Preseason is underway in the NFL. Most people don’t like the games. I am an avid fan of preseason games. No, I don’t get excited for them like the regular season, but I watch them. I get it, it’s not the same, but football is football.
“The Experts” out there think there should be no preseason. They’re wrong. Preseason football is the time for all players and all coaches to adjust to that game speed. Many players get hurt in the beginning of the season because their bodies are not ready for game speed. Next, it gives later round drafted players and undrafted free agents a chance to showcase their talents for their franchises.
These games determine if they make the team or not. Players like Austin Ekeler, David Andrews, Adam Theilen, and Chris Harris are on their teams because they showcased themselves in preseason games. Late round picks like Tom Brady, Antonio Brown, Tyreek Hill, Richard Sherman, and a whole lot more later round draft picks showcased their talents in these games to prove they can be on the team roster come the last cuts.
Another aspect of preseason games is that a lot of tickets are affordable for families. They can go to games and not spend an arm and a leg on tickets. Yes, I know, you don’t see some starters or star players, but you see a lot of the future roster. Tickets don’t come cheap until the end of the season when your team is 3-12 and its 5 degrees out.
Owners should love preseason because they make a fortune off the games. Players only make about $500 a game for preseason so the owners are raking in money for those games. I understand it might not be your football fix every regular season Sunday provides, but I know you would rather watch these games then go tile shopping with your wife or girlfriend.