Joint practices are the hot new trend in the NFL.
Sixteen teams have practiced with another team in training camp this summer, up from 13 last year.
If the violence can be curbed, could these sessions eventually replace preseason games?
An alternative to playing four games that don’t count would be welcome. Preseason football is generally regarded as slightly more enjoyable than a trip to the dentist.
In some ways, these joint practices can prepare teams for the season better than preseason games. Before the Patriots and Redskins paired up for three practices last year, Patriots coach Bill Belichick told The Sporting News that joint practices allow teams to customize their workouts. If they want to practice 10 straight red zone reps, they can do that. They’re not at the mercy of a game situation.
In an age in which full-contact two-a-days are no longer allowed, joint practices help teams get the most out of the practice time they they do get. But joint practices won’t make preseason games go the way of leather helmets.
Four preseason games are too many. It’s laughable that fans have to pay for that fourth preseason game in which some starters don’t even put on pads.
But two preseason games, in addition to joint practices if teams so choose, seems like the best solution.
People gripe about the preseason, but they watch. The NFL Hall of Fame Game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Minnesota Vikings drew a 6.9 overnight rating according to Pro Football Talk. That’s a better overnight rating than Game 6 of 2015 Stanley Cup Finals, Game 1 of both the 2015 NBA Eastern and Western Conference Finals and this year’s Indy 500.
The NFL has a longer off-season than the three other major North American sports. By August, fans are hungry for football and preseason games serve as an appetizer.
Even some players see the value in preseason games.
“Once you’re in the stadium and you have fans, it’s a different feel,” Baltimore Ravens linebacker Courtney Upshaw told USA Today.
Of course those who want to banish preseason games point to season-ending injuries that take place in games that don’t count. So far this preseason, the Steelers have lost kicker Shaun Suisham and the Redskins lost tight ends Niles Paul and Logan Paulsen.
But injuries happen in practice, too. The Dolphins and Panthers practiced together Wednesday, and both teams lost players for the year. Panthers wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin and Dolphins safety Louis Delmas both tore ACLs.
CHARLOTTE, NC – JANUARY 03: Kelvin Benjamin #13 of the Carolina Panthers checks a replay on the big screen in the 1st half against the Arizona Cardinals during their NFC Wild Card Playoff game at Bank of America Stadium on January 3, 2015 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
Ravens safety Matt Elam went down for the year with a torn biceps he suffered in practice.
Football is a violent game. Players have to expose themselves to some level of injury risk to get ready for the season. Wiping out preseason games doesn’t guarantee perfect health for players before the regular season starts.
There’s a lot that can be gained in joint practices, but it doesn’t mean that preseason games have to be a waste of time. And they wouldn’t be if there were two of them instead of four.