You know this has been kicked around a good bit over the last 3 or 4 years, the NFL really needs to get rid of some of these utterly wasted week-ends.  Players often get injured and the games are meaningless.  I know some of you will say they have to see what the new talent can do.  Here is my suggestion for what it is worth(the price of 2 grandsons' Saints exhibition game tickets.) Why not use the first and second week-ends in August for jamborees like our high school teams do ?  Put the coaches on the field and make adjustments as play continues.  The third week would be a true exhibition game with the starters playing the first quarter or maybe the half and the rookies and holdovers playing the second half.  If these are truly the world's best coaches, which I maintain most of them are not, they will have evaluated the roster enough to be ready to start the real season the fourth Sunday in August.  This would give the league the possibility of the 18 game schedule they have been wanting.  All teams would still get one bye week.  Think about it if you are like me and just getting ready for another boring church service and no game to come home to.