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**Aid180** · 08-22-2012, 04:32 PM

I was listening to a lot of the discussion on ESPN about whether 4 preseason games are too much or not and it is quite interesting. Media guys like Stephen A Smith, Skip Bayless, and others believe that preseason games are a waste of time and lead to too many injuries to be worth it. One key point Skip made was that College and High School players don't need warm up games while 26 year old and older guys do.

The other side of the argument on ESPN came from former players who felt they would not have had a career if it were not for those games. The preseason games were the 4th string's Super Bowl. Many undrafted guys would not have had a chance if it weren't for those games. Guys like Arian Foster, Victor Cruz, Antonio Brown, and others might have been cut if they didn't get their preseason chance.

So are 4 preseason games too much?

**MrMister** · 08-22-2012, 04:41 PM

Wait so they're arguing that since college and high school players don't have warm up games that professionals shouldn't either? If so...dumb.

The NFL is vastly, exponentially more complex than the college and high school games. All those moving parts need warm up games for sure. Also college and high school teams do have warm up games in the form of scrimmages. Anyway, terrible argument if that's what they're saying.

Pre season is needed, but 4 is probably too much. Cut it by one and see how it goes. As for injuries, they can happen anytime and anywhere on the field whether it's in a live game, an exhibition, or during practice.

**Aid180** · 08-22-2012, 05:06 PM

They argued on First Take that there should be 2 or fewer preseason games. That was one of their agreements that College teams don't need it and they are 18-22. Other media outlets and bloggers comment on how 4 is two many and lead to too many injuries as well as robbing fans of the full enjoyment of the game for the price of a meaningful game.

I see where they are coming from, but I also agree with the former players that benefited from these meaningless matches. I feel that more teams should do joint practices like new England and New Orleans did earlier this preseason. That way teams can judge how their players do against another defense without all the punishment of a real game. Every team has at least 18 teams they don't see during the regular season, so I wouldn't mind 3 preseason games and a two team joint practice for every team.

**MrMister** · 08-22-2012, 08:41 PM

I don't like the argument that since college doesn't do it the NFL shouldn't. Again, the NFL game is a lot more complex. Yeah that's what practice is for, but a real game cannot be simulated easily.

The injuries argument holds more water with me. If they're gonna get injured, let's have it happen when it the game actually counts.

**WOOLCUNT** · 08-22-2012, 09:36 PM

guys like Shannon Sharpe and Terrel Davis would have never been the players they were if there was no preseason. they probably would have been cut.

Also it's a dumb argument that since college guys don't need it then the pros don't when the pros play a much different and more complex game. When the big schools play teams that are division 2 it's almost the same thing as a preseason game.

PGSucks · 08-22-2012, 11:16 PM

Vernon "The Sack Master" Gholston signs with the Rams. I wonder how bad he's going to flame out.

**Aid180** · 08-23-2012, 05:55 AM

Apparently Brian Urlacher went to Germany and had a treatment very similar to Kobe Bryant over the offseason. So expect Urlacher to come back and be a contender for the scoring title.

**Von Doom** · 08-23-2012, 06:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TKOK!

guys like Shannon Sharpe and Terrel Davis would have never been the players they were if there was no preseason. they probably would have been cut.

It is amazing to think. One was on the cut list, the other was the 6th running back on our depth chart who probably would have also been cut. They went on to have 5 superbowl rings between them, 11 pro bowls between them, Sharpe held/still holds pretty much every TE record worth holding, Davis is in the 2000 yard season-club, most rushing TDs in a superbowl, NFL and Superbowl MVP. I could go on, but without a few pre-season warm-ups, Davis and Sharpe would definitely not have ended up being the players they were.

**SoupBro** · 08-23-2012, 12:25 PM

Anyone know where I can get in a good fantasy league. Always wanted to try fantasy football but never made the effort.

**Notorious** · 08-23-2012, 01:45 PM

We have a fantasy league on here, you're a couple weeks too late to join though sadly.

But if you still want to be involved in something on here, join the Pick'em league.