason camp, professionals can't be ready to play the regular season? They need 3 exhibition games in which mainly 2nd and 3rd teamers participate in an effort to make at least the practice squad? For most of every exhibition game, the fans/audience can't recognize or call the players' names who are on the field. Maybe 2 or 3 will make the squad. But, that can't be determined during practice, drills and intrasquad scrimmages? It's a complete ripoff of the fans who are compelled to pay the same price for exhibition games as regular season games to watch, for the most part, non-NFL players compete.
I would applaud an 18-game schedule, an expanded roster (maybe 60 players with another 8-10 on practice squad) and zero exhibition games. I don't know anyone, even those who are huge NFL fans, that pay any attention to exhibition games. Why have them?
I would applaud an 18-game schedule, an expanded roster (maybe 60 players with another 8-10 on practice squad) and zero exhibition games. I don't know anyone, even those who are huge NFL fans, that pay any attention to exhibition games. Why have them?