THE PRESEASON BLUES
As the NFL football season gets going we all rejoice. Like all of you I love Football and all that goes into this great event. The pre-game tailgating with all its food, and fun, and pregame hype. The anticipation of the kickoff with player introductions, and the crowd cheering. Every week its new drama. Every week we see great things and move ever closer to the ultimate prize. But before we as fans can get started we have to endure THE PRESEASON!!
Now do not get me wrong 30 years ago the idea of a four game preseason was a necessity. It was what was needed, along with training camp, to get everybody into shape. It was needed to take a good look at all the new players and veterans alike to be assured you had all the right pieces. But that was 30 years ago. Today with full time strength and conditioning and the money that the players receive to PLAY many of the fans think its time we got what we PAYED FOR !! Now if you do not have season tickets you may not know that we pay FULL PRICE for both preseason games even though we get nothing close to a full season game. To add insult to injury, if we are lucky enough to have the FOURTH preseason game at home, which we do this year, you will not see most of the starters at all.
This issue is of course much larger than you or I. As a matter of fact it is one of the TOP 5 points of contention between the NFL players union and the owners. Of course an 18 game season will bring in more revenue to the owners. Of course the players should be compensated for the extra wear and tear on their bodies. But excuse me if I sound a little less than interested in THEM, this is about US, the fans!
All this talk of what IF the owners lock out the players and there is no 2011 season is clouding a lot of the excitement of the 2010 season. Gee whiz guys can’t we just look at this from a FANS perspective. We all WISH we could make as much money playing a GAME we loved. That includes MEANIE with his cup and a ball on a string. We, as fans get a LITTLE upset when millionaires and BILLONARES start playing cock of the walk. And with Peyton due a new contract soon, it is going to be very interesting.
But my friends, they need to know NOW that the FANS will not tolerate a lock out. I have reviewed some of their concerns. The players want to make sure they are not living in a BOX in years to come because they got so banged up. The owners are tired of paying MILLIONS to unproven rookies. The list is not that long and I think, as a fan, they can get it done.
As for the PRESASON, I hate watching folks leave at halftime because there is nothing to watch. I hate knowing that the fourth game is nothing more than a glorified scrimmage between soon to be cut players. I HATE paying full price for the joy of watching these games. But we are just the FANS, last time I checked nobody was asking for our opinion. Well expect for the local press who had nothing else to talk about during an interview at my tailgate before the game. That my friends is how things get started, some guy in a bad hat asked me a question and now I ask you…Do you want a say in the talks that are going on?? Do you feel like they should be more concerned with what the FANS think?? Do you think it’s kind of funny that the local new channels always send their NEWEST female reporters to our lot before a game?? Don’t get me wrong I like a cute, petite female just like the next guy but you have to wonder if the GM thinks “if she can survive the BLUE CREW LOT she should be OK.” Well she was better looking than Russ without his hat, FRIGHTNING!!
So, as I started this rant I was expressing my dislike for the preseason and based on the volume of new faces I watched walk by my seat at the stadium I would venture that 50% of the seats were filled with first time folks with free tickets or family friends of the ticket holder. If the NFL could see its way clear to giving us a full season product there would be enough money for everyone. I for one would gladly give up an extra Sunday for the joy of football, how about you?
WRITTEN BY: G.A.WOODS AKA PT COLTS GUY
