Baltimore Ravens GM gives biggest confirmation yet to not always take preseason seriously

If you didn't enjoy NFL preseason games this summer, you're not alone.

In an era when NFL teams seem to withhold their starters and rotations players from preseason action more and more, the games become formalities — chances for borderline roster players to get some action and try to prove their worth.

The result can be sloppy, dull football that even diehards have trouble following.

Baltimore Ravens GM Eric DeCosta understands that position. While speaking to reporters on Thursday, DeCosta called the Ravens' preseason finale against the Green Bay Packers, a 30-7 loss, a "joke."

"The Packers game, let's face it, it was kind of a joke," DeCosta said. "It was hard to watch in a lot of ways. I couldn't wait for the game to be over — really just to get the Popeye's chicken sandwich on the plane."

The Ravens did not play many of their starters during their preseason games. Star players on both sides of the ball like Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry, Zay Flowers, Roquan Smith, and Kyle Hamilton did not suit up. A few starting offensive linemen did play, but the games largely consisted of backups and roster-hopefuls.

The games did prove to have some value, as DeCosta said that undrafted safety Beau Brade earned a final roster spot with his preseason play.

That's not always the case, however. For instance, undrafted wide receiver Dayton Wade, who led the team in receiving in two of three games and was a training camp standout , was waived and signed to the practice squad. Sometimes teams just don't have the roster flexibility to add certainly players, even if they excel in the preseason.

Teams seem to value preseason less and less. As mentioned, most starters don't play, or they may only play a few series. Some coaches give up play-calling responsibility to get assistants and coordinators some experience.

NFL reporter Mike Silver argued for the NFL to ditch the preseason, saying that teams now value joint practices more than preseason games.

With talks about expanding the regular season to 18 games, some think the league will need to cut preseason down from three games to two. It's worth wondering if two preseason games featuring mostly backups and roster-hopefuls will be actual meaningful tune-ups for teams.