The Lass Word: The Case for Dumping Preseason Games
The time has come.
By KenLass
I find myself writing this particular article every year about this time. Judging by your reader comments in the past, most of you don’t agree with the premise. Undaunted, I’m going to try to make the case once again.
I believe NFL preseason games have outlived their usefulness. They should be scrapped and replaced by combined practices and expansion of the regular season.
There was a time when preseason games served several important functions. Back in the 1930s college football was king. The NFL was struggling to survive and in desperate need of promotion. Players made so little money they had to work full time jobs during the offseason to make ends meet. When they reported to summer training camp, they needed multiple preseason games to play themselves back into shape. I am old enough to remember when the Packers played six preseason games.
The league also used preseason games to barnstorm their teams around the country in cities that didn’t have franchises. They drew bigger crowds, and therefore made more money, by playing exhibition games in places such as San Antonio, Texas and Birmingham, Alabama.
In 1934, seeking to expose its product to the audiences of the more popular college game, the NFL agreed to have its champion from the previous season start the next preseason by playing a team of college all stars. The game was sponsored by the Chicago Tribune and was dubbed the Chicago College All Star game. The contest was played 41 times, with the NFL winning thirty of them, losing nine, and two ended in a tie. It came to be a humiliation for the reigning NFL champion to lose the game. Vince Lombardi’s Packers lost the 1963 game, and Lombardi called it the most embarrassing loss of his career. By the 1970s pro football had exploded in popularity due to national TV exposure, and had far surpassed college football. The league dropped out of the Collage All Star game in 1976. It was no longer needed.
In fact, most all of the reasons for preseason games are no longer valid. Times change. Even the lowest paid players now make more money than most Americans dream of. So players don’t have to take on other jobs during the offseason. They can, and really must for competitive reasons, spend that time working out and staying in shape. Therefore, there is no longer a need to play games to play yourself back into the proper condition. Star players are now making so much money that franchises can’t afford the risk of getting them hurt in games that don’t count. Yes, injuries can happen any time, in practice or just jogging off the field. But in a preseason game quarterbacks, and anybody else who has the ball, can be hit and tackled to the ground, and that increases the chances of injury exponentially.
Won’t the art of tackling suffer if players can’t practice it in preseason games? Undoubtedly so. Tackling in the NFL has never been worse than it is now. But that may have more to do with rule changes that have made it so difficult to tackle legally, players are more cautious and hesitant to wrap up aggressively.
Do starters need to play in games to get ready for the regular season? Seems as though most coaches think not. Look around the league this summer. Nobody is playing starters except teams with rookie quarterbacks. And even they don’t play more than two or three series. In Green Bay’s opener against the Browns, Jordan Love and his fellow starters played a grand total of exactly three plays. Hard to believe that provided them any meaningful preparation for the season. And by the way, those three reps weren’t even against starting caliber defensive players, making the actual value negligible at best.
The combined practice has emerged as a much better option. You get the benefit of seeing your players perform against other teams in specifically controlled down and distance situations. Yet you don’t have to worry that your franchise quarterback is going to get taken out by some street free agent looking to get the attention of his coaches. Matt LaFleur and his staff got a much better idea of what they need to work on by observing the combined practices with the Broncos and Ravens, than they got watching their deep reserves, many of whom won’t even make the team, getting their butts handed to them in the game at Denver.
What about the loss of revenue by dumping preseason games? That will be more than compensated for by expanding the regular season. More games that count will bring even richer TV contracts. What about charitable efforts that benefit from preseason games? Franchises can meet those needs with events such as the Packers’ Family Night and other community promotions. They can also designate a portion of regular season receipts to charitable causes.
But aren’t there fans who genuinely enjoy watching preseason games? Well, apparently not if they have to pay to watch them. Take a look at preseason football all over the league. The stands are empty. The major networks have all but given up on carrying the games, leaving most all of them to local broadcasters and NFL Network. Fans just aren’t that interested. Green Bay is, of course, the exception. When the Packers take the field at Lambeau to play their one and only home preseason game Saturday against the Ravens, the stadium will be packed to near capacity. But that is more a tribute to the unique passion of this fan base for its team, and not indicative of widespread interest in preseason football. Packer fans will show up in droves for anything. Family Night is the perfect example.
The NFLPA will object to expanding the regular season, claiming wear and tear on their bodies. But those claims are hollow. What they really want is more money. More bye weeks. Further limitations on contact in practice. Expanded rosters. Fine. Give it to them. Give it all to them. It’s worth it.
If you love Green Bay Packers football, why wouldn’t you want more of it? During these interminable off seasons, we starve for more football. Can’t wait for it to start. A longer season? Sign me up for it. Wouldn’t you rather see the Packers play the Cleveland Browns, or the Denver Broncos, or the Baltimore Ravens, with full starters on the field in a game that actually matters? Or would you prefer watching Ellis Merriweather and Luke Tenuta compete for roster spots?
It’s time. Preseason football served its purpose. Let’s move on. That way, everybody wins.
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Ken Lass is a former Green Bay television sports anchor and 43 year media veteran, a lifelong Packers fan, and a shareholder.
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Comments (20)
LeotisHarris
August 22, 2024 at 03:48 pm
I think the NFL will get to this place you seek, Ken, but not during the watch of The Ginger Hammer. His successor will execute the plan to squeeze the most revenue from the most streams and the fans will *like* it. So it is written and so it shall be done.
Did anyone else read "...The Case for Dumping..." and, just for an instant, think Ken was doing a retrospective on Najeh Davenport?
Oppy
August 22, 2024 at 05:53 pm
Few tell the tale of the closet pooper today.
TKWorldWide
August 23, 2024 at 08:54 am
Skeletons in the closet? Pssssh…this was much worse.
stockholder
August 22, 2024 at 04:10 pm
Can't do that without the players consent.
Money wrecks everything.
splitpea1
August 22, 2024 at 04:14 pm
Some informative history here (always appreciated) and some compelling arguments, but I still disagree with a lot of it. Preseason is still very useful for evaluating second-tier players and giving rookies a taste of experience and the freedom to make mistakes before the real show begins.
Do not "give it all" to the NFLPA--no!
"During these interminable off-seasons, we starve for more football." Not me. I am happy to transition to NCAA hoops once the Super Bowl is done with. Besides, there is more to life than endlessly watching spectator sports, you know. It's nice to get outside more often, for one. Every season of every major league sport is way too long, anyway, and that goes double for all the expanded playoffs. The World Series used to be done with in early October and the Super Bowl was played in January, and that was just fine.
Even though the Packers have historically fared well as a lower seed, the playoffs become watered down with so many participants--and it also diminishes the importance of the regular season.
I like the idea of the preseason games being geared towards some kind of charitable event very much, though.
Oppy
August 22, 2024 at 05:58 pm
To the concept of “giving it all” to the NFLPA:
Why not give it all to them? We’re spending the money on the NFL one way or another. Who better deserves the money than the players themselves?
Or is it more about the benefits?
The way I see it, nobody makes any money in the NFL if there aren’t players playing pro-level football. That includes the tv stations, jersey sales, you name it. And nobody risks their health for that NFL cash except the players. They make the wheel go round and risk their health to do it. Give them the money. They deserve it more than anyone else, and there’s plenty to go around.
porupack
August 23, 2024 at 08:15 am
Agreed on all points.
Matt
August 22, 2024 at 05:18 pm
I am not on that train.
1. I also have little pleasure in watching preseason football but I still do it.
2. Lately I've read that preseason games are not for fans but for coaches. I think this is how we should look at this.
3. I don't think joint practices are full alternative for preseason game. These are 2 different and useful tools. Game is always a game, it simulates the real environment players will need to perform.
4. Most coaches think starters shouldn't play but in the same time most coaches still play their starters for some time in preseason.
5. Do not look at preseason through 2024 Packers perspective. Move back to 2023.
Preseason? Yes.
3 games? Maybe cut it to 2.
Would it make it more fun? Regular season is for fun, preseason is a part of training. Do not expect training unit to be olympic games finale. The fact it is called a "game" makes our expectatons very high.
Starrbrite
August 23, 2024 at 10:45 am
Yes-cut it to two.
Swisch
August 22, 2024 at 05:23 pm
Yes to three preseason games.
Six would be too many, even four, but three is just about right.
Play the starters in each game about one quarter, and no more than a half.
Then, enjoy watching the new guys compete for spots on the roster or practice squad. A few of them can be the stars of tomorrow, but they need the preseason as a showcase to shine.
***
No to joint practices.
They just don't have the look or feel of a real game, and football players aren't built to go halfway. Although a preseason game doesn't count in the standings, it's still a real game.
Although somewhat nerdy coaches might think its keen to set up various simulated situations in joint practices that may come up during a game, it's an artificial exercise with observations that are illusory.
(By the way, take an anonymous poll of players as to how they view preseason games compared to joint practices -- separating the views of veterans and newcomers. My hunch is that players hate joint practices, but let's try to find out in a way that allows them to be open.)
Put the emphasis back on preseason games -- and abolish joint practices -- and I'd guess more fans would show up with more interest.
***
No to expanding the regular season.
It's much less taxing on the starters to play hard for part of a preseason game than to play hard for an entire regular season game.
It seems there is much more intensity to regular season games, too, which is actually a good reason for preseason games -- as ways to transition the starters back into the brutality of the game of football. Also, getting the starters in rhythm as a team means fewer missed assignments in the early regular season that could lead to injuries.
Furthermore, adding regular season games seems to be really asking for injuries.
As it is, it's hard enough for a player to last the entire season with all of its violence, and I wonder how many of them play in all 17 games. We just hope that a player injured during the season can come back later in the season.
Especially with four rounds of playoff games, the regular season should be kept as is, or even shortened to 16 games.
There should be at least two byes per season (even though I hate the autumn weekends when the Packers are off).
As much as I love football, August-to-February seems long enough; and most of all let's not abuse the players whom we enjoy so much, and even get to caring about as persons.
***
I'm a huge fan of unions, but tragically they can be so corrupt as to actually work against the workers.
The union leaders can get as greedy and corrupt as the corporate executives, and as remote from the workers.
I'm truly not saying this is the case with the players union for the NFL, because I just don't know that much about it.
What I hope is that the players union for the NFL is more concerned about player safety than about player salaries -- as noted in the column above, these days there is plenty of money to go around.
A key is whether the players union makes sure all of that money in the salary cap for each team is spread around fairly. I get that quarterbacks should make more, perhaps even significantly more, but nowadays the gap between their salaries and other players seems obscene.
In a larger context, to avoid the horrors of socialism we must reform the extremes of capitalism. We can't rationalize injustices by appealing to impersonal forces of the marketplace that can beguile us by being partially true even as in the final analysis they are inhumanly false.
If football is to survive -- or for that matter America -- it's not theories or ideologies of materialism and commercialism that should decide our lives, but humans striving to make decisions of common sense and common fairness, with a good measure of compassion.
If good people don't take the future into our own hands, we will inevitably be exploited by the cold and calculating and cruel -- who will go so far as to tell us that their excessive control is for our own good.
Coldworld
August 22, 2024 at 06:40 pm
I’m not against joint practices. Today’s seemed very productive, but they are primarily for the veterans and anticipated starters. Preseason should be about the rest of the 90 mostly.
Swisch
August 22, 2024 at 07:55 pm
Glad to get your thoughts, Coldworld.
Bearmeat
August 22, 2024 at 05:59 pm
Agreed on the preseason Ken. Get rid of it entirely. Play 18 regular season games and have a couple joint practices. Everyone gets richer and this terrible preseason product is gone.
Coldworld
August 22, 2024 at 06:36 pm
Preseason games are critical just not always good watching. I’d be fine with vested vets only allowed to play in one game (in one set week ideally), and two games for back ups, new signings or players injured for the vet game if that had passed. With all the discussions we have, and still are having, the importance of games is critical for the newer players. It’s bad enough in many early season games as it is. I don’t want that deciding things.
The only way I’d change that opinion is if the league actually invested in a spring/summer league for players with 2 accrued seasons or less, run by franchise coaches of the team that signed them and instead of the current summer activities for qualifying players. That’s not going to happen, unfortunately. Just not the money in it. I’d welcome it though.
barutanseijin
August 22, 2024 at 07:28 pm
Get rid of preseason? OK, but while we’re at it, let’s nuke Game 17 and the 7th playoff seed. And yes, i’m aware the Packers were the 7th seed last season.
Bitternotsour
August 22, 2024 at 10:52 pm
will someone please think of the commercials. how can you be so heartless.
porupack
August 23, 2024 at 08:28 am
In pre-season, just play the game P-I-G as they do in basketball, you know, each team takes turn trying to complete a catch, and the other team accumulates a P, I a G if they don't match. Then the loser gets called a pig. That will reduce injuries. Great commercials opps mocking the logo of a team with a pig tail and snout. I'm convinced we're never satisfied and will find a fault with everything. We already added 3 regular season games, and eliminated a pre-season one. There is a concept called "good-e-nuff".
MEO73
August 23, 2024 at 08:54 am
Once the season expands to 18 games (a mistake), the preseason will be gone as well as any thought of re-instituting the Pro Bowl
jont
August 23, 2024 at 02:20 pm
Not all pre-season games are the same. Or, perhaps more accurately, not all fans are the same. Some of us-- and most at CHTV-- like to watch these games. We want to see the 3rd and 4th guys get out there and get their chance. We pay attention and then come here to play amateur GM. Other people have little interest in players they don't know or in games that don't count.
The other point is revenue. Lambeau is full for a pre-season game. It's full for the family night practice session. Other stadiums, from what I've seen these past two weeks, are 1/3 full or less. This is money. More butts in seats is found money, and the owners who can't get the crowd to come in might be the ones arguing to kill pre-season.
Ferrari-Driver
August 25, 2024 at 12:55 am
This is the major difference for me regarding watching preseason games compared to those played during the regular season:
I enjoy watching the Packers take the field much more during the regular season than I do watching them play a preseason game...but I still enjoy watching them play even if it's a preseason game.
However, I notice that I have very little interest in watching other teams play during the preseason, but I do like to watch certain games played by other teams during the regular season.