NFL returns this week with the 2023 Pro Football Hall of Fame Game

Annual tradition. Get hype, watch the first drive or two. Turn it off because I realize I am deprived of good football, not just football.

Remember, when you're watching bottom-of-the-roster players in preseason games, what you're actually watching is young men taking their once-in-a-lifetime hail mary shot at their dream.

These guys were all stars of their college teams. They've always been the guy that's good at football. And now, all of the sudden, they are fighting for their lives. It's not like other sports where you might get assigned to the team's minor league affiliate for a couple years of wait-and-see. Practice squads are comparatively a lot smaller, even with recent expansion. Most of those guys you watch eating up minutes in preseason games will simply never be heard from again. But among the herd, you'll watch in real time as a few guys succeed and grab that dream opportunity with both hands.

Preseason football is some of the best reality TV there is. People who complain about the rough quality of play are entirely missing the point. Hard Knocks gives you a close-up taste, but those same kind of stories are playing out in every single preseason game across the league.