How do you figure this, Capt?
I think we may well be witnessing the start of a revolution in thinking about player availability and injury management.
No longer relying on a simple best 22 for 22 rounds, but you build your squad as a quality, adaptable 30 to 34 and players get shifted in and out depending on team and opposition balance (or to throw off opposition) so that
i. even fit players get regular rest breaks, including from travel. Especially covering 6 and 5-day break weeks.
ii. you don't wear out your rookie stars in 6 rounds and have them destroyed for the rest of the season
iii. keep players keen and knowing a good chance of more opportunities
iv. fringe players become less fringey, get more exposure to game plans and stay engaged and adaptable
v. fewer injuries and better ability to manage and recover them
It's an NBA/NFL player kind of model. Good clubs and good football department managers will do this well and build their teams and squads appropriately. The reason I don't like the idea of the mid-season draft is it gives poor football departments an excuse to not do their jobs properly and be very kamikaze with players.
