Ban joint practices

[raduray]

I propose the NFL should ban joint practices. They lead to the teams holding out their top players from pre-season games. Season ticket holders are forced to buy tickets to garbage games and I can't imagine that the TV revenue for the owners doesn't suffer.

And we saw the consequences of that in Seattle last night. Joint practice experience ≠ game experience.

 

[ViperGTS]

I propose the NFL should ban joint practices. They lead to the teams holding out their top players from pre-season games. Season ticket holders are forced to buy tickets to garbage games and I can't imagine that the TV revenue for the owners doesn't suffer.

And we saw the consequences of that in Seattle last night. Joint practice experience ≠ game experience.

I agree with that. Nothing can replicate pre season games. Dudes get hit, guys get taken to the ground etc etc.

I'm all for it. The product proves that point enough.

 

[PatsFan2]

I propose the NFL should ban joint practices. They lead to the teams holding out their top players from pre-season games. Season ticket holders are forced to buy tickets to garbage games and I can't imagine that the TV revenue for the owners doesn't suffer.

And we saw the consequences of that in Seattle last night. Joint practice experience ≠ game experience.

Disagree They should be more joint practices and Ban those useless Preseason games. Two many Good Players get's hurt in them.

 

[Pape]

disagree with both of these...

I propose the NFL should ban joint practices. They lead to the teams holding out their top players from pre-season games. Season ticket holders are forced to buy tickets to garbage games and I can't imagine that the TV revenue for the owners doesn't suffer.

And we saw the consequences of that in Seattle last night. Joint practice experience ≠ game experience.

The NFL is going after an 18 game schedule... it is inevitable... teams need more pre-season practice than they are currently getting, as we saw with the sloppy play last night... when working against another team, it helps players by working against unfamiliar players, helping them get into better game form...

Ban those useless Preseason games.

I would actually like to see the league move back to a 4 game preseason schedule, combined with an expansion of the active roster limit from 53 to a minimum of 60... 65 would be preferable though... can carry a lot more rotational depth that way...

 

[TheRainMaker]

Joint practices have always been pointless.

 

[Wozzy]

Nah, just have your starters play a quarter or so in the preseason.

The dynasty Pats usually played some preseason as well as had joint practices… the first month of the season was usually rocky still.

Nothing prepares you for real football but real football.

 

[Rob0729]

I think the joint practices are more important than preseason games. In joint practices, teams can work on things they need to improve or want to see where they are at.

In preseason games, you aren't going to get the starters to play all that much except in one game anyway. Even when there were four preseason games, the starters usually played a series the first game, maybe a quarter the second, and a little more than a half in the third, and sat out the fourth. And you cannot control what will happen in those games and what the other team is doing.

I think they should keep the joint practices but teams should make their starters play a half of football in the first or second game.
Personally, I don't think it is the joint practices that did away with starters playing the preseason. Joint practices have been going on for a decade before this practice started.

I think it is the 17 game season that did away with players playing in the preseason. I think it is coaches not wanting their players burnt out because the season is longer. Combine that with most teams having to play overseas which just adds more stress to players' bodies.

If they go to the 18 game season, there is no chance you are going to see starters play in the preseason.

 

[Rob0729]

Joint practices have always been pointless.

If joint practices were pointless, no teams would be doing them.

 

[TheRainMaker]

If joint practices were pointless, no teams would be doing them.

They do it because it’s controlled environments and thinking it’s going to reduce injuries.

We see this every year that players “tear it up” in camp, only to forget how to play football when the real games begin.

They need to get rid of them and go back to the previous format of preseason games with starters actually playing.

 

[Steve102]

I propose the NFL should ban joint practices. They lead to the teams holding out their top players from pre-season games. Season ticket holders are forced to buy tickets to garbage games and I can't imagine that the TV revenue for the owners doesn't suffer.

And we saw the consequences of that in Seattle last night. Joint practice experience ≠ game experience.

I don't care about the season ticket holders or anyone else getting shafted for pre-season exhibition games. I do care about getting teams ready to play, and both were not ready last night. Watch the debacle tonight, after flying all the way to Australia. It'll be the same.

 

[Patriots1993]

They can keep joint practices but they need to actually play in the preseason.

....Especially if you have a 23 year old QB with two new top WRs and rebuilt O-line. That's insane to not play them in this case, and the results proved it. If it's Brady and Randy Moss, okay fine sit them. But what do I know.

 

[Rob0729]

They do it because it’s controlled environments and thinking it’s going to reduce injuries.

We see this every year that players “tear it up” in camp, only to forget how to play football when the real games begin.

They need to get rid of them and go back to the previous format of preseason games with starters actually playing.

Again, they won't get enough playing time in preseason games. They will likely play no more than a half of football the entire preseason. They will play even less when they go to an 18 game schedule in a few years.

The days of a four game preseason and 16 game regular season are over. That was the game breaker for starters playing in the preseason. Not joint practices.

 

[raduray]

They do it because it’s controlled environments and thinking it’s going to reduce injuries.

And that's the fallacy as it doesn't prepare for game condition which are uncontrolled environments.

 

[bresna]

There is a hidden benefit to those joint practices. It's hard for any team to scout another teams practices to find possible diamonds in the rough that may hit the street during cutdowns. It's not surprising that the Patriots went after Romeo Doubs (preseason practice opponent in 2023) & Walter Rouse (preseason practice opponent in 2025). At joint practices, you can get a close look at 180 players instead of just 90.

 

[brdmaverick]

Joint practices have always been pointless.

I see it as a good opportunity to get reps against an opponent (other than yourselves) in controlled environment (coaches get to dictate the drills and game situations). I think joint practices are great and actually better than preseason games.

 

[cupofjoe1962]

The joint practices is where the starters play & the preseason is now for those who get cut

Not worth the gas, never mind the parking & tickets

I have had season tickets since the 1979 & the preseason has hit rock bottom

I would pay “Not to have to Go” to a preseason game

 

[rochrist]

I agree with that. Nothing can replicate pre season games. Dudes get hit, guys get taken to the ground etc etc.

I'm all for it. The product proves that point enough.

Sure. Just cut the regular season games to 14.

 

[WhatJustHappened]

Sure. Just cut the regular season games to 14.

Why, they played 4 and 16 for years without issues.

 

[Football2007]

The product is terrible in the first few weeks. Go back to four preseason games.

 

[Crazy Patriot Guy]

The product is terrible in the first few weeks. Go back to four preseason games.

I don't even think it needs to be four, you just need players to play in them.

I've never understood why so many people will lose their minds if a player gets hurt in a "meaningless" preseason game, but in all the years I've watched sports, I've not once heard a single fan question why a player was participating in a meaningless practice if that's where they went down.