The NFL preseason is the biggest robbery since John Dillinger ripped through the banks in the Midwest.
Forget players in helmets — try owners in masks. This is the Bernie Madoff section of the season when fans are fleeced for regular-season prices while watching glorified exhibition games.
If you bought a Broadway ticket and the cast was all stand-ins, you’d feel cheated. If you paid to see Paul McCartney and he sang one song before letting the backups belt out the rest, you’d want a refund.
So why does the NFL cheat fans by forcing ticket holders to pay full price for half-hearted efforts? It’s time to move to an 18-game regular season with a two-game preseason because this is becoming ridiculous.
The Washington Redskins won’t play $100 million man Albert Haynesworth or Clinton Portis against the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday. It’s not that the two headliners are hurt. The Redskins just don’t want to risk injury.
Starters will mostly see a series or two. The second quarter, much less the second half, is for players you won’t see come September. While I can appreciate coaches wanting time to evaluate newcomers, do it in scrimmages and practices.
Who else gets away with such nonsense? NFL teams mandate fans buy two preseason games as part of the overall package without any price break. That’s pure greed. Owners pay players $1,100 per preseason game, but still charge fans the max. Like $8 beers aren’t enough revenue on a hot summer night. It could be worse. Late Redskins owner George Preston Marshall didn’t pay players anything and once tried scheduling four exhibitions in one week until players rebelled.
An expanded season should be part of the 2011 deal currently being negotiated by the NFL and NFL Players Association. That is, if they can avoid an owners’ lockout that season.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has already indicated a preference for a longer season. His challenge is getting owners to spend more money for two more games.
Some NFL owners already claim they’re paying players for a 20-game season so two more regular-season games doesn’t mean a 12.5 percent surcharge based on contracts for 16-game seasons. That’s total nonsense. The contracts are for the regular season, while the preseason games have a standardized pay scale. Players won’t need Perry Mason to win this one in court.
Meanwhile, have fun watching backups in the opener. It’s their moment.
Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Read more at TheRickSniderReport.com or e-mail [email protected].
