As an NFL-addict, the concept of Thursday Night Football seems just about perfect. The waiting period from Monday to Sunday is split in half. It eliminates a football-less school night. Maybe even best of all, it provides an opportunity to take advantage of inexperienced fantasy owners who forget to set their rosters in time for the premature kickoff.
But from a pure football perspective, the games are almost always dreadful. I won't even pretend to know what the physical and mental punishment is like for NFL players, but I'll put it this way: I am EXHAUSTED after every single one of my high school football games, and I'm playing against 175 pounders, not 375 pounders. It just isn't fair to make these players throw their bodies around twice in five days. The human body should not have to endure that.
And the results are obvious. Last night's game between the Bears and Dolphins was proof enough. There were sixteen total points scored in the game (and as a Fins fan, I don't even want to mention how they were distributed). Not to make excuses for the Dolphins, but I have never in my life seen a team more depleted by injuries.
Already forced into using 3rd string quarterback Tyler Thigpen due to previous injuries to Chad Henne and Chad Pennington, the Dolphins seemed to be doomed offensively from the get go. But before halftime, the Dolphins also lost two centers, as well as star receiver Brandon Marshall, to injury. Miami had tackles playing guard, guards playing center, and no-names playing wide receiver. The announcer pointed out that the Dolphins had no more active offensive linemen in uniform. One more injury and a defender would've been forced to play on the other side of the ball!
My point is that this problem could've been avoided pretty easily. They could have just played the game on Sunday like the other 30 teams. Sure, more days of football mean more fun for the fans. But it's just not fair to have NFL games, and sometimes seasons, decided by players going on three days rest.
The world rejoiced with the creation of Monday Night Football, but the NFL should have just left it at that.
-Robby
-Robby
