Dreams End Tonight

This might be the final preseason game tonight for the Pats and other teams around the NFL, but it's very important for players fighting for a roster spot.

Each team will release 37 to get down to the 53 man roster by 4pm Saturday. Some will keep their career alive by getting on the practice squad. The rest will become "street" players. They will hang on to their dream, but the call might never come for their services.

For many players tonight, this is the last game of their career. They will get released and not get signed by another team. They will never play again.

Jacoby's Night

Pats QB Jacoby Brissette will start for the Pats tomorrow night in the final preseason game against the Giants. The goal for both teams is to not lose more players to season-ending injuries.

Is this the final game for Jacoby? Will Coach Belichick carry three quarterbacks on the 53 man roster? He values every roster spot.

They might need to keep three quarterbacks when you consider that Brady is 40. I think he makes the roster if he has a huge game.

Raising The Dollar Bar

In this day of NFL contracts, it's hard to figure how much money Lions QB Matthew Stafford will ultimately collect on his massive $135 million contract. He will have an average annual salary of $27 million.

This is great news to all players in the league. It will drive up the value of the franchise tag. Everyone wants to make more money. This will help.

Another Torn ACL

DE Derek Rivers was expected to contribute to the Pats this year. The 3rd round pick from Youngstown State was having a good camp until he suffered a torn ACL during a joint practice with the Houston Texans.

Players are being injured at an alarming rate around the league. Rivers was hurt during a kickoff drill. Every day, we are hearing of players being placed on IR and there is still one preseason game left.

When teams make their final cuts, more players will be ruled out for the season due to injury.

Opportunity From Julian

Players fighting for a roster spot are really only concerned about themselves and rightfully so. They can talk the team's rhetoric, but they are not guaranteed a future with them.

Injuries to starters provide opportunities for others. We are seeing that with Julian Edelman. Someone needs to take his place. Who will it be?

He probably saved the careers of two players who were about to be cut. It happens on every team.

Meaningless Games In 2017

The injury to Julian Edelman is one more example of the dangers of preseason games. They are a necessary evil for all teams. They are the best way to evaluate players and get the team ready for the season.

Once again, we will hear talk about having fewer of them. The owners would like to give up two, but extend the regular season to 18 games. Rosters would need to be expanded and rules changed for injured players.

The Giants had a scare with Odell Beckham for a knee injury he sustained. It happens to every team.

In the end, money will guide any changes.

What Happened To Edelman

It's never going to be good when a player limps off the field with a knee injury and then gets carted to the locker room.

Such was the fate of Julian Edleman tonight after catching three passes for 52 yards in the team's first offensive series against the Lions.

We can only speculate what happened.

It's About His Play

QB Colin Kaepernick continues to be controversial while he remains unemployed. Some fans have demonstrated outside of NFL headquarters in New York City and called for some team to give him an opportunity. They cite his statistics compared to other quarterbacks.

Several players, as well as team officials, have said that Kaepernick didn't play well enough to get another chance. They brushed off his protesting during the national anthem.

They make a good point. With the shortage of good quarterbacks in the NFL, Kaepernick would have a job if a team believed in him. He faces a question of his skills and ability. The same happened to Tim Tebow.

Don't Predict The Roster

So many members of the local media are trying to predict the final 53 man roster and the 10 on the practice squad for the Pats.

Draft picks and undrafted ones will make the roster and have an impact on the season.

The initial 53 and 10 is only a starting point. Players will be cut or go on IR. A trade might even be made.

Odell's Insurance

Giants WR Odell Beckham Jr is boring fans with his talk of wanting to be the highest paid player in the NFL. He wants a new contract before the start of the season. The Giants would be fools to empty the vault for him.

Beckham had a big scare the other night when he took a low hit to his ankle. The worst was feared at first. Being out for the season could cost him a ton of money.

He has contemplated taking out a $100 million insurance policy if he doesn't get a new contract. It might not be a bad idea.

Roger's Payday

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell got a five year contract extension that will keep him around until 2024. Last year, he made $32 million in compensation. It's not a bad deal for a guy who is making tons of money for the owners.

He makes a lot of decisions that don't make people happy. He is great at taking the heat for the owners.They have no desire to get rid of him.

His real challenge will come in 2021 when CBA expires.

Watch For 2021

The NFL CBA doesn't expire until 2021, but one of the top officials of the NFLPA said that there is a great likelihood of a player strike or lockout by owners.

The agreement signed in 2011 after a 132 day lockout was to guarantee satisfaction on both sides, but players want to discuss some issues if given the opportunity.

It doesn't look like the owners want to talk any time soon. They are making too much money and don't want to give the players a bigger slice of the revenue.