Umenyiora's injury begs the question: Why so many preseason games?

Osi Umenyiora is done for the season.

The two-time pro bowl defensive end for the New York Giants suffered a serious knee injury in yesterday's preseason game against the crosstown Jets. Season-ending surgery is required, as Umenyiora has a torn lateral meniscus. Due to the retirement of future Hall of Fame member Michael Strahan, Osi Umenyiora was unquestionably the defensive leader for the G-Men. A strong argument could be made that Umenyiora was the team's overall leader, though a case could also be made for Eli Manning.

As damaging as this injury is, the Giants should not get overly discouraged. They are the defending champs; the New York football Giants have more than enough talent to contend. I stand by my pick of the Giants in the NFC East, even though the universal favorite seems to be the Dallas Cowboys. This injury does, however, raise a very serious question: What is the point of having so many preseason games?

Four preseason games does not seem like that much. After all, baseball kicks off Spring Training a full month before opening day, and the NBA plays its fair share of games prior to the commencement of the season. But the NFL is different. More than any other sport, football sees a plethora of injuries, due to the aggressiveness of play. Injuries and football are like peanut butter and jelly. They go hand in hand. This is by no means a complaint. It is, though, a truth that we should not ignore. Preseason games are not worthless, especially when you have multiple players competing for a starting position. But two games would be sufficient. Two games, in addition to training camp, would be enough time to settle things like a quarterback competition. Four games means sixteen quarters of fans collectively holding their breath, desperately hoping the injury bug comes nowhere near their team. Obviously, injuries play a huge role in the regular season, but at least then the games mean something. Preseason injuries, such as the Osi Umenyiora's, are monumentally frustrating. The preseason games are as important as a backyard game of croquet at a summer picnic, yet the injuries that occur during these games can deal quite the powerful blow to a team's chances.

So please, Commissioner Goodell, put an end to this madness. Stop placing so much emphasis on the preseason. Everyone would be better off.