They might not be mandatory, but they serve a purpose for most players. Matt Bowen
Every year at this time, we begin to look at the process and value of NFL offseason programs. Players who don’t show up on time, such as Monday’s first causality, Raiders QB JaMarcus Russell, are thrown under the bus for what’s supposed to be a “voluntary activity” inside team facilities.
But as we’ve discussed many times in the past, these workouts are far from voluntary. In fact, in some buildings and under some head coaches and coordinators, they can be considered mandatory.
In places such as Washington, with a new coach in Mike Shanahan, attendance will be monitored and opinions will be formed by the new coaching staff about players such as Clinton Portis and Albert Haynesworth.
Players will tell you that these four days a week at the facility are dry, boring and, most of the time, a nuisance to the offseason lifestyle of an NFL athlete. But they do have a purpose. And having attended plenty under plenty of different regimes, I know the value is there.
I talked to an NFC coach at length about his offseason program, and he had no problem saying that attendance was crucial to not only the success of his team but the final roster as well. You show a coach that you don’t care about the development of the team in March, April and May, and you make it easier for that coach to let you go come August.
However, we know that doesn’t apply to certain players — big-money players — and that’s where the stories start to pour in. Just like Russell, there will be others who either opt to train at home or just stay away altogether. And because of that, we will draw conclusions that they have some sort of issue with the coach, the front office, etc. Most likely, however, they just don’t want to be there.
The weight-room work and the on-field conditioning — plus speed work — is pretty standard and not up to par with what these players are used to in their college strength programs or their personal offseason trainers. And players do feel they’re not getting the best workout possible.
But the work in the meeting rooms, with your teammates in the film room and on the field in drill work is invaluable. Time to self-scout yourself, and time to get together with your position group in those dim rooms and start to study divisional opponents, begin to really understand tendencies and what to expect from certain coordinators. That doesn’t happen during the season, when there’s no time to relax, no time to study like you can in the spring and no time to self-scout in a way that’s beneficial.
Quarterbacks throwing to receivers, defensive backs working on their footwork and so on. The work that can be done together with your teammates in the spring does carry over to the regular season.
And lets not forget that they’re part of the job for these players — no matter how much they bitch at this time of year.
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Matt, you wrote: The weight-room work and the on-field conditioning — plus speed work — is pretty standard and not up to par with what these players are used to in their college strength programs or their personal offseason trainers. And players do feel they’re not getting the best workout possible.
I have the impression this is true. Players who are workout warriors not slackers are often the ones who want to work out on their own. Why wouldn't a team want to have the best possible facility, trainers,etc, considering the stakes? It seems like a fairly cheap way to get an edge.
Matt , I don't get it . Jam can throw the ball 80 yards from his knees . Does that kind of raw talent really need to workout voluntarily ? When you have the god given ability that Jamarcus Russell has shouldn't the franchise really revolve around you ? Matt now that the Raiders have a new O coordinator what will Jamarcus have to teach him ? Shouldn't that guy be in Arizona "volunteering" to study the new bright & shining beacon of the NFL in all his glory , the bayou sun king in his technicolored dream coat . Isn't the fact that the man who can walk on water is working out in the state with probably the least amount of water telling enough ?
I'll believe it when I see it but...
According to an interview with Willie Brown on CSN, Russell has been in Phoenix working with trainers and having his meals monitored. He wasn't in Alameda yesterday because he was closing on a house in Alabama. He is expected in Alameda today and according to Brown, he is in shape and you will see a significant difference.
Again, I'll believe it when I see it but maybe the kid is finally figuring it out. We'll see if it translates to on the field success.
@Meateater
Pro strength programs are also designed not to get players hurt. If a big money guy goes down in the weight room, then someone is going to lose their job. The equipment isn't the issue, but rather how the workouts are run. In college, these players will have the best training, but in the pros, it is scaled back to keep players healthy.
And, we also have to remember, that these players are older, still rehabbing at times from the season. That goes into the training programs as well.
@cwhitey,
I think you said it perfectly about J Russell in that the money tag is the reason he will continue to see the field. But, this should be his last chance to prove his value to the old man.
Ty Law was adamant that the off season program was not in his, or the teams, best interest.
He used to work out with a sprinter...I forget the guys name...but straight line speed was not a strength of Ty Law's, so that's what he worked on.
Anyway Law would improve year to year, and it really did seem he was right. He almost always improved as a player in the off season.
There would be stories that he wasn't a worker cuz he wasn't in the off season program. Ty Law, never one to take a punch without answering with three quick jabs and a kick in the crotch, would have his speed coach out in front of the media describing his workouts.
Anyway; bottom line, Ty thought doing his own work was better than doing the team "dummy program" I think he called it, and it's hard to argue with his results.
Thanks for the input Matt.
Some stories write themselves but what would have been more intriguing is an attempt to confirm Hall of Famer Willie Brown's comments last night that JR was in Mobile closing on a house. And that he is expected in Alameda today with substantial weight lost.
JR does not deserve the benefit of the doubt but a bit of investigative work would be nice.
Raider fans just kill me... your QB loses weight and that is something newsworthy to the fan base.
Weight has nothing to do with trowing picks and looking like a total bust.
This brings up a host of questions for me and (as usual) some comments. To wit:
1) Why can't NFL players, especially many-multi-millionaires like Russell, hire trainers who are able to work with them near their teams so they can still attend voluntary camps? Where there's a will there's a way that can be worked out. And the keyword here is 'will.'
2) When was the last time you heard of a big-money player injuring himself seriously during workouts away from the team?
3) Taking the workouts out of the equation, what's to stop players who are away from the team from communicating with their position-mates for the academic stuff? Granted, it's not nearly as good as being there in person, but at least it shows some level of commitment.
4) In what other profession can you take two or three months per year off from your job if you want? (I understand rehabbing injuries in the offseason, but most of that can be done near the team as well for the majority of players.) Bubble players know they can't, though, so in general they show up.
Seems like a fair number of players are resting on their talents and not motivated to improve themselves footballwise, especially if they think Coach has to start them. But teams win championships, not individuals.
Kevin, you kill me. Geta job and stay off sports sites in the middle of day. At least Russell works on Sundays.
Mar 16, 2010
09:34 AM
Matt,
It makes me sick to see someone like JaMarcus Russell, who has performed so poorly through his brief career not take his career serious enough to show up for work. He is not a leader and will NEVER win a Super Bowl. Besides the millions that Al Davis has wasted on him, what else does he see in him?