Bill Belichick claims offseason limits cause more injuries

[BurnleyJet]

For once I actually agree with the old B@stard.

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick is blaming recently instituted NFL rules shortening offseason practice time for what he claims to be an increasing number of player injuries.

"I'm in favor of total preparation for the players for the season," Belichick said during a conference call with Buffalo reporters this week in leading up to New England's home game against the Bills on Sunday. "And I think that's been changed significantly and, I would say, not necessarily for the better when you look at the injury numbers."

Belichick said players are more vulnerable to being hurt because they're less prepared, and described the limits placed on offseason workouts -- including training camp -- as being counterproductive.

"Personally, I think that's taking the wrong approach," he said. "You have a gap between preparation and competition level. And I think that's where you see a lot of injuries occurring. We get a lot of breakdowns. We get a lot of situations that players just aren't as prepared as they were in previous years, in my experience anyway."

Belichick was specifically challenging several new rules negotiated into the NFL labor deal that ended an offseason-long lockout in 2011.

Teams were prevented from holding two-a-day practices during training camp. Limits were also placed on how many times players practiced in pads throughout the year. In the spring, offseason team activity time was reduced from 14 to nine weeks (10 if the team changed head coaches).

What's in question is whether injuries are, in fact, on the rise in the NFL, as Belichick suggested.

Though he didn't cite specific numbers, Belichick said he was citing "a matter of record not opinion," in saying injuries league-wide have been on the rise over the past three years.

League spokesman Michael Signora disputed Belichick's assertions.

"We carefully monitor player injuries," Signora said. "There is no evidence that the new work rules have had an adverse effect on the injury rate or that injuries have in fact increased."

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000304194/article/bill-belichick-claims-offseason-limits-cause-more-injuries

[Smashmouth]

I agree 100% teams should be able to get their players ready however they see fit. The players union has made a huge mistake in this area. They don't pay the players, the Teams do, and no one should tell any team how to prepare for the season or the games.

 

Teams personal preparation is what differentiates one team from another or at least it used to be that way. What's next they all work from a prepared playbook sent from the NFLPA ? Yeah that's an exaggeration, but I think it helps the point.

[JoeWillie]

It's not all that complicated and Belichick is absolutely right.

 

Train to run a mile, and you'll run a mile.

 

Train to run a marathon, and you'll run a marathon.

 

NFL Training camp restrictions have turned training for a marathon into training for a sprint.

 

There are other factors, as players are bigger, faster, and stronger than ever and equipment is more weaponized, but the new "softer" training camps which has resulted in players not conditioning their bodies for the long haul of an NFL season is definitely part of it.

[Larz]

muscle injuries, hammies, yes he's right

 

destroyed knees are over reactions to the head rules and should result in 8 game suspensions

[RSJ]

Belichick is totally right.

[CrazyCarl40]

muscle injuries, hammies, yes he's right

destroyed knees are over reactions to the head rules and should result in 8 game suspensions

8 game suspension for a legal hit? That's crazy.

[Larz]

8 game suspension for a legal hit? That's crazy.

 

one way to get rid of it is to make the defender miss as many games as the guy he takes out

 

poof, problem solved

[CrazyCarl40]

one way to get rid of it is to make the defender miss as many games as the guy he takes out

poof, problem solved

Football is a contact sport. You're talking flag football stuff. Come on.