The Most Pointless Games in Sports

Michael Vick being knocked down by Patriots lineman Jermaine Cunningham,.Vick needed to leave and was X-rayed. 

Each year there are five unnecessary games played. These games don't count. Most of the teams' prominent players do not even play. It's the players who are fighting for a job who play. They risk getting concussions, torn ACL's and more serious injuries. If you haven't guessed it already, it's the NFL preseason.

Already, after just two weeks, starting Bengals offensive guard Travelle Wharton is already out for the season. How did this happen? Tore his ACL in a Week 1 pre-season game. Austin Collie, Colts Wide Receiver, suffered yet another concussion, and his return status is unknown. Linebacker Chris Chamberlain, who was competing for a starting position on the Saints, tore his ACL just this past weekend. Lastly, and perhaps most notably, Michael Vick has been hit hard multiple times this preseason. The second time, forced him to leave the game against the Patriots, and had to get X-rays. Luckily for the Eagles, they came back negative, but coach Andy Reid is not playing him the rest of preseason.

The last example says it best. Vick got hurt, and they don't want to risk him getting hurt more so they will let him rest until the games actually count. Unfortunately, Travelle Wharton, Austin Collie, and Chris Chamberlain weren't so blessed. They were trying to fight for their jobs but instead got injured, and will have to sit out a year. They will then become a year older, and as a result a year weaker.

There are some coaches who are smart. Like Norv Turner for example. Turner let starting quarterback Phil Rivers, throw just five passes in the teams win over Green Bay. Why? Because it's preseason, and it does not matter! In fact, Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy, allowed Aaron Rodgers to throw just eight passes, for presumably the same reason. It's preseason, and they don't want their players to get injured.

Commissioner Goodell, you talked about expanding the season to 18 games. Most of these players play 21 games already, and that isn't including playoffs. Think about all of the ACL's you could be tearing, and the concussions that you could be causing. You can keep the preseason, just don't make it five games. Make it say, two, or even three. Because this way, at least guys like Tom Brady could play.

One could make the argument that preseason is a waste in all the major sports, but football it is the worst. In baseball, the starters have just one At-bat, and then get replaced by Triple-A players. In basketball, the teams usually play European teams, and don't often get injured.

Football is the sport with the most injuries, so why not minimize the amount of games played? Just leave it till when it really counts, the season. Let the players play their hardest then.