NFL Pre-Season....Too Many Games?
Red called me yesterday and we had a discussion about the NFl pre-season length of 4/5 games. Red thought that was too many games to be played, this after another QB Jeff Garcia broke his fibula against the Bills last night.
He does bring up an interesting point...is 4 games too many? If the NFL goes to fewer games, how would this impact the ability to fully evaluate players that are currently listed on your 3rd and 4th teams? Does cutting down on pre-season games really make a difference in the amount of injuries happen?
Some argue that 4 games isn't enough time to fully evaluate each player. If you feel that same way, why?
Your thoughts on the pre-season amount of games.
He does bring up an interesting point...is 4 games too many? If the NFL goes to fewer games, how would this impact the ability to fully evaluate players that are currently listed on your 3rd and 4th teams? Does cutting down on pre-season games really make a difference in the amount of injuries happen?
Some argue that 4 games isn't enough time to fully evaluate each player. If you feel that same way, why?
Your thoughts on the pre-season amount of games.
posted by Steve at 7:13 AM
10 Comments:
I don't necessarily agree that 4 games is too many. Though there are teams out there who are playing 5 pre-season games, which I do think it's 1 too many for 2 reasons.
1) It's an unfair advantage to those teams not playing 5 games because it gives that coaching staff an extra game opportunity to evaluate each player. Lets be honest, it's nearly impossibly to fully evaluate a players playing ability from training camp and all other off-season camps/workouts. I mean you can learn alot about that individual, but a game situation, the speed is a lot faster and you really can then evaluate each player.
2) 5 games is just too many for injury purposes. The NFL is just brutal, tears your body up hardcore, and for teams to play in 5 pre-season games as a 2nd teamer (most 2nd team players will play in about 75% of each pre-season game), then a 16 game regular season...if they are lucky, an additional 3 games in the post-season. 24 games (possibly 25 if they make the SB from a wildcard) is way too many. Not saying that 23 (24 as a wildcard) isn't, but 19 (possibly 20) of those games are mandatory. Don't make those players suffer worse.
Here's what I don't agree with - cutting down the pre-season to 3 or fewer games. This doesn't give the 1st teamers an opportunity to really losen up, get synced up, whatever...Plus you can't evaluate those players at the bottom of the depth chart.
Thanks to many pre-season games, teams like Denver found a Terrel Davis, Patriots found Tom Brady. They were given a HUGE opportunity to really evaluate those players and look what happened? If they had less games to evaluate, players like that may have been cut.
I believe 4 games in the pre season is too many. Look at the injuries that are sustained in that last week of pre season, couple of seasons ago it was Mike Vick now this season Jeff Garcia goes down. Of course by limiting the amount of pre season games you are going to limit the amount of injuries. It's simple math less games less injuries. As for having enough games to evaluate players, these scouts, coaches and team personal should have enough experience to be able to evaluate a athlete with 3 games and not to mention several practices and scrimmages. The NFL has cut down the amount of pre season games through past history and I believe they should consider doing it again.. There is just too much for these teams to risk by playing a 4th and 5th game. Look at the Colts, 5 pre season games this year, they went 0-5 in them. I just don't see the need for 4 to 5 games in the pre season. Let teams shrink there rosters down after week 1 if you need another week to evaluate. Look t college, they don't get any pre season games and they aint pros.
not sure about TD, but i guarantee Brady's career was not saved by being evaluated in Pre Season...
They both were saved by the amount of pre-season games...The Pats needed a backup QB, thanks to a 7th round selection from Michigan, they were able to see what he could produce and keep him on the roster. If they didn't get a chance to full evaluate him, he wouldn't have made the roster and quite possibly the rest is history.
I think three is plenty.
Remember when they played 6 pre-season games ?
The fact is , this is a business first and a sport second, the owners package 10 games into a season ticket and they would not cut their revenues 10% with increasing costs. Four games is OK as long as fans realize these are evaluation games and they won't be seeing too much of Manning and Brady in these games. Why not re-name them Evaluation Games. Three games is probably enough but 65,000 fans @ $75 = $5 million plus parking. Up here at Foxboro they charge us $40 for parking but only $6.50 for a cold Bud !
yeah, it's all about the lucrative business needs, cutting games means cutting revenue...players understand this is a business and a sport where injuries do and will occur - I don't think the NFL needs to cut down on pre-season games in order to minimize it. Will less injuries happen with less pre-season games? Sure, the odds are all for it, however, to save 1 maybe 2 players from injuries, the owners will lose on millions because of lost revenue where as an injury doesn't cost nearly as much, even if it's the season as in Michael Vicks case
Couldn't agree more there Sox, the NFl just sees this as 4 week's to pinch some more money out of the fan. As for the teams, coaches, players they have to be pissed about playing that many pre season games putting there bodies at risk. Back in the day there was 6 pre season games but there was also just 14 regular season games, so if it's going to be the same cycle give me another regular season game and cut down the pre season.
Screw that.
Same number of preason games, but extend the regular season to 20 games. That way football season lasts through pretty much thee entire winter. And then the weather's nice and we can get amped for baseball.
---OTG---
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