Allen: Consumer fraud...public service!

Tonight, the New England Patriots will take the field for their final preseason game of 2007 and the usual cynical columnists will make tired comments about consumer fraud. Yes, charging ticket holders full price for a truly meaningless exhibition game may be unfair, but if you're among those paying full price for the game, consider it taking one for the team - and the rest of us will appreciate it.

While you're watching the likes of Chris Dunlap, CJ Brown, Brian Jones, Matt Gutierrez and Quinton Smith, you should be fine with the likes of Randy Moss, Donte' Stallworth, Benjamin Watson, Tom Brady and Laurence Maroney watching most, if not all, of the game along with you.

Sure, it's been nearly 20 years, but the infamous 1989 preseason game in which the Patriots lost Garin Veris, Andre Tippett and Ronnie Lippett for the year, is still talked about in hushed tones around these parts. Other teams can share similar nightmarish tales. Redskins running back Clinton Portis separated his shoulder in the preseason last year, and this season, the Broncos lost starting defensive end Ebenezer Ekuban to an Achilles tendon tear.

Preseason injuries are getting more and more attention these days, and while the system might be unfair, paying full price for a preseason game is not likely to change. So instead, there is talk around the league of changing the schedule by replacing two preseason games with regular season ones. Players are going to get injured anyway, they might as well get hurt playing in games that actually mean something. Makes sense, huh?

Until that time comes, however, you're going to need to swallow hard and pay the price for those preseason games. Let the columnists make their ironic references to fraud. Isn't it worth the price of admission to know that Bill Belichick is not going to let the team stars get injured unnecessarily?

The pundits flip out when someone like Richard Seymour gets hurt playing fullback (in a real game) or whenever someone like Tedy Bruschi or Mike Vrabel is used on special teams. What would the reaction be if Tom Brady got creamed tonight and had a Joe Theismann-like leg injury? What if Adalius Thomas breaks his hip, as Rosevelt Colvin did while playing his second regular season game with the Patriots? Things would get ugly, and fast. The outcry would extend far beyond the media, and the fan base would be in a panic.

The problem with "consumer fraud" is the writers making it look like fans are getting screwed by not seeing their favorite Patriots stars play. Intelligent football fans knows better. They can’t possibly be upset with the Patriots for keeping their best players from any extended duty. It would just be playing with fire.

Belichick and the Patriots are actually doing us a public service by showcasing Corey Hilliard, Rashad Moore, Zach West and Mike Elgin for all to see tonight. Enjoy it.

Bruce Allen is the creator of bostonsportsmedia.com.