Union looking into Mangini's practices

Running back Jamal Lewis’ complaints and the growing concerns of other players about the demanding practice regimen of Cleveland Browns coach Eric Mangini aren’t falling on deaf ears.

APRunning back Jamal Lewis.

NFL Players Association representatives are in Cleveland this week to meet with Browns players. Why the visit?

Mangini has been orchestrating controversial post-practice drills that he calls “opportunity periods.” The drills have become a dangerous proving ground for rookies and practice squad players, who are encouraged to bash into each other after already enduring long, strenuous practices in full pads nearly every practice session.

“That is so bush league,” a league source familiar with the Browns told the National Football Post. “It's like a punitive type of thing. These guys are already tired from very long practices and then they're being encouraged to run into each other all over again to impress the coaching staff. This type of thing is uncalled for.”

First, rookie running back James Davis injured his shoulder during an opportunity drill and was placed on injured reserve. Last week, practice squad defensive end Keith Grennan suffered a torn patellar tendon and is out for at least eight months after being hurt in a similar situation.

While the league office cleared the Browns of any wrongdoing in the Davis incident after reviewing video and interviewing players, coaches and other team personnel, league sources said significant discontent remains among players about how Mangini is running the team.

Mangini told reporters Wednesday that he didn't feel a need to speak to the team or team captains about the visit from the NFLPA.

“No, I didn’t say a word to them about it because I’m completely comfortable with the way that we practice,” he said. “I’m open if they want to talk to me about it, but I am completely comfortable with what we do.”

APHead coach Eric Mangini.

Lewis became something of a rock star in the locker room last week when he challenged Mangini's authority by deriding his approach toward practice, accusing the first-year coach of tiring out his football team so that players aren’t fresh for kickoff. Practices have run up to three hours on a regular basis, according to sources.

According to league spokesman Greg Aiello, there are no time limits in the collective bargaining agreement governing in-season practice or post-practice “opportunity drills,” unlike time limits for offseason workouts, minicamps and organized team activities (OTAs).

“Hey, this is his show, it's not mine,” Lewis said. “It's his show, it's not my show. Not anybody else around here’s show. We're just the crop. You’ve got to take care of your crop. If you don't take care of your crop, when it comes time to harvest, you're not going to make no money because the crop ain’t no good. There's talent all over this locker room, young and old.

“There’s talent everywhere, but that talent has got to be able to be ready for Sunday and to be fresh for Sunday and be ready to go out and be efficient on Sunday. You can work all day, you can work seven days a week. But if you’re going to work like that, on Sunday you’re probably not going to get what you want out of your players.”

Mangini, however, has staunchly defended his regimen.

“I feel good about the way we practice, the time we practice,” he said. “Two hours of work on the field is a very reasonable time. The only time that practices are extended is if we don't execute something the right way.”

Another source said the Browns enforced a curfew during minicamps and kept players at the training facility for several hours past the allotment allowed by the NFL during the offseason.

Mangini stressed that he keeps his practices to two hours.

“That's the facts,” he said. “That's the reality of it. It’s two hours a day. Less on Friday.”

Players were chanting in the locker room, “J-Lew, J-Lew, J-Lew,” one day after Lewis ripped Mangini’s taskmaster tactics.

“When that happens, you've lost your team,” a source said. “The pressure is probably getting to Mangini.”

Browns tight end Robert Royal defended Mangini, making the case that the coach is misunderstood.

“He's a likeable guy,” Royal said. “If he wasn't, you'd see a whole bunch of guys in the locker room divided. But I think for the most part, guys still believe in what he’s trying to teach, his philosophy. He's a good guy.”

Union representatives hope to speak to Browns players away from team headquarters.

“I think they have a right to do it in private,” the source said. “The union can look into whether everything is on the up and up. From what I’m hearing, this is an accumulation type of thing where guys are just getting fed up, and that’s why they want the union to take a long look at what's going on.”

Follow me on Twitter: RavensInsider

Comments

Add a Comment