New Vision Quest Article on the Blog: Taylor Made for Trouble

[CNYSkinFan]

Hey I know it has been awhile but with camp about to get back into the swing of things I thought I would finally weigh in on the whole Sean Taylor mess.

You can read it here.

Vision Quest: Taylor Made For Trouble (http://www.hailredskins.com/blog/index.php?p=95)

And discuss it in this forum.

[HanburgerBum]

These are great ideas, CNY. I would go even further. In order to put teeth in the mandatory attendance requirement of the off-season programs, there should be a League, not team, rule that something like 5 un-excused absences (days) would mean an automatic 1 regular season game suspension. The NFL pays big bucks now. Pro football should be looked upon as a year-round job.

Unlike the baseball union (a case can be made that the baseball union is an evil union), the NFL Players Association has traditionally been a union that is flexible and reasonable. The NFLPA usually not only looks out for the welfare of its members, but it often acts in the best interest of the sport. Hopefully, at least some of your suggestions will be adopted in the upcoming labor agreement.

[CNYSkinFan]

These are great ideas, CNY. I would go even further. In order to put teeth in the mandatory attendance requirement of the off-season programs, there should be a League, not team, rule that something like 5 un-excused absences (days) would mean an automatic 1 regular season game suspension. The NFL pays big bucks now. Pro football should be looked upon as a year-round job.

Unlike the baseball union (a case can be made that the baseball union is an evil union), the NFL Players Association has traditionally been a union that is flexible and reasonable. The NFLPA usually not only looks out for the welfare of its members, but it often acts in the best interest of the sport. Hopefully, at least some of your suggestions will be adopted in the upcoming labor agreement.

While I think the Player Union for MLB were totally wrong on the steroids issue, they often get a bad rep. MLB has a million problems and alot of can be put at the feet of the owners. They want a salary cap but are unwilling to do real revenue sharing like the NFL. The owners need to look at themselves in MLB.

The players union in the NFL though is a little different. The owners did everything but beat up the union and date their sister during the 1987 strike. The replacement players showed the union they can hold out all they want and the sport will remain the same.

I just hope the NFL does something about off-season time. It really needs to be addresssed and the fact no one is talkig about it and the owners are wrapped up in further revenue sharing does not make me feel better.

[DUCKIN_TACKLERS]

CNY..I have always felt the same way you do to be quite honest I love the extra bye week line of thinking. Yeah that means id have a football week without Redskins football, but at least id have football. Also the extended season could eliminate some sucky preseason games and reward teams that catch fire (ala buffalo last year). My biggest improvement though would be to add a week off after the regular season. Nothing ticks me off more then to watch a team pull all its good players to rest the last game. then im forced to watch an exhibition game only the team that is fighting for a playoff spot is getting rewarded for playing a game against a short handed team. It underminds the playoff chase IMO. Back to the subject we need to get these players in to camp and training programs. I think it is sad that these guys dont have any real connection with the cities they play for except on game day. Players should be required to be at the least in the classroom and weight room. This should be a year round job they get paid enough for it IMO.

[flave1969]

Unless the NFLPA agree to making changes in the off season workout program the NFL cannot really make changes without risking some kind of industrial unrest.

http://www.nflpa.org/Members/main.asp?subPage=Off-Season+Workout+Rules

As you see from the link the situation used too be completely different with hardly any rules governing what could and could not be done. I think some kind of middle ground definately needs too be found but unless agreement comes on both sides it isn't going to happen.

[CNYSkinFan]

Unless the NFLPA agree to making changes in the off season workout program the NFL cannot really make changes without risking some kind of industrial unrest.

http://www.nflpa.org/Members/main.asp?subPage=Off-Season+Workout+Rules

As you see from the link the situation used too be completely different with hardly any rules governing what could and could not be done. I think some kind of middle ground definately needs too be found but unless agreement comes on both sides it isn't going to happen.

Your right Flave. The union needs to be brought to the table on this. But the CBA is up next year and the union wants higher Salary Cap limits. Use that as a bargaining chi-p to get more structure in the off season.

[Redblood]

Your right Flave. The union needs to be brought to the table on this. But the CBA is up next year and the union wants higher Salary Cap limits. Use that as a bargaining chi-p to get more structure in the off season.

You are right! The CBA will be up soon and both sides will have to come to the table. The NFL might indeed like your idea about the extra game(s). Fans would love it!

[joethefan]

Very good article....I think your reccomendations would help this league tremendousely....

[wewantdallas]

Nice article! I share the concern over Taylor. Before this latest incident even happened, I could sense there was something really wrong with this guy, as a lot of people did.

Hopefully, he will use this to turn his young life around. But you DO have to wonder how the threat of jail time and the upcoming trial will affect his mental state in camp and on the field this year. Extra stress for a guy that obviously can't handle a great deal already.

As to the other suggestions, what about the vast majority of players that DON'T get into trouble in the offseason and do just fine? I'm sure they'd have a real problem with more mandatory sessions inspired by just a few troublemakers. I don't personally feel comfortable having the NFL trying to impose these things for the sake of keeping young, stupid millionaires out of trouble. I think someone should come into the NFL already with some sense of personal responsibility, and if they prove that they're idiots, there should be tougher fines or sanctions against them to weed these jokers out and end their careers.

I like the idea of more regular season games, but only if the preseason games are lessened (so I guess that counteracts the idea of lengthening a season with more regular season games).

I know the players are already against all the preseason games due to injuries, etc., so I would wonder if they'd get behind more regular season games IN ADDITION to the same preseason schedule.

I say two preseason games, three tops, and one or two more regular season games, maybe some more scrimmages, etc.

Anyway, just my two cents. Great discussion! Thanks for the article!

[gravesUKRedskin]

.....as usual C.

I am actually amazed at how much down time the players get. Personally, I would have thought that after the Draft, coaches and players are eager to meet the new guys drafted in. I know that they haven't signed full contracts, but the new guys will be really eager to get started as well. I would have thought a slightly later draft followed by mandatory OTA's would be the best way to go. Then bring the pre-season forward, but play 3 games in 5 weeks say to allow players to ease into the season.

This just leaves the problem of the post season. For most teams, this starts at Xmas when they don't make the playoffs. Wouldn't a mandatory public relations exercise period be the best thing for teams who did not perform well be the best thing to do. After a holiday period break, teams hold PR events to raise their profiles over say 2-months, allowing the players to rest while doing good work for the community.

:Peace:

[CNYSkinFan]

The only reason I don't want to shorten the pre-season is that MOST of the coaches want the 4-5 games in the pre-season to evalyuate their talent.

Maybe a compromise of losing 1 pre-season game and adding two regular season and one more bye week would be acceptable.

[redskin_rich]

Haven't all the new TV deals already been agreed to and signed and doesn't that make all this talk about adding this and that game to the season meaningless?

[CNYSkinFan]

Haven't all the new TV deals already been agreed to and signed and doesn't that make all this talk about adding this and that game to the season meaningless?

Good point but the tv and radio packages could accomodate growth if the season expanded. And in either case I should of stated that this could all be phased in over the next 3-4 years when the tv deals are up again.

[colkurtz]

I think the league has been considering the 18 game format. They could certainly get rid of 2 pre-season games and finish about the same time of the year. The real season is too short.

Great article and I hope someone is listening to your blog!

Taylor has a lot of growing up to do. I hope he has a really good season. Then we'll have to see what the post-season brings for him.

[Joe-T]

I have to disagree . I love football as we all do ,yet were not the one playing .I played alot of ball ...the body even one in great shape can only take so much and football unlike basketball or baseball is to hard on the body and a man can only do so much.These players aren't getting the time they need to regoup and get healthy . :Peace:

[redskin_rich]

I strongly doubt that there will be any reg season games added or pre season games subtracted anytime soon.
For one you can't just take one pre season game off the schedule, it would have to be 2 because every owner wants the same amount of home games. So then coaches only have 2 exhibition games to get their starters in gear an let the 2nd and 3rd string battle for positions and their livelihood.

Adding 2 more reg season games would make the season really long on the players, I think the playoffs would just be a battle of attrition. The season at 17 weeks seems short to us but it is long for the players. Make it 19 weeks or 20 with an extra bye and it would definitely be a grueling marathon.
An extra bye doesn't help either, believe me, if something hurts or is injured, it aint going away in a week.
These players already keep themselves in great shape year round, unlike in the past but there is a difference between being in athletic shape or having your wind and being in football shape or taking a pounding like being in a car crash every week.

[CNYSkinFan]

I have to disagree . I love football as we all do ,yet were not the one playing .I played alot of ball ...the body even one in great shape can only take so much and football unlike basketball or baseball is to hard on the body and a man can only do so much.These players aren't getting the time they need to regoup and get healthy . :Peace:

Which is why the mandatory off-season weight conditioning program and OTas as well as an extra bye week can come into play.

The human body can only take so much you are right. But these aren't college kids. They are the premier athletes of their sport. they have the best physical conditioning staffs available to them. Two extra games will actually promote depth and durability over flash and attitude. it will also promote temawork. Not to mention be good for the oyung guys who just are not cutting it off the field.

[colkurtz]

Which is why the mandatory off-season weight conditioning program and OTas as well as an extra bye week can come into play.

The human body can only take so much you are right. But these aren't college kids. They are the premier athletes of their sport. they have the best physical conditioning staffs available to them. Two extra games will actually promote depth and durability over flash and attitude. it will also promote temawork. Not to mention be good for the oyung guys who just are not cutting it off the field.

2 extra games = lots of extra revenue for the owners and the NFL
More pay for the players
More real games for the fans

Understand the concern of wearing players out, but it just means more substitutions with players who aren't used much.

Exchanging two worthless games in pre-season (not watched by anyone except the diehards) for two regular season ones which bring in the $$. If the NFL ever changes the number of games it will be for the extra money..............