NFL Network: Ongoing Talks About Cutting Preseason Games
June 10th, 2020
If you bought plane tickets for Pittsburgh, you might want to look up your airline refund policy.
NFL Network is buzzing with word that the players’ association and the league are discussing cutting this year’s preseason in half, from four games to two.
There is massive division at JoeBucsFan.com world headquarters. Cans of Big Storm beer are being tossed around with rage. One Joe loves preseason, the other Joe hates it.
The Bucs are set to open their preseason in nine weeks at the Steelers.
Less preseason, combined with joint practices getting wiped out by The Sickness, means even less time for Tom Brady to build chemistry with his receivers. Ugh.
It seems the NFL might be seeking more time to iron out game day health protocols.
Joe feels for the bubble-type players. This is not a good year to win a job as an undrafted free agent. And Joe also wonders whether a shrinking preseason makes a veteran running back like Devonta Freeman more attractive.
Also, Joe is thinking tackling to the ground might make a triumphant return to Bucs training camp.
June 10th, 2020 at 1:37 pm
Meh 😒 don’t care for preseason but at end of day it’s always fun to watch people come up never will forget watching Russle Wilson Rise in preseason !
June 10th, 2020 at 2:12 pm
One would think the Bucs could be the team the could handle rookies and free agents better than their counterparts! Last year around this time, we were reading that the team would have multiple practices going on simultaneously, so the young players would get the coaching and the reps they needed to get up to speed quickly.
Has that changed? There’s almost no talk of this.
June 10th, 2020 at 2:20 pm
The Bucs are definitely behind the 8-ball in terms of preparedness with a new QB. But if you want a QB who requires the least amount of on-field preparedness, I would guess TB12 would be at the top of the list. Although preseason games give a team a chance to gel, they also give players a good chance of injuries. To me, the preseason is primarily for evaluating rookies and undrafted FAs. The regulars typically only get about 1 full game out of 4 (first quarter in Games 1 and 2, and first half in Game 3). Most of the starters don’t even play in Game 4. So, if the preseason is reduced to 2 games, put your regulars in for the first half of both. If there are any gems in the undrafted FA class,they’ll have to culled out in training camp and the second halves of the preseason games.
June 10th, 2020 at 2:26 pm
Two should be plenty. Yeah the “sickness” has interfered with this season’s preparation. Big deal!
The first four weeks of the season ALL teams will smooth out the bumps…the next four they improve and then those last 8 for the playoff run all the teams “should” be in “prime” shape and ready to rock.
So the season begins a little rough…perhaps…these guys are seasoned pros they make millions of dollars to play a game…they’ll get ready soon enough.
June 10th, 2020 at 2:27 pm
covid is raging on around the world…so it’s best to just plan for empty stadiums with sit com type noise and funny little people type images sitting in the seats and shuffling around a bit…
best for safety…
and we all need to watch some football…
on with the season…
teams and players tested daily…
you get covid and you’re out…so it goes…let the games begin…
free agents and bubble undrafteds can stay in shape and wait for covid to strike so they get their shots…
so it goes…
play the games,,,
June 10th, 2020 at 2:30 pm
I saw this coming weeks ago. Everyone was worried about OTA’s, missed practices, well here you go. Two less preseason games, where the starters hardly play, for more practice time. Less preseason games, less need to bring 90 bodies to camp. Watch, they’ll won’t bring more then 70 to camp. Tough for UDFA’s to get noticed this year. Or they can hold two practices at different times going 50, 40.
June 10th, 2020 at 3:20 pm
Coach Brady will have this team on lock down by week four at the most and I doubt we will be 0-4 at that time so I’m not sweating it so hard. “Oh the Bucs QB is new so he won’t be able to learn BA scheme.” Yeah it’s the GOAT and a crazy good QB coach with a bunch of other good coaches that are going to intermingle a sick ass new offense.
June 10th, 2020 at 3:51 pm
arian’s offense X brady’s offense = sick f’n offense !! 🙂
June 10th, 2020 at 5:49 pm
Brady is enough of a QB to be able to use film to help himself.
He will probably start simple, tossing to Gronk and Evans, then will build in Godwin and Miller, maybe the running backs.
The Bucs are not going to start in a hole with the greatest QB ever seen.
June 10th, 2020 at 6:03 pm
As long as camp starts on time.
June 10th, 2020 at 11:12 pm
I like preseason, but I think the games should be free.
The problem with cutting them down is fewer opportunities for rookies. Therefore…only let rookies play in the first two.
June 11th, 2020 at 12:03 am
Probably should have at least 2 preseason games. I look for more injuries league wide this season.
June 11th, 2020 at 9:54 am
Brady likely wouldn’t play more than a series in 2 of the game anyway.
June 11th, 2020 at 11:19 am
Normally I would be all the in to cut some preseason games (I hate having to buy them in my season ticket package)but obviously with no off season so far and a new qb, albeit the best of all time, I hope they don’t cut them off this year.