NFL Preseason Should Stay Four Games, Regular Season 16

With the latest Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) in full swing, one of the hot button issues is expanding the regular season to 18 games and possibly cutting the preseason down to just two.

Despite wanting it to be the regular season kicking off this week instead of the preseason, I fully understand the absolute need for four preseason games.

The preseason serves two purposes.

The most important purpose is that it gets your starters back up to game speed. 

And because no coach wants to risk injury of a star player, four games allows a nice sample without having them out there for too many consecutive plays and further risking injury.

If we were to cut the preseason by two games, the starters would probably have to play more downs in those two games and would be put at greater risk for injury.

Or they wouldn't get enough snaps and there still might be some rust by Week One of the regular season.

Secondly, it gives some of the bubble guys a chance to make the final 53-man roster.

I'm sure all 32 head coaches and general managers out there know what 45-50 of there players are going to be on the squad before the first game, but for those remaining three to eight spots, the four upcoming games mean a great deal.

This is their chance to show that they belong on the team. 

And sure there aren't probably any Emmit Smiths or Joe Montanas in this bunch, but there certainly might be a Tony Romo or Wayne Chrebet in there.

A guy that wasn't drafted because he went to a small school might have a chance to make a squad and then develop into a franchise type player.

Personally I think the way the season is set up now is perfect (except for the two-week break between the Championship games and the Super Bowl).

Sixteen is a weird number, but it works, and the four preseason games is a nice appetizer to the main course.

Until next time, loyal reader, enjoy tonight's action.