Why Does The NFL Bother With The Preseason?
August 23, 2016 at 4:02 p.m.
By Mark [email protected]
I understand all the arguments: the expenses the team incurs are the same whether it’s a preseason game or not. By that logic, the cost of playoff tickets should be the same as regular-season game, right?
Yeah, they still need ticket takers, concessionaires, parking attendants, cops directing traffic, and all that.
And I hear “the games are important in evaluating players for roster spots.”
I‘ve said this before; my beef is regular-season prices to watch players who are trying to make the team; in other words, players who we are not likely to see again the rest of the year.
Maybe I’m not a football purist. I’ve heard some say the best football of the year is played with jobs on the line. But I can’t see forking over $100 a head to watch a glorified versions of “Pros vs. Joes.”
Actually, that’s more like “Joes vs. Joes,” isn’t it? If that guy who makes the roster by virtue of his play in the final preseason game gets significant playing time, odds are the team isn’t having all that great a season to begin with.
So, here’s what I propose:
Have one exhibition a year at home for each team, where only players in their first or second year with the team practice against another franchise. Coaches can work out details of what they want to accomplish with each other with they want. Treat it as a “festival” of sorts. There are literally thousands of different things teams can do to market that event, and make it truly special.
Next, the league should have an 18-game schedule, beginning in mid-August and running 21 weeks into January. Play games on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, insuring teams have a minimum of seven days between games. Play two games on a Monday night: it’s ridiculous to start a game at 9 p.m. local time anyway. That and more teams get on national television more often.
There would be a minimum of two bye weeks every season, and not less than two nor more than six weeks between them.
The ultimate goal of adding more weeks and games is to add more time off for players. The expanded schedule, and the greater opportunity to get more games telecast nationally, will enhance the next television contracts into a stratosphere not even imagined. That translates into bigger checks for all the players, not just the superstars with household names.
There is already talk about the next collective bargaining agreement between the players union and the league, which will affect players currently in middle school. Anything that helps those kids remain functioning adults after their playing days end needs to be considered and, perhaps, negotiated into that agreement.
But, as long as season-ticket holders pony up for the two preseason games, only television provides a compelling financial reason for the league and its franchisees to change things.
And we have seen for decades what happens when TV dictates when things happen in sports; and it ain’t necessarily good.
I understand all the arguments: the expenses the team incurs are the same whether it’s a preseason game or not. By that logic, the cost of playoff tickets should be the same as regular-season game, right?
Yeah, they still need ticket takers, concessionaires, parking attendants, cops directing traffic, and all that.
And I hear “the games are important in evaluating players for roster spots.”
I‘ve said this before; my beef is regular-season prices to watch players who are trying to make the team; in other words, players who we are not likely to see again the rest of the year.
Maybe I’m not a football purist. I’ve heard some say the best football of the year is played with jobs on the line. But I can’t see forking over $100 a head to watch a glorified versions of “Pros vs. Joes.”
Actually, that’s more like “Joes vs. Joes,” isn’t it? If that guy who makes the roster by virtue of his play in the final preseason game gets significant playing time, odds are the team isn’t having all that great a season to begin with.
So, here’s what I propose:
Have one exhibition a year at home for each team, where only players in their first or second year with the team practice against another franchise. Coaches can work out details of what they want to accomplish with each other with they want. Treat it as a “festival” of sorts. There are literally thousands of different things teams can do to market that event, and make it truly special.
Next, the league should have an 18-game schedule, beginning in mid-August and running 21 weeks into January. Play games on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, insuring teams have a minimum of seven days between games. Play two games on a Monday night: it’s ridiculous to start a game at 9 p.m. local time anyway. That and more teams get on national television more often.
There would be a minimum of two bye weeks every season, and not less than two nor more than six weeks between them.
The ultimate goal of adding more weeks and games is to add more time off for players. The expanded schedule, and the greater opportunity to get more games telecast nationally, will enhance the next television contracts into a stratosphere not even imagined. That translates into bigger checks for all the players, not just the superstars with household names.
There is already talk about the next collective bargaining agreement between the players union and the league, which will affect players currently in middle school. Anything that helps those kids remain functioning adults after their playing days end needs to be considered and, perhaps, negotiated into that agreement.
But, as long as season-ticket holders pony up for the two preseason games, only television provides a compelling financial reason for the league and its franchisees to change things.
And we have seen for decades what happens when TV dictates when things happen in sports; and it ain’t necessarily good.
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