Preseason Football

I think there's still a value in preseason for the players, the teams and the fans

As Wolf used to comment about young prospects after they played:

" The game's not too big for him"  They get to see many players under the bright lights and with only 60-70 plays a game, that's not much when trying to look at 90 players

It lets a draft & develop team see guys in live action vs an opponent and they get film of them versus a variety of teams. With QB development, preseason is the only live work the back-ups get all season ( in Green Bay) so it helps their development and it makes assessments easier for the front office. I think its still valuable.

I also think the NFL should keep the 16 and 4 format and use the preseason games as a chance for  more people to check out a game live.

Sell tickets and food at half price,

Let some more fans have a chance to experience Game Day. The tailgates aren't half- assed in preseason and neither is the beer. They are looking for ways to enhance the stadium experience and slow the black-outs. Why not use the preseason as a vehicle to promote the excitement of actually "being there"

They could use the preseason as a means to open up the NFL to more families, who will end up buying more gear and might even throw down for regular season tickets from time to time.

NFL -TV is doing great, NFL-Stadium needs a boost and the preseason might be one way to do it. Many NFL teams are already copying the Family Night scrimmage, no reason they couldn't sell out preseason games too -

But they gotta drop the prices significantly.

50% off everything, including beer, food, tickets, parking

Then when a season-ticket holder wants to sell their pre-season tickets, its a much easier sale and they don't take it in the shorts by paying full price for those games.

Problem solved

but you're making sense and not cents Satori.

that's not in the NFLFU manual.

and I agree completely with you.  they could even keep the tickets at full price but give half your ticket price back to you in food/bev/apparel.  with today's tickets with the barcode this could all be done electronically by scanning the code at the concession stands/checkout.  something like that.

Another thing that preseason is good for is testing out all the in game situations. Coaches decision making and communication, getting the FG team on the field as the clock is running out, that kind of stuff.

They have to practice for Crosby to miss?

#PilingOn

The coaches cant fully determine who makes the team strictly from practise sessions and team scrimages. They have to see how guys perform in live game situations to fully evaluate them.

Some guys excel in practise but cant put it together during games. Likewise, some guys are "gamers" who might not look all that great during practise, but something clicks when it's a game and then they shine.

Why is there preseason football?

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Maybe, but is there anything else better to watch on TV?  Moonshiners, Pickles, the mountain men, swamp people etc?  ESPN or NFL network's BS?

Most coaches know their 53 before the first preseason game. If not, then for sure by the third. I agree with whoever said it's to practice the game situations. Some guys may step up but unless a #4 guy absolutely eats up a good #2 guy on the other team, movement of players is uncommon. Doesn't mean it can't happen, but how many times have we seen preseason-game warriors get cut and become great players on other teams? Not too often.

http://www.packersnews.com/art...g-sits-out-sore-back

If you do the math, preseason games have always been the tie-breaker (in deciding who makes the team). It’s the real action. It’s what you put the most stock in. It generates the most conversation. At the end of the day, it’s about your game tape.

The value of the 4 game preseason is that it literally selects your roster.  Whoever isn't injured is who you get to go with in the regular season.  A healthy average guy is better than a hurt great guy.  Just sayin.   The Packers are already 20% deselected. 

And here's an interesting read from Andrew Brandt on preseason football and cutting guys: You Think It's Easy to Cut a Guy? 

One thing Brandt says: "If you think training camps are about having an open competition, guess again. Teams have proprietary depth charts going into camp, different from the ones shared with the media. There are usually between four and six spots that are open to competition, depending largely on numbers and personnel groupings rather than the performance of players on the bubble."

That's it - four to six spots out of 53. It's a good read.

Both articles (Brandt's and Lane's) are good reads. Guys aren't always kept because they played the best.

Normally, watching a preseason game while expecting real football is like sitting down to watch a good movie only to find out the wife swapped it with a "chick flick".

If Green Bay takes every opportunity to intentionally stall drives between the opponents 20-35 in all 4 preseason games so we can decide this FG fiasco, that's time well spent.