[News] John Harbaugh Advocates For Eliminating Preseason Games

[BR News]

The Ravens head coach feels there are ways for coaches to still prepare their players for the regular season without putting them as much at risk of injury in preseason games. His argument is to decrease preseason games and expand meaningful games and rosters.

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[cobrajet]

We need preseason games to evaluate young talent, we need to see what some of our rookies can do against starters, and we need some playing time for some of the veterans coming off injury to knock off some rust, but I think Harbaugh has a point about 4 full games being too much. I have no answers to give on what a happy medium would be.

[Moderator 3]

We also need them for getting stadiums ready, getting teams used to travel, etc. I think each team should have one home and one away game.

[Sea Wolf]

16/4 - 18/2 you still have 20

[Halshayeji]

I absolutely agree with harbs tgat we don't need 4 preseason games. But I fear a 18 game regular season. So we reduce injuries in pre season but increase the risks come playoffs...

Players are already so banged up in Jan. More games would take away from the super bowl and that's not what I want

[Crusader]

And yet John let's veterans playing meaning less games!

[ALSKAN RAVEN FAN]

EASY!!! Just hold your starters out and play all younger guys and rookies you can still get the team use to traveling and get the stadiums up to par for the regular season games.... The honest thing is B.Watson was not even touched it was just bad luck the radio commentator first said he and Aiken got tangled up but when I got to see the play it did not look that way to me just bad luck he kinda cut off the line of scrimmage and went to his hands and knees.

Edited August 28, 2016 by ALSKAN RAVEN FAN

[The Greek]

2 preseason games for the young guys and bubble players including vets. increase reg season by 2 games and let us play the skins every season which is a great rivalry game for the area. eliminate thursday games aside from turkey day if goodell really cares about injuries and expand rosters to help accommodate injuries with extra 2 reg season games. and move monday night games to 7:30 for selfish reason. jmo

Edited August 28, 2016 by The Greek

[Tank 92]

Been saying this for years, I hate pre season. Do away with it, expand the roster to say 58 while still only allowing 46 to dress on game day. 

[letitgosometimes]

Harbs: spot on! Please get the new kick-off fixed as well.

[law215]

I disagree. It's football. The risk of injury is present no matter the type of game or number of games. Keep in mind Pitta got hurt in practice. Perriman injured himself in practice. You don't need contact to pop your Achilles. As a Ravens fan, I can understand the frustration of losing key players in a meaningless game. However, Watson got hurt running. As long as football is a game that involves running and contact, there is no reliable way to mitigate the risk of injuries.

[Tank 92]

6 minutes ago, law215 said:

I disagree. It's football. The risk of injury is present no matter the type of game or number of games. Keep in mind Pitta got hurt in practice. Perriman injured himself in practice. You don't need contact to pop your Achilles. As a Ravens fan, I can understand the frustration of losing key players in a meaningless game. However, Watson got hurt running. As long as football is a game that involves running and contact, there is no reliable way to mitigate the risk of injuries.

It's not all about injuries, it's the extended practice period after camp and before the season. They don't need it.

[Fastynart]

This is ridiculous. Not the idea, but anyone who actually thinks that the NFL will give up its cash cow con game, aka preseason football, is nuts. There is too much money being made on these worthless contests. It is all about the money Greedy owners plus greedy players equals no end to preseason games.

[RavensBaltimore]

I think eliminating the preseason altogether would put players at a higher risk of getting injured once the season begins. Since the new CBA has reduced the amount of contact practices allowed, injuries have gone UP. It seems that players need some full contact, game speed reps to get ready for real games. Instead of eliminating the preseason, it would probably be best to just play 2 preseason games.

[designermaryland]

They should definitely expand rosters a bit. With the amount of injuries that occur in every game, 46 is too few to have on gameday, and 53 is too few to have protected on your roster. Something like 52 active on gameday would allow you roughly 1 more by position group. 60 roster would allow some of those guys on the practice squad to be protected so they could not be signed.

How do you select the best game day players if they are not tested in an actual game? I think you need at least 2-3 preseason games to see what you've got and whether plays are translating on to the field from practice. These injuries could occur at any time in training camp, practice or games and it is a total crapshoot.

[Rubberslinky1]

Red Grange played with a torn acl I don't know what's wrong with these princesses.

[ALSKAN RAVEN FAN]

40 minutes ago, designermaryland said:

They should definitely expand rosters a bit. With the amount of injuries that occur in every game, 46 is too few to have on gameday, and 53 is too few to have protected on your roster. Something like 52 active on gameday would allow you roughly 1 more by position group. 60 roster would allow some of those guys on the practice squad to be protected so they could not be signed.

How do you select the best game day players if they are not tested in an actual game? I think you need at least 2-3 preseason games to see what you've got and whether plays are translating on to the field from practice. These injuries could occur at any time in training camp, practice or games and it is a total crapshoot.

I would like to see 69 players on a roster with 66 players a team would have a true 1st threw 3rd string offense and defense and the last 3 guys to make it 69 would be your Punter / Kicker / and long snaper.

[purpledown]

at least a reduction to two games.

[RRRRRavens]

EASY!!! Just hold your starters out and play all younger guys and rookies you can still get the team use to traveling and get the stadiums up to par for the regular season games.... The honest thing is B.Watson was not even touched it was just bad luck the radio commentator first said he and Aiken got tangled up but when I got to see the play it did not look that way to me just bad luck he kinda cut off the line of scrimmage and went to his hands and knees.

You're right. Harbs can try out this idea all by himself without league approval. In a way he is already doing it this year. Just sit all the players you know are going to be your number ones and play the rookies to get them used to the greater speed of pro ball. Also play any other free agents and trades that you want to see further proof of their ability. Let any other players play who want to just to "knock the rust off" and let them take themselves out of games when they feel they've had enough.

[catgirl54]

I think they still need a couple of preseason games or the first few games of the season would be so watered down, they wouldn't even be worth watching. But four is too many.

[drillem]

The level of competition is so great as players compete for inclusion when the cuts come down, injuries are inevitable. The place to solve that would be to allow larger rosters throughout the season. Plus giving more flexibility should be given teams where injuries do occur so the players can come back when they are ready. Fewer plays per player with more on the roster means less injuries. The way it is now there are entirely too many serious injuries.

[Crusader]

Thing is by the time the first real game played your still playing inexperienced players because of injury and you threw money down the drain