Why NFL preseason games do still matter

Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.

The conclusion of joint practices against the Minnesota Vikings this week means the Browns are over the hump in their training camp.

Starting Monday, focus shifts to preparing for the season-opener against the Dallas Cowboys. The last preseason game next week in Seattle will feature most starters on the field together for the first time – a true dress rehearsal, at least for one quarter.

But first comes this pesky preseason meeting with the Vikings, the second of three “exhibition games,” which is what they used to be called.

Most people ask “Why?” As in, “Why even play it. If the commissioner of the NFL, Roger Goodell, trashes preseason games as an ‘inferior product,’ why bother staging them, other than to squeeze another mandatory payment from their season-ticket base?’”

The commish wants to replace one preseason game with an additional regular-season game to move from a 3 (pre)-and-17 (regular) schedule format to 2-and-18.

It will happen soon as the players union decides what it wants in return in collective bargaining, in addition to a second bye week.

But don’t misplace Goodell’s motives. His agenda has less to do with providing a better “product” to fans and more to do with bagging more revenue from network and streaming partners by providing them additional programming.

Now, when it comes to entertainment value, the FCC should issue a warning that “watching this game can hurt your eyeballs.”

Because of the advent of joint practices, at which all the starters actually work their hardest of the entire training camp, the second game of the preseason slate  has evolved as the least watchable.

But not unwatchable.

And not meaningless.

At least not to the dozens of younger players auditioning for final roster spots and practice squad invites across the league.

“Very important,” said Browns safety Rodney McLeod

McLeod wasn’t even invited to the NFL Combine in February of 2012 after playing 43 games in four years at the University of Virginia. At the school’s pro day, he measured just under 5-10 and weighed 183 pounds. He ran a 4.6 40-yard dash and bench-pressed the required 225 pounds just 15 times.

Scouting reports tagged him with the dreaded “undersized and athletically limited” label. He was considered the 58^th-ranked cornerback in the 2012 draft pool by one service. “A player who should make an NFL training camp,” summed up one report. That was as wide as the door opened for McLeod.

He was signed by the then-St. Louis Rams as an undrafted free agent, made the roster as a rookie and is now embarking on his 12^th and, he says, final NFL season after stints with the Eagles, Colts and Browns.

As the Browns’ third safety in 2023, McLeod started five games because of injuries to the two starters, bringing his NFL total to 143 regular-season starts. And it all began for him in one of these “meaningless” exhibition games.

“I would never have been discovered, to be honest,” McLeod said of the preseason.

“The [joint practices] are a lot more for the [first-teamers]. The reps of [third-teamers] or undrafted players lessens. That’s where the game pays dividends. I was one of those guys undrafted, fighting for a roster spot. I’ll tell you the game did matter. It was a way for me to show my ability, my talent, and build trust from my team, coaches and teammates.

“I’m super excited for those guys when they get the opportunities this coming weekend. I still think preseason serves an importance for everyone’s growth.”

So, which players on the Browns should realize the importance of this game against the Vikings?

Quarterback

Dorian Thompson-Robinson will start and Tyler Huntley will play after him, coach Kevin Stefanski said.

DTR had a good first outing against Green Bay and might appear to be a lock for the 53 as QB3. But even GM Andrew Berry, who drafted DTR in the fifth round last year, wouldn’t guarantee he would keep a third quarterback on the final roster.

Huntley, the former Raven, could be in demand as a QB3 elsewhere. This week, the Vikings signed Matt Corral after they lost first-round pick J.J. McCarthy to season-ending knee surgery. With two weekends of exhibition games to come, Huntley needs to impress to rise on the ready list of available quarterbacks.

Offensive tackle

Speculation is Jedrick Wills might be ready to leave the PUP list next week. In his absence, James Hudson, Germain Ifedi and Hakeem Adeniji have rotated at left tackle.

In spite of his struggles, Hudson has held on as a viable backup. Ifedi and Adeniji are fighting to prove the same.

Wide receiver

This is going to be a very interesting roster cut for Berry.

After the top four of Amari Cooper, Jerry Jeudy, Elijah Moore and Cedric Tillman, the competition for two – possibly three – roster spots has been better than I’ve seen in most Browns’ camps.

David Bell suffered a quad injury in the Packers’ game and is out for another week, at least. James Proche, Jaelon Darden and Ahmarean Brown have value as kick returners. Berry draft picks Micheal Woods and rookie Jamari Thrash could fill return roles, also, and have been impressive as receivers. Matt Landers is tall and fast and passes the eyeball test, but doesn’t appear in the mix for a key special teams role.

Cade York

His troubles last season led him to Christ, he says, and changed his life. He’s a new York, he attests.

As a kicker, York still has NFL talent; his 55-yard field goal against the Packers would have been good from 65 yards.

York has to prove he can position his kickoffs in the landing zone consistently. He was successful on five of six kickoffs in the joint practice. If he can do that on video for every NFL team to see, and he makes every makeable place-kick, he should interest teams with kicker concerns. If not, Berry has a spot on the practice squad reserved for him.