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>At the pro level you are supposed to find out what the score would be if both teams are giving 100% all the time.


I disagree strongly.

For the NLF the idea is to win the Superbowl. Winning each game is important only in so far as it contributes to getting to the Superbowl. Margin of victory is important only is so far as it goes to resolving tie-breakers in playoff seedings to improve your chances of getting to the superbowl.

>The only reason to dial it back is to take out a franchise player you don't want to risk.

Protecting your star players from unnecessary injury is important to achieve this ultimate goal. Getting significant playing time for your lower level players is important in the event of injury to starters and primary backups. If you put in backup players for either of these reasons and then run-up the score, that's fine with me.

>Anything else is insulting to the other team and to The Game.

Now you get into the psychological aspects of professional football. One of the most overused expressions of political discussion is "sends a statement"

"Staying the course/Pulling out will send the statement........"
"Passing/Rejecting this bill will send a statment.............."
"A harsh/lenient sentence sends the statement.................."

But running up the score actually does "send a statement." The reaction of the Redskins (a potential - in theory - Superbowl opponent) will have a positive or negative impact on a future matchup. The reaction of the rest of the league's teams will have a positive or negative impact on the way teams play against the Pats during the rest of the season.

Not having the physical or emotional skills necessary to be a professional athelete, I don't know what that impact will be. But my guess is that the pride and emotion of "he's not going to do that to ME " means that running up the score is counter-productive. Teams will play harder and more effectively against you using this as a the motivation factor that differentiates players of comperable skill levels.

The end result of these thoughts is that from a strategic, tactical, and psychological perspective, running up the score is counter-productive.

Besides..............it's poor sportsmanship!