In recent years, there has been much debate about what to do with preseason games. While many people enjoy seeing their favorite team hit the field for four extra games regardless of whether or not it counts, many also hate seeing fan-favorite players going down with an injury while playing in a meaningless game. There is seemingly no doubt that many fans hate the preseason, and would rather see the games eliminated or perhaps replaced with more regular season games. While there are many valid points as to why preseason games should be eliminated, the preseason actually is necessary – and here’s why.
It’s a Job Interview
Okay, so it’s not technically an interview, but at the end of the day it decides hundreds of players career path, and that’s HUGE. While everyone knows that the percentage of players making it to the NFL is small, if you get invited to an NFL training camp, you are only one final step away on what is typically a long journey to making it to the big leagues. On a personal level, I worked for an Arena Football team, the Spokane Shock/Spokane Empire for 5 years. The amount of players that walk into those arenas every game day after having once been on an NFL field is astonishing. A lot of these players went from nearly making thousands of dollars a week playing in the big league, were now making $100-$300 a week playing in an arena. They continue playing in hopes of one day getting another shot at the NFL, and lose out on the opportunity to find a career outside of football in hopes of one day trading in those small game day checks for much bigger ones. The players that play most in the preseason won’t see a lot of action on the field in the regular season, however, they are all fighting to earn a spot on the roster and provide the much needed depth in what is found within an NFL season. At the end of the day, removing preseason would remove the chance for players to prove their worth, and get the opportunity to chase their life long dreams. What I learned while working with a lot of these players whom once were cut from NFL teams, was just how thankful for the opportunity to play in the preseason they were, as they still strive to get another shot for that “job interview”. Besides, who doesn’t like seeing big men on the gridiron battling it out for their football lives?
Below is Spokane Empire linebacker Nick Haag, whom was recently participating in the Indianapolis Colts and New York Giants camps, and is still striving for his dream job of playing in the NFL. You can’t possibly tell me that guys with this much passion for the game don’t deserve a shot in the NFL.
More Practice
Not only does it give the starters a bit of real-time game play to get the rust off so they are at the top of their game come Week 1, but rotational players get a chance for more experience in game situations, and in the NFL, injuries can occur at any time; these backups who may not see much playing time in the regular season get a chance to see true game speed if injuries do occur. Rookies also find their stride in the regular season, and fans get their first glimpse of their newly drafted players in these games. You wouldn’t expect to be hired by a company and get thrown right into the business on your first day without training, and these young athletes, who last played in a game against college competition, deserve the same training. Without preseason, greats such as Tom Brady, who was drafted with the 199th pick may have never gotten a chance to prove he deserves a roster spot. The same could be said for Richard Sherman. Or Antonio Brown. Or Brandon Marshall.
Football at The Right Time
And last but certainly not least, unlike many other pro sports, football is typically a short season, especially if your team fails to make the playoffs; When you only play 16 games in the regular season, the season can go by very quickly. Adding 4 more games, even if they don’t count, and adding them at the right time when there is no NBA, NHL and the MLB is in the dog days of summer before their playoff push, is almost necessary. Football fans need their fix of hard hitting, fast paced action. We need football, and at the end of the day, preseason games in August are a nice little warmup to what is a fun and intense regular season.
This is of course just my own opinion, and I know many of you will have different ones. Please feel free to share your opinions in the comments, or on Twitter @ConnorRIOT.
