NFL Week 17' If I Were A Player

[DIRTYSECRET]

Nothing's worth it. Safety first. Don't get injured in a way that would carry over into next season. Playoff needy teams are s.o.l. Tear up a knee and it will cost millions. The NFL is just not worth it. Coaches should not play to win. They need to preserve the starters too. Just don't say it too loud. They're smart enough not to.

[LouieFisk]

“Coaches should not play to win.”
—
Nah.
People don’t go to football games to watch players playing it safe, with the objective being to lose the game.

[Buckeye McFrog]

People don’t go to football games to watch players playing it safe

Exhibit "A" being the Pro Bowl

[Dr. Sivana]

Players get injured during warm-ups, during light practice, and when other players take plays off. The best of the best will be sitting the games out for those teams whose position is set. In some cases a player may be playing to help keep a respected coach who hasn't been winning. Laveon Bell took the original poster's point to its logical conclusion, and missed out on millions of dollars rather than playing for a team who would have been the #1 or #2 seed in the AFC. You can bet that he will get more money, but will be playing for a perennial loser with no chance for a Super Bowl. He gets older whether he plays or not. That works for some QBs, NOT for running backs.

For QBs, Tom Brady gets paid less than he could for another team, and comes to play every game, because he is a competitor. As such, his taking less money affords more protection for money for his O-Line, and he has been infrequently injured, playing long seasons with few injuries even though he is well into his fifth decade. When he retires, he will easily have scores of opportunities to make more money because of the kind of player he is. Any player who is so-so risks being cut if he shows he is has lost competitive spark.

[budj]

hmmmmm ... that ain’t the way Green Bay played (after they were out of the playoffs).

[discostu]

Week 17 you’re playing for jobs. Anybody that shows signs of tanking it is done. The league doesn’t like me first players, not even at wide receiver anymore. That’s the real reason Kaepernick is out. If a players wants a job next year they need to play top form Sunday.

[Red Badger]

People don’t go to football games to watch players playing it safe, with the objective being to lose the game.

You have obviously never been to a Cowboys game................

[DIRTYSECRET]

I remember a DT for the Az. Cardinals. Final game of a losing season. He was auditioning. Tore up a knee. Marginal player who played well in college-Washington Huskies. Adam Timau- something like that. What little hope he had that was it.

[LouieFisk]

“You have obviously never been to a Cowboys game”
—
Heh, I remember the days when they were the team to beat. I think fans of every other team hated the Cowboys in the 70s!

[discostu]

Happens. I remember a runningback in Pittsburgh. Brought up from the practice squad so they could rest starters. Ran for 102 yards in 3 quarters spent the next 5 seasons as their starting RB. Willie Parker.

Sometimes you get the breaks, sometimes you don’t. But the ones that tank it NEVER get the breaks. Marginal player tanking to protect his body this week will be just as out of a job next year as the marginal player that gets hurt.

[deweyfrank]

You must be a Vikings fan, lol. Unfortunately, for this Eagles fan, there is some logic to which you say.

[Red Badger]

They still do!...................

[Red Badger]

Every week I watch them and say to myself, “Okay, how are they gonna screw this up this week?”...................

[LouieFisk]

Every week I watch them and say to myself, “Okay, how are they gonna screw this up this week?”
—
You’d make a good Vikes fan then - I just got to the point where I hoped the found a new and innovative ways to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory each week! Gives ya something to look forward to.

But I ain’t been watching much NFL since it became political, there’s other leagues around and I understand some new ones upcoming next year.

[Red Badger]

The Cowboys just won the NFC East Division with a 9-6 record.

What does that tell you about the rest of the division?............

[albie]

“If I were a player”...I’d stand

[LouieFisk]

Meh. At 8-6-1 the Vikes go to the playoffs in the NFC North if they win the final reg season game. You just have to be the least suckiest team.

[Tallguy]

Still do.

[BookmanTheJanitor]

I’ll be curious to see how many of the Saints play this weekend (now that they’ve clinched the #1 seed). I don’t think any Saints fans will object if a number of starters don’t play.

[DIRTYSECRET]

Blaine Gabbert was the qb for the 49ers in one season finale. He ran for the sidelines on 3rd down rather than throw a difficult incomplete/interception. 1st down running was impossible-led to a punt. No negative stat. It fortified his starting for the next year which confirmed he couldn’t play.