Well, well, well…

I first brought up the subject of how worthless the preseason is in the forums here on PackerIQ.com. If you haven’t checked the forums out yet, do it! Here’s the scoop. NFL Commissioner Tagliabue is now considering commissioning a study on the feasibility of adding two games to the current 16-game schedule and reducing the number of preseason games. The league will discuss this at a meeting in Chicago late in October. The 2005 season would be the first season affected by this change.

I, along with others, had criticized the league this summer for its preseason after injuries to some key players, including quarterbacks Mike Vick of the Falcons and Chad Pennington of the Jets. Of course, Tagliabue claims that the proposal would be considered for competitive reasons rather than the loss of key players.

So currently, the NFL season includes 16-games with a week off during the season. It has been that way for 25 years. Teams also typically play four or five preseason games to “get ready.” The players don’t need to play 5 games to get ready for the next 16! The preseason may have been necessary in times of old when technology and medical care were nothing like today. These days, too many preseason games means too many injuries. When superstars get hurt, people don’t get to watch them play. When people stop watching, the NFL loses money. Tagliabue may claim this move is for competitive reasons, but I have a feeling it has a lot to do with cash flow.

Regardless of what the reasoning it, whether it be money, competition, injuries, or just boredom over having the same system for 25 years; I support a move to reduce preseason play and add games to the regular season. At least then, if someone gets hurt, it is during a game that might mean something.

… just a thought.