NFL: In Defense of the Preseason

Now that the 2010 NFL Preseason is underway with the Hall of Fame game in Canton last night and with talks of moving to an 18-game regular season, I figured now was the time to come to the defense of the preseason.

Prior to last night, it had been six months since the last NFL game. It might as well have been an eternity. Glaciers have receded faster than that. The draft came and went in April, Rookie camps, OTAs, and mini-camp came in May, June, and July, but it just wasn't enough. Now the preseason is here and the fun can begin.

I understand that most NFL fans overlook the preseason because it is technically meaningless. Critics say it's boring because it features second and third string players who will most likely see more of the bench than the field when the "real" football starts.

But I say it is meaningful! It signals the start of something great! NFL preseason football is the appetizer to the regular season's main course. It's the starter. A small morsel to wet your appetite for the juicy steak on its way. I'm going to stop this metaphor before I start getting too hungry.

I didn't care about either Cincinnati or Dallas last night; I'm from Buffalo. But I watched most of the game. Why? Because even though I didn't know many of the players' names after the first quarter, it still had everything I missed during the last six months: the action, hard hitting, and yes, even drama that is the hallmark of NFL football.

It also featured two quarterbacks named Palmer who I am pretty sure are the same person. Sure, it doesn't mean anything, but it's still more exciting than reading about how the third-string quarterback threw an interception in training camp.

So sit back, enjoy the ramp-up to the regular season, scout players for your fantasy team (you never know when you'll need that fourth wideout!), and get excited.

The real stuff is only a month away.