The first week of preseason is in the books, and the wait for the 2026 NFL regular season is reaching a fever pitch. But even as the day draws nearer, some people are extremely unhappy with the rigorous schedule before the “actual” games begin.
A meticulous offseason process, which includes minicamps, joint practices, training camps, and preseason games, has always defined the football season. But with injuries affecting nearly every team in the league, fans are turning against the entire process.
Louis Riddick Believes Offseason Activities Are InvaluableLouis Riddick had a seven-year career in the NFL, splitting time between the Atlanta Falcons, Cleveland Browns, and Oakland Raiders after being drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in 1991.
A former safety, he transitioned to a role as a pro scout for the Washington Redskins and Philadelphia Eagles, where he was promoted to director of pro personnel in both organizations.
His experience is heralded across the league, as he’s been interviewed for the general manager vacancies at the Houston Texans, Detroit Lions, Pittsburgh Steelers, and New York Jets.
Given his vast experience, both on the field and as an evaluator, Riddick can offer great insight into the process that goes into a season. His experience, though, landed him firmly on the opposite side of the discussion plaguing social media.
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In a heated rant, Riddick went after the constant criticism of the specific events that define an offseason.
“Abolish joint practices, abolish preseason games, abolish minicamp and OTAs, abolish hitting too hard,” he wrote on X.
Taking a step further to explain the ridiculousness of the idea, he added, “Hell… maybe abolish the regular season too and just pick the playoff teams based on what they did the year before…Would that make everyone happy? Never heard so much complaining about EVERYTHING in my life…”
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After his scouting roles, Riddick became a mainstay at ESPN. He joined the network in 2013 as a front-office insider but later became an analyst and announcer for ESPN’s coverage of Monday Night Football.
Over time, he’s also contributed to shows like “Sunday NFL Countdown,” “Monday Night Countdown,” “NFL Live,” “SportsCenter,” “Get Up,” and “ESPN Radio.” But the debate about the various activities continues to rage on.
The offseason process has seen teams take different approaches over the years. The Kansas City Chiefs have been meticulous in using the entire process to get ready for a new season.
On the other hand, the Los Angeles Rams shy away from giving a ton of effort to their mainstays. Simply put, there is no sure-shot formula for success in the NFL. So it seems unlikely that the league will make any major change to the schedule.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.
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