Only One More Practice In Pads Left This Season
December 6th, 2012
The wacky new NFL labor agreement allows teams, at their discretion, to have one practice in pads (aka full contact work) per week in only three of the final six weeks of the season. In the remaining three weeks, there are no padded practices allowed, which means players can only run around in underwear and helmets during a drive to the playoffs.
The Bucs have one practice in pads remaining.
Greg Schiano confirmed today that he worked the Bucs a little harder in pads yesterday, in part because the team is healthier than it’s been in previous weeks and it’s part of his strategy to maximize the remaining full-contact practices.
For Joe, this is something to watch for the young Bucs. Schiano already proved he can get a team ready without a padded practice, as evidenced by the Bucs pounding of Minnesota on a short week for a Thursday night road game.
But Joe has talked to numerous players about this, and they all have said how much those fast-paced, game-speed physical practices reinforce the tenets of the New Schiano Order. Even Raheem Morris lamented the lack of permitted physical practices as his team was in free-fall last season but played solid ball in Green Bay after a hard week of practice.
This is just something to watch for going forward. Joe suspects Schiano will burn his final padded practice next week and find a new way to drive his players on Wednesdays in the final two weeks. Perhaps an obstacle course is planned.
December 6th, 2012 at 6:18 pm
You can thank Jeff Saturday and the player reps themselves for this as a part of the new CBA. They lobbied hard against an 18 game season and padded practices and the limited number of times they can be held – for both preseason (OTAs/training camp) and the regular season. The owners got more money, the players got an easier work week.
December 6th, 2012 at 6:49 pm
Unions……
December 6th, 2012 at 7:12 pm
@ Macabee,
Hells to the yeah.
Hello #softerNFL
December 6th, 2012 at 9:03 pm
Careful guys, you’re going to rile Union Rep Miguel.
December 6th, 2012 at 9:27 pm
WORST RULE EVER!
December 6th, 2012 at 11:03 pm
I believe the rules are the same for all teams.
Maybe instead of padded practices, they can runs 110X16 gauntlets. That worked great before.
December 7th, 2012 at 12:38 am
Miguel El Magnifico Says: December 6th, 2012 at 11:03 pm
Maybe instead of padded practices, they can runs 110X16 gauntlets. That worked great before.
.
Clearly it did work.
December 7th, 2012 at 11:35 am
And in the final games of the year we will only play flag football.
December 7th, 2012 at 11:39 am
El Raton
What, no Chip Kelly man love rant?
Well, I guess the day is still young.