First FanPost ever: How to improve the Preseason

by NCSUPanthersFan on Feb 12, 2012 8:10 PM EST

I, like every other NFL fan, would love it if they would cut the preseason to 2 games. Unfortunately, the owners would never give up an extra home game's worth of revenue to make that happen. These exhibition games are terrible to watch, mainly because they don't matter and you have backups playing for most of the game. Their main purpose is to evaluate the rookies and fringe players on the roster. Therefore, I would like to propose a few changes that would make the preseason a bit more interesting and more watchable.

First change: More Divisional Games

The NFL has been trying to make the divisional games matter more for the past couple of seasons by moving them to the end of the season. Why not make them mean even more by having an extra game with each divisional opponent in the preseason? We get to see the tweaks in the offenses and defenses of our divisional opponents in a game that doesn't affect the standings and we get another chance to beat our biggest rivals.

Second change: Geographic "Rivalries" with the opposite conference

I have always wanted to have a rivalry with the Titans since they moved to Tennessee from Houston. It doesn't make sense to play a team so close to us once every four seasons. Obviously some of the rivalries won't work on a geographical basis, but I tried to come up with some that would make sense from a historical standpoint. These are the "rivalries" I've come up with: Panthers/Titans, Jets/Giants, Cowboys/Texans, Redskins/Ravens, Dolphins/Bucs, Jags/Falcons, 49ers/Raiders, Chiefs/Rams, Steelers/Eagles, Chargers/Cardinals, Broncos/Seahawks, Pats/Packers, Colts/Saints, Bills/Vikings, Browns/Lions, and Bengals/Bears.

Third change: Enforce some mandatory playing time rules

The worst part about the preseason is not seeing your favorite players for the majority of the game. I'm not suggesting the starters play the entire game at the risk of injury. I think the starters should play at least the full first half though. That way, you can keep the fans interested and still evaluate the youngsters on the roster.

Thanks for reading and Go Panthers!

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I'm happy with the way it is

Glad to finally see another State fan on here!

by NCSportsMan on Feb 13, 2012 2:00 AM EST reply actions

same here!

by mlrupert on Feb 13, 2012 12:47 PM EST up reply actions

If you don't like the preseason

Don’t watch it. Simple as that. I don’t mean to come across as a dick.

My opinion is that the preseason is fine the way it is. It makes it more likely that the most deserving players make the team and ensures a cleaner product when the regular season starts.

But I do like your idea of the geographic rivalries to add a little bit to the fun. Some of those you mentioned already take place, but it would be fun to have a little preseason rivalry of our own.

by JDeLong42 on Feb 13, 2012 2:27 AM EST reply actions

There is no doubt that preseason games are not prime time entertainment.

But that isn’t what they are supposed to be. They are evaluation opportunities for coaches to see how fringe/bubble players perform in game situations. Training camp is great, but they don’t play much defense and hitting is basically non-existent. My biggest problem with preseason is that they charge full price for the games.

I don’t believe they will EVER make preseason games against divisional opponents. Those games get too chippy as it is and the last thing they need is more of them.

You can’t invent a rivalry. It either is one or it isn’t. Some games would be pointless, while that 49ers/Raiders game would probably result in violence and/or murder.

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by ALAC on Feb 13, 2012 6:29 AM EST reply actions

Easy with the absolutes mano...

I, like every other NFL fan, would love it if they would cut the preseason to 2 games.

I’m okay with the preseason as is right now, and one of the best ways to evaluate young players is to watch them in game action.

Cam Newton, when a reporter asks him who will win the Heisman Trophy on Saturday: "I'll tell you Sunday."

by Son of a Newton on Feb 13, 2012 5:41 PM EST reply actions

Yup. I got no problem with the 4 game pre-season.

I hope they keep it just the way it is. I like the 16 game schedule too, because the math works out right. Adding 2 games to the schedule screws everything up.

The truth will set you free, but not until it is finished with you. ~David Foster Wallace

I may not always be right, but even a blind nut finds a squirrel every once in a while.

Follow me on Twitter! @bdubsmitty

by BW Smith on Feb 13, 2012 5:54 PM EST up reply actions