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You're almost there. IMO, 2 games is plenty, especially if there are joint practices. What we need is more practice time during camp. And I don't think a 17 game season is a good idea.
There's some value in pre-season though:
1.) Ticket sales. Yes, the tickets are dirt cheap because season ticket holders are unloading them for anything they can get to subsidize what they spent for 10 tickets in total. Owners make their money regardless. It's 2 gate receipts a season...at Gillette that's about 120K people paying at least $100 per head or 12 million bucks. I think Bob Kraft likes that money.
2.) The 4 game pre-season is a negotiating chip for the owners and the players for the next CBA. Players might want less pre-season, but might have to give owners 18 games. So, I think it sticks around for a while...maybe a 3 game pre-season in the next CBA.
3.) The dress rehearsal aspect of it has a lot of value. Everybody gets to walk through their roles from the fans to stadium personnel to team personnel to players to announcers to TV/Radio/Media people to Traffic cops....
4.) It has some pass rush evaluation value. Sure the OT's might be third string and the QB is a journey man..but it is the first time players can hit a QB. Ditto for run blocking and/or any non-skill position trench play. During practices you get the feel that the trench guys are going 65-75% only...
5.) Belichick does allow his assistants to call plays during pre-season too.
6.) I like pre-season ball. The first three games at least...but yeah I think we should limit it to 3 games and ditch the HOF game or make the HOF have its game in PS week 2 or something. Week 1PS: Run out your 2nd/3rd stringers. Week 2PS: The dress rehearsal...have your starters play a half...vanilla schemes though. Week 3PS: Injured guys getting their reps in, bubble guys getting their shot to show up on ST's, and etc....then just start the season. That's just me....