Vick's injury should have been avoided.(quarterback Michael Vick)

Michael Vick is disappointed. Dan Reeves is disappointed. Falcons fans are disappointed. Heck, I'm scheduled to broadcast the Falcons-Cowboys game for Fox in Week 1, and I'm disappointed.

It was all so avoidable. Michael Vick is out with a broken leg for the first four weeks of the season, maybe more, and preseason football is to blame. There is nothing in the NFL more pointless than the exhibition season. We need it like we need an owners manual for a fork.

Football has changed. There was a time when a full training camp and exhibition schedule were needed to get players in shape, teach them the playbook and determine rosters. But that time, which predated my playing career, is gone. Players no longer need to work another job in the offseason to pay the bills. Most spend practically their full offseason at team headquarters working out, learning plays, meeting with coaches and practicing with teammates. By the time camp opens, veteran players are in shape and know their schemes. They don't need an intense camp and four preseason games to get ready.

Two games are plenty. Some people argue that two games is not long enough to evaluate the young players. Baloney. Starting right after the draft, coaches spend months watching and teaching the young guys in minicamps and informal workouts. Coaches know who will ...