.....
A good number would be 0, if they're going to have fans present. Why take the chance when it doesn't count and isn't real under these circumstances?
The only games that should be played should count. Coaches do not need pretend games to make roster decisions, they do that under controlled situations at camp and practice. What is any coach going to learn from putting his 2nd and 3rd stringers up against the other team's backups? Do McC and Philbin want to know how the players vying for the OL look against other teams backups or even their starters that do not go all out in pretend games or do they want to know how those OL look against their own DL under controlled circumstances?
The NFL does not need preseason anymore than college does and they're dealing with mostly new teams every season.
As the article implied, and what many knew, the preseason are great ,,and the best periods for evaluating
all the rookies and 2nd year players who need the live game experience and coaches need the evaluation
scenery and tape to process the who's in/who's out for the tail end 55 roster.
Remember that the NFL was already discussing plans to shortened the NFL preseason even before this
Pandemic crisis began.
But the bigger problem with the NFL preseason seems to be ..money. Or the greed of money.
The small fan base who are going to the preseason games, are subject to paying ridiculous prices to NOT be able to see the starters/stars in full games, ..just as you have a smaller group of fans that will Not tune in
to see stranger name rookies and no-name fringe players who likely won't even make final roster.
Low attendance, low TV Ratings. That should be expected for preseason.
What gets me is teams should not have to play ANY starters in the last two
preseason per their plan - and let those rookies, backups and fringe players play out the games. give visiting fans discount for preseason games -the NFL does not make their money there anyway.
And you don't have to take a toll on any starters or significant players, and this won't affect the final games and playoff games.