Starters playing in the 4th preseason game

[Him8123]

I agree with Rastak, you can get injured at any time. No reason to play scared. I think they should eliminate 1 or 2 preseason games and just add 1 or 2 games to the season.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Re: Starters playing in the 4th preseason game

If Dungy and other HC's who are proven winners can play THEIR guys why can't McCarthy? Oh wait I forgot, you know more then them don't ya?

INDIANAPOLIS -- Tony Dungy wanted Saturday night's preseason game to be a tuneup for the defending Super Bowl champions...

Manning made it look easy.

When he last faced the Lions on Thanksgiving in 2004, Manning threw six TDs, a number he might have matched Saturday had he not been replaced at halftime of a meaningless game.

But in what was likely to be the final preseason appearance for most of Indy's starters, Manning appeared to be in midseason form.

[LEWCWA]

Personally, I think this is a non-issue. If they play great in week one nobody cares, if they stink it up, everyone says see told ya so. So about half the teams this might be an issue for. The winners won't give a shit!

[Guiness]

1 series? Why bother dressing? If that one series is a 3 and out, then what?

I was thinking the same thing. Why dress? The only thing I can guess is that the NFL tells them they have to because the fans are paying full price for the tickets, after all.

As far as worrying about injury, playing scared, etc - it's a percentage thing. Roll the dice more often, more chance of snake eyes. No reason to roll the dice if you don't have to, and Favre can get accustomed to his new recievers just fine in practice. I know it's not exactly the same, but not THAT far off.

[Harlan Huckleby]

I'm in the tiny minority on this, but I LIKE preseason games. August is not a time to play serious football anyway. I really like that the coaches and players get 4 weeks to figure out who can play, get their shit together. That's not such a long time.

If you want to cut some nonsense, get rid of minicamps.

As far as adding more games to the regular season: NO!! I don't want to see quality diluted anymore than it already has been. Those guys are already banging away so long that many teams are ragged by playoff time.

All of the pro sports seasons are about 30% too long.

[Partial]

Re: Starters playing in the 4th preseason game

If Dungy and other HC's who are proven winners can play THEIR guys why can't McCarthy? Oh wait I forgot, you know more then them don't ya?

INDIANAPOLIS -- Tony Dungy wanted Saturday night's preseason game to be a tuneup for the defending Super Bowl champions...

Manning made it look easy.

When he last faced the Lions on Thanksgiving in 2004, Manning threw six TDs, a number he might have matched Saturday had he not been replaced at halftime of a meaningless game.

But in what was likely to be the final preseason appearance for most of Indy's starters, Manning appeared to be in midseason form.

Pwned.

[HarveyWallbangers]

From Fanball.com

Brees taking night off

Drew Brees has already taken his final snap of the preseason. The Saints announced on Monday that Brees will not play in Thursday's preseason finale against the Dolphins. "I'm probably going to start Jamie (Martin) and give him a good half's worth of work," head coach Sean Payton told the New Orleans Times-Picayune.

Our View
Brees has been nearly perfect in his last three preseason outings. In fact, he produced stellar numbers last week despite the fact that starting wide receivers Devery Henderson and Marques Colston were both sidelined.

Bullocks out for season

Daniel Bullocks was placed on season-ending injured reserve on Monday with a torn ACL in his right knee. "He just planted," head coach Rod Marinelli described to the Detroit Free Press. "Nobody even hit him. I just saw him going down. You saw him getting up slowly. You knew something was up." Bullocks suffered the injury during the preseason loss to the Colts on Saturday.

Our View
Rookie Gerald Alexander is slated to replace Bullocks in the starting lineup. The Lions lacked secondary depth even before Bullocks went down.

Jackson won't play Thursday

The Rams aren't expected to use running back Steven Jackson during their final exhibition game on Thursday, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "I'm getting a lot of work during the week in practice; that's when Coach wants me to get my reps," Jackson told the paper. "I do feel rested, and ... Coach has done a great job of making sure I don't take any unnecessary hits."

Our View
Good move by coach Scott Linehan. There's no need to risk an injury to Jackson in this meaningless game.

[superfan]

I would rather have all of the starters play flat in the first game of the season than lose one starter to a season ending injury during a preseason game.

I say give most of the starters two series. I don't see what value can be gained with just one series. Give them two series of reps to get a feel and some semblance of rhythm, maybe work on a couple specific plays. Then get them out of there.

[Rastak]

From Fanball.com

Brees taking night off

Drew Brees has already taken his final snap of the preseason. The Saints announced on Monday that Brees will not play in Thursday's preseason finale against the Dolphins. "I'm probably going to start Jamie (Martin) and give him a good half's worth of work," head coach Sean Payton told the New Orleans Times-Picayune.

Our View
Brees has been nearly perfect in his last three preseason outings. In fact, he produced stellar numbers last week despite the fact that starting wide receivers Devery Henderson and Marques Colston were both sidelined.

Bullocks out for season

Daniel Bullocks was placed on season-ending injured reserve on Monday with a torn ACL in his right knee. "He just planted," head coach Rod Marinelli described to the Detroit Free Press. "Nobody even hit him. I just saw him going down. You saw him getting up slowly. You knew something was up." Bullocks suffered the injury during the preseason loss to the Colts on Saturday.

Our View
Rookie Gerald Alexander is slated to replace Bullocks in the starting lineup. The Lions lacked secondary depth even before Bullocks went down.

Jackson won't play Thursday

The Rams aren't expected to use running back Steven Jackson during their final exhibition game on Thursday, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "I'm getting a lot of work during the week in practice; that's when Coach wants me to get my reps," Jackson told the paper. "I do feel rested, and ... Coach has done a great job of making sure I don't take any unnecessary hits."

Our View
Good move by coach Scott Linehan. There's no need to risk an injury to Jackson in this meaningless game.

You forgot to post articles on the 600 guys who are perfectly fine and now better prepared to start the season.


Superfan: With only 16 games, I'm sure you can just blow off the first one.....

[cpk1994]

I think that is dumb. You cannot play scared. I'd rather the starters play the whole first half. They need to get more in-game reps so they are ready to go for the regular season.

You say that until Brett goes down with a ACL injury and is done for the year. Then you be yelling at McCarthy for not sitting him down right away. This has nothing to do with playing scared.

[Rastak]

I think that is dumb. You cannot play scared. I'd rather the starters play the whole first half. They need to get more in-game reps so they are ready to go for the regular season.

You say that until Brett goes down with a ACL injury and is done for the year. Then you be yelling at McCarthy for not sitting him down right away. This has nothing to do with playing scared.

Could happen in practice too, without getting hit. Maybe he should just stay home until the season starts.....I agree with Partial on this one.

[HarveyWallbangers]

You forgot to post articles on the 600 guys who are perfectly fine and now better prepared to start the season.

My post has nothing to do with who or who isn't playing. It's to Packnut's post about how the people that think the starters shouldn't play (and Mike McCarthy) are dumb because guys like Dungy and other coaches play their starters. My opinion is: the coach has a better feel for the players. If he feels they need a couple of series (Favre), then fine. If he feels they need 3 quarters (TJack), then fine. If he feels they don't need to play, then fine. But to post that everybody else is a dipshit because they don't feel Favre needs to play is assinine.

[Rastak]

You forgot to post articles on the 600 guys who are perfectly fine and now better prepared to start the season.

My post has nothing to do with who or who isn't playing. It's to Packnut's post about how the people that think the starters shouldn't play (and Mike McCarthy) are dumb because guys like Dungy and other coaches play their starters. My opinion is: the coach has a better feel for the players. If he feels they need a couple of series (Favre), then fine. If he feels they need 3 quarters (TJack), then fine. If he feels they don't need to play, then fine. But to post that everybody else is a dipshit because they don't feel Favre needs to play is assinine.

Now of course that wasn't MY point. I wasn't calling anyone an idiot. Almost all teams do this. I just don't agree it's the right thing to do to fully prepare for the season.

Actually, McCarthy went from saying Favre might not play to him playing 2 or 3 series. I'm not sure what prompted that change of heart. TJack is only supposed to play one series which I find REALLY stupid.

[Merlin]

The Packers have started flat for some 4 years now. I would rather not go that route anymore. The Packers are in a unique situation on offense. They have the same line for the first time in years, 1 WR and a QB that have played together for years. Other then that, the skill positions are a major question mark. I would rather see our offense use all four games to gel then start the season 1-4.

You can't get any rewards without risk. If your goal is to win a Super Bowl and not merely be competitive, you use every chance you have to get better. Veteran NFL players may or may not like the pre-season depending on who you talk to. For those veterans who are in the position that Favre is, you know what it is going to take to win, you play the game.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Now of course that wasn't MY point. I wasn't calling anyone an idiot. Almost all teams do this. I just don't agree it's the right thing to do to fully prepare for the season.

Actually, McCarthy went from saying Favre might not play to him playing 2 or 3 series. I'm not sure what prompted that change of heart. TJack is only supposed to play one series which I find REALLY stupid.

I don't have a beef with your argument. I disagree with it, but can see your point.