Randy Inman
Bruce Bostwick
James Rickard
jesse-podoll
Robin PottratzBenching starters late in the season
January 1st 2010 10:51
Should teams who have clinched a playoff spot bench their starters late in the season? A recent trend has been to bench key players to rest them and to prevent injuries if the game can’t help the team’s playoff hopes. I recently ripped the Colts here for throwing a game to the Jets but do see both sides of the issue.
If Peyton Manning had been injured in the Jets game then the undefeated season AND Colts Super Bowl hopes would have ended. Also it gave some backups some needed playing time to prepare them in case they did need to be used.
But resting starters is a rip off to the fans that paid a huge price for NFL tickets to see their team’s best players and to see the team try to win. Resting NFL starters also can influence who makes the playoffs. Teams like the Jets playing backups can win late season games and qualify for the NFL playoffs when they wouldn’t have if the opponents hadn’t thrown the game.
So NFL teams resting starters in meaningless late season games has ramifications for other teams as well. And when the NFL goes to an 18 game schedule (they will soon I think) it will get even worse. Playoff teams may be known by week 15 and temp the teams to bench their starters for 3 games.
If Peyton Manning had been injured in the Jets game then the undefeated season AND Colts Super Bowl hopes would have ended. Also it gave some backups some needed playing time to prepare them in case they did need to be used.
But resting starters is a rip off to the fans that paid a huge price for NFL tickets to see their team’s best players and to see the team try to win. Resting NFL starters also can influence who makes the playoffs. Teams like the Jets playing backups can win late season games and qualify for the NFL playoffs when they wouldn’t have if the opponents hadn’t thrown the game.
So NFL teams resting starters in meaningless late season games has ramifications for other teams as well. And when the NFL goes to an 18 game schedule (they will soon I think) it will get even worse. Playoff teams may be known by week 15 and temp the teams to bench their starters for 3 games.
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