A change to NFL football players' practice routine makes many of them think it will allow them more extensive careers.
A 10-year agreement, called the CBA, stops players from spending more than 3 ½ hours on practice. Full-speed activity is restricted to only 2 ½ of those hours on the field. Practices twice a day are no longer allowed. If players are to meet a second time in the day, shells and shoulder pads are banned during that time, to ensure that nothing more than practice walkthroughs are taking place. Prior to the agreement, the New Orleans Saints' typical practice consisted of five full-team workouts.
The CBA contract continues for another eight years, expected to end in the2020 football season.
Some players agree with the change, believing that a less demanding offseason may extend players' years on the field.
"Some days you don't mind (less physical work),'' Saints defensive tackle Remi Ayodele said to The Advocate. "Then some days, you really do feel like you need that work. But I see why they did it. You feel a lot healthier the next day, so I'm not against it.''
Saints defensive end, Junior Gallette, agreed saying, "I'm definitely for it because I think it can extend guys' careers, so that's good for the game of football. Guys who normally might play six or seven years now maybe can play longer.''
Joe Vitt, Saints acting head coach, is willing to make this change to the players' workout routine, as long as all other NFL teams are doing the same.
"I'll live with it as long as everybody else is playing by the same rules,'' Vitt said. "As long as we're on the same level playing field, then I'm OK with it.''
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