NFL could reduce the preseason by one week

A lot of people have voiced their displeasure about the amount of preseason games being played each season in the NFL. It is almost a universal opinion that the NFL needs to reduce the amount of preseason games being played and a lot of people might get their wish.

Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy is certainly supportive of a possible reduction of preseason games as he discussed via ProFootballTalk.com.

"That would probably be a little more practical, especially with all the emphasis on player safety," McCarthy noted. "Hell, they've cut back everything else. I wouldn't be surprised if they go to three games. Three games with a two-week bye week, with two weeks before the opener. That's just my opinion. Nobody's told me that. I'd be for it. I think it makes a lot of sense. Then you could be a little more aggressive in that third game. Just take the fourth one out."

The argument against reducing preseason games would be the fact that some believe that the fourth preseason game for most teams is an opportunity for hidden gems to be found on each roster. There are ways around that.

If the NFL does lean towards playing only three preseason games, NFL teams could start to sit all of their starters during the preseason while getting ready for the regular season.

Or, teams could decide to play their starters for the first half of the first preseason game while giving the rest for the remaining two and a half games of the preseason an opportunity grow their depth which will give younger players an opportunity to make their respective teams.

Either way, four or five preseason games is a bit excessive.