The Cleveland Browns will take on the New York Jets in the 2023 Hall of Fame Game at 8 p.m. ET Thursday, Aug. 3, during Enshrinement Week Powered by Johnson Controls.
Remember, when you’re watching bottom-of-the-roster players in preseason games, what you’re actually watching is young men taking their once-in-a-lifetime hail mary shot at their dream.
These guys were all stars of their college teams. They’ve always been the guy that’s good at football. And now, all of the sudden, they are fighting for their lives. It’s not like other sports where you might get assigned to the team’s minor league affiliate for a couple years of wait-and-see. Practice squads are comparatively a lot smaller, even with recent expansion. Most of those guys you watch eating up minutes in preseason games will simply never be heard from again. But among the herd, you’ll watch in real time as a few guys succeed and grab that dream opportunity with both hands.
Preseason football is some of the best reality TV there is. People who complain about the rough quality of play are entirely missing the point. Hard Knocks gives you a close-up taste, but those same kind of stories are playing out in every single preseason game across the league.
I totally agree with you and enjoy some of the storylines, but it doesn’t quite scratch the football itch, just like Hard Knocks and Quarterback and those shows get close but don’t actually scratch it.
Remember, when you’re watching bottom-of-the-roster players in preseason games, what you’re actually watching is young men taking their once-in-a-lifetime hail mary shot at their dream.
These guys were all stars of their college teams. They’ve always been the guy that’s good at football. And now, all of the sudden, they are fighting for their lives. It’s not like other sports where you might get assigned to the team’s minor league affiliate for a couple years of wait-and-see. Practice squads are comparatively a lot smaller, even with recent expansion. Most of those guys you watch eating up minutes in preseason games will simply never be heard from again. But among the herd, you’ll watch in real time as a few guys succeed and grab that dream opportunity with both hands.
Preseason football is some of the best reality TV there is. People who complain about the rough quality of play are entirely missing the point. Hard Knocks gives you a close-up taste, but those same kind of stories are playing out in every single preseason game across the league.
I totally agree with you and enjoy some of the storylines, but it doesn’t quite scratch the football itch, just like Hard Knocks and Quarterback and those shows get close but don’t actually scratch it.
Sure, nothing’s gonna measure up to the real, counted games. I just hate seeing people badmouth preseason and miss where the value is.
Preseason is an overlooked storyline factory. Best thing the month of August has going for it.