Preseason Football...to play or not to play

[BG5150]

Clinton Portis hurt his shoulder yesterday in a preseason game. Now he's bitching that there shouldn't be as many (preseason) games.

What do you guys think about preseason? Should they cut back the number of games?

Some of my thoughts:

1) Some teams need more preseason than others. Some teams have more question marks than others, therefore, they need mroe time to evaluate talent at full speed.

2) Sure, people get hurt. But they get hurt in practice, too. Maybe just have a week or two of scrimmages and start right up...

3) Cutting preseason games is still cutting games. I'm sure the salary structure takes into account the four preseason games. Cut a game or two out, gotta cut salaries. Think the player's union will go for that?

[UpNorth]

I think that if coaches are too worried about their star players getting hurt in preseason, then they shouldn't play them. Does Clinton Portis really need to play in 4 preseason games?

Most vets that I have heard interviewed locally say that the 4 preseason games are not worth it.

[razorcut]

IMO, four preseason games are about 2 too many. Teams should be able to make a fair evaluation of their talent with practice time and 2 preseason games.

Slighty O/T....if the Bengals are wise, Palmer will never set foot on the field during a preseason game.

[seK]

IMO, four preseason games are about 2 too many. Teams should be able to make a fair evaluation of their talent with practice time and 2 preseason games.

Slighty O/T....if the Bengals are wise, Palmer will never set foot on the field during a preseason game.

Palmer is still partially rehabbing.

IMO preseason should be primarily to make sure your 2nd and 3rd string players are able to handle the game. The only exception I would have is if you consider rookies that will be starters during the regular season.

[razorcut]

Palmer is still partially rehabbing.

IMO preseason should be primarily to make sure your 2nd and 3rd string players are able to handle the game. The only exception I would have is if you consider rookies that will be starters during the regular season.

I agree. I don't even have a problem with starters playing a series or two.....but no more.

Nice avatar, btw.

[Shane]

Palmer is still partially rehabbing.

IMO preseason should be primarily to make sure your 2nd and 3rd string players are able to handle the game. The only exception I would have is if you consider rookies that will be starters during the regular season.

I wouldn't have a problem at all if they switched to 2 preseason games instead of 4. A smart coach wouldn't play his starters much during the pre-season, maybe a series or two tops, and use the rest of the game to evaluate the more borderline personnel. But really, what's the big deal? He's acting like he plays 4 full games in the pre-season. Most star players don't play more then that in the pre-season anyway. Is it REALLY that much of a difference to play a drive or two in 2 games vs. 4? Portis is making what, 6 million dollars this year? Clinton, sit down, be happy you're rich for something as ridiculous as being good at carrying a ball, and STFU.

[whiteman90909]

Preaseason is good, but some teams choose, at their own discretion, to leave some players out of the game to prevent the possibility of them getting injured.

[LouPac]

I say just 2 pre-season games and then add 2 regular season games to the schedule.

[Relentless]

It really varies from team to team and player to player how important the preseason is.

Younger players and new FA players on a team can definitely use the time and experience playing at 'game speed' with their new team, getting used to the packages and calls and audibles and looks in a 'real situation'.

It's true that 2 games is probably enough to accomplish this, and 4 aren't needed.

The NFL preseason games started partly as a promo effort. Teams would play preseason games in second cities throughout the country, trying to drum up additional excitement and fans for the league. Then it was a revenue grab, as owners previously got to keep the whole gate from preseasons. However in 2002, the teams agreed to pool the visiting team share of gate receipts for all preseason and regular-season games and divide the pool equally.

I think that the reality is, despite the revenue sharing implications of the 2002 agreement, the preseason games are simply too profitable for the owners to ignore, thus there will continue to be 4 preseason games. Period.

[BG5150]

I say just 2 pre-season games and then add 2 regular season games to the schedule.

And with the the extra home game (I'm assuming 1 home and 1 away for everyone) open the tickets up to everyone, that is, season tickets don't mean crap for those games. This way, season passes won't go up. I'm sure they'd sell out. And the teams would make more money, because the cost of each game for a season ticket is less than the face value. (or is it? never had football season tix).

But with Clinton Portis is moaning about 4 p/s games, 16 regular seasons and then playoffs: Nobody plays the entire game in p/s. Plus not everyone makes the playoffs...If he got hurt in minicamp, would he call for the banning of that, too?

[BG5150]

It's true that 2 games is probably enough to accomplish this, and 4 aren't needed.

Then why not just three? I'm a big football fan, but I don't need to see games during the first week of August...

[WBBIRL]

It all boils down to not doing stupid things and remembering that football is football, its a rough tough smashmouth sport and people WILL get hurt. I've played 3 years of it for highschool only but I know how rough the sport can be, its physically demanding and the chance for injury increases as your body gives in more and more to fatigue.

The thing that makes no sense is a franchise RB tyring to make a play (a defensive one at that) in a game that means nothing. Its even more senseless because this was one of the first two series of the entire game.

Playing four preseason games makes alot more sense then that.

[Relentless]

The thing that makes no sense is a franchise RB tyring to make a play (a defensive one at that) in a game that means nothing. Its even more senseless because this was one of the first two series of the entire game.

You don't make the NFL by not trying to make plays. It's ingrained. It's a part of these men.

[Y2A]

I think the preseason is alright as-is. The first two games are primarily for guys on the bubble to be evaluated, and the last two (usually the third) are warm-up games for the veterans. Injuries are part of the game. If Portis sustained that injury in the beginning of the regular season, he might miss a month of real time. As it stands, he will probably be back for the season opener...

[Cobra Commander]

I think preseason prepares the players. What better practice than playing other teams. Yeah you could get hurt, but that's just football. Your making millions of dollars a year to lift weights, and play football. Stop whining.

[seK]

I think preseason prepares the players. What better practice than playing other teams. Yeah you could get hurt, but that's just football. Your making millions of dollars a year to lift weights, and play football. Stop whining.

They get paid to win regular season games, getting paid millions to play football is just another reason not to have your stars playing in games that don't matter.

[KingJustin]

How hard is this? Just don't play the stars and keep the four pre-season games where you evaluate rookies and maybe let the stars practice a couple safe plays.

[BG5150]

This is a Catch-22.

If they play the stars and they get hurt in p/s, then it's all rotten.

If they don't play him, and he pulls a hammie the first or second game of the regular season or throws 3 picks then it's 'cause he didn't have enough work before the season...

[jordonwuff]

Preseason is worth it.. Maybe a game or two too many, I can agree with that. But with all the new coaches this year especially.. They need to see what plays work and what plays don't. Just kind of getting a feel for the game. And all the new players need to get a feel for what the NFL is all about even though preseason isn't quite the same in some ways. HAIL 2006-2007 FOOTBALL SEASON

--Packers will Rule