Any NFL fan, player or coach looking for more evidence preseason games are increasingly worthless should consider Saturday's game between the Colts and Bears.
The third preseason game has traditionally been the one game during the exhibition schedule where the starters get some extended playing time to prepare for the regular season a couple of weeks off. But Indianapolis coach Frank Reich told reporters Wednesday he's sitting most of his starters against the Bears. He said he made that decision after exchanging texts with Bears coach Matt Nagy and learning Chicago plans to sit most starters. That pushed Reich "over the edge" to sit his starters.
"After sitting down with Chris (Ballard, Colts GM) last night and just really talking that through, I've just decided you're probably not going to see most of the (starters) in this game."
According to Colts.com, Reich said he's been in contact with other NFL coaches, who are also adopting the growing trend of holding starters out in the preseason to protect against injury.
Such a trend is perhaps to be expected as the NFL preseason continues to generate apathy and criticism from all quarters. Players and coaches don't want to risk anyone getting hurt in meaningless games, and fans yawn at games filled with players who may not even make the practice squad. There have been widespread calls for years to shorten the preseason schedule. Buccaneers coach Bruce Arians said this week he'd be in favor of cutting the schedule to two preseason games.
“I’m for it as long as we don’t cut the number of practices.” Arians said (via PewterReport.com). "We can’t cut the number of practices. We hardly practice now in pads, and if we’re going to cut practice time we need to get practice time in the spring.
"I’m all for two games, and then have maybe three or four practices against another team, because you get more out of those practices then you do in some of these games.”
Yet coaches can use the four preseason games to evaluate players trying to make the roster. Reich noted Wednesday, “this will be a great opportunity for those guys who do get to play to get even more reps.”
“Right now the best thing is we’re looking to figure out who are the guys that are going to be on this roster. There’s spots open. This is very competitive.”