Because the National Football League is the dominant spectator sport in the nation, the number one sport in popularity according to fans in every Gallup or Harris poll taken since 1968, everyone wants to get right onto the regular season, and there is a common theme that preseason football does not matter and/or is not very interesting.
As is always the case, however, it all depends on your point of view.
Every team has veteran players who do not need too many reps, don’t want too many, and won’t be given too many over these next four games.
However, for every player of that ilk, there is at least one, more likely two or three who are dependent on every single play of camp and games to try and impress.
Remember, the camera is always on; the coaches see every play of every practice, over and over.
Sometimes it is just one impression that sinks a player’s name into a coach’s mind; then, can the player do it one more time? Can he do it again and again in practice?
And if so, will he carry it over into the games, and if so, with consistency of performance over a four-week period?
These games could not be any bigger for those players, nor in that regard for the coaches who are looking for one more Karl Mecklenburg (a 12th-round draft choice), Rod Smith (an undrafted free agent), or Terrell Davis (a sixth-round draft choice who this year will be inducted into the Denver Broncos Ring of Fame).
Or how about Steve Watson (undrafted free agent), Tyrone Braxton (a 12th-round draft choice), or Steve Foley (a college quarterback that the Broncos thought could be a candidate at safety).
In fact, a scan of the Pro Football Hall of Fame membership list shows more unheralded players in the Hall than number one draft choices.
Johnny Unitas and Dick “Night Train” Lane are just a couple of examples.
Once they are signed, they all put on the same uniform, do the same drills, and play in the same games. The NFL is a complete meritocracy — the best players play — and Broncos Head Coach Mike Shanahan has been the embodiment of that philosophy in the annual makeup of his roster.
It can be pretty common to watch these games far more casually that one would watch a regular season game. After all, they don’t count.
They don’t?
Broncos fans have seen those above mentioned players and many more first make their names known in preseason games, and there will be a lot of fans tuned in and sitting in the stands armed with their rosters of draftees and free agents, looking for the next big guy.
Because every coach knows that he is always out there somewhere.
Tags: Hall of Fame, Karl Mecklenburg, Mike Shanahan, Preseason games, Ring of Fame, Rod Smith, Steve Foley, Steve Watson, Terrell Davis, Tyrone Braxton
Jim,
Your perspective is so unique and interesting. I look forward to seeing you at some games this season. I’m very optimistic!
Miles
For every big time player who does not want to play in these games, there is a handful of guys “on the bubble” and need these games. I look at these games not as they don’t count but a player come in a make a name for himself and start a legacy for one team. TD was that player who just wanted to go home before the american bowl in toyko. He made a big play on special teams and look where he is now. Short time maybe but he made the team and started to put his ring of fame mark on this team. Hoperfully in to the Hall of Fame for TD. They might not count but for the competive side of Football you would like to get wins and no Injuries. GO BRONCOS!!!
i love tthe afc team because they have a great defence lets go bronco common broncos its your birthday we are gonna party like its your birthday i know you team players can do it i am going to cheer you all on because youteam players are such a good team so let me know when your games final score when the4th quarter is finish so i will love it and be more than glad to know about it
from nfl fan tara davis
I look forward to seeing our draft picks and how all our running backs do in the preseason. The battle for WR should also be interesting
Preseason definatly means something to me, I love to see which new players are going to make an impact on our season. I can’t wait to see Henry in there running people over. I hope to see a lot of pressure from the D-line. What about these trade rumors involving Warren? Who are the Broncos wanting for him?
the per season is not really for the player it for the fan. the player are hitting the wts, in film and other actived getting ready for football, but the fan have had to indure basketball,baseball and then area league to try to get there fix for football. ( I enjoy basketball, baseball and area league but there just not the same) So I think for the fan the per season is a time to get the rust off and get ready to seat and watch, cheer,boo and to question the calls by the refs when they go agants your team and say that was a very good call when when it in your favor even when it may have been a bad call too. So I think that is why the NFL need to keep the per-season. all the thing sade about TD, and all the other player that reached super stardom with the in the per-season I agree with too. now let not forget the college super stars that were never seen after the per season too. all in all I say keep the per season.
The preseason is definitely important for the starters to get up to speed and for the players on the bubble to show what they can do.
I am happy that Coach Shanahan has a reputation as a coach who will always go with the better player, no matter if he is undrafted, a street free agent or a first round pick. I see a lot of teams sign 15 undrafted players and drop every one of them because they only have enough roster spots for the players they risked draft picks on. A lot of good players are lost that way.
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Sports Illustrated
I couldn’t understand some parts of this article, but it sounds interesting