Favre Rules Are For Favre Only

Minnesota’s star running back, Adrian Peterson, missed the team’s mandatory minicamp because he attended “Adrian Peterson Day” in his hometown, Palestine, Texas.  Head Coach Brad Childress was not pleased about it and publicly questioned his biggest offensive weapon’s decision to miss the entire minicamp.   I am with the coach on this one.

I discussed voluntary OTAs this spring.  You know how I feel.  If it’s voluntary, players should not be ridiculed publicly for not attending.  Mandatory minicamps are different.  It is part of a player’s professional responsibilities.  If it is not life or death, a player should be there and on time.  I’m not saying that a player should miss an event in his honor, but something tells me that Peterson knew the date of this event in time to reschedule.  Furthermore, it was one day.  Why did he miss the entire weekend of camp?

I understand some fans will point to Brett Favre and say that Minnesota gives him a pass all summer long and disciplines Peterson for missing one camp.  When called out about this point, Childress answered, “I don't think Adrian is batting around retirement in his mind. It's a special set of circumstances. ... Is everything equal? Obviously it's not. That's just the way it is. It's a matter of fact. I think everyone understands that from our side."

I think we would all like a world where everything is equal, but that is not our reality.  As one of the senior leaders at my first job told me, “Rank has its privileges.” Brett Favre definitely has rank.  Peterson is good.  He was Offensive Rookie of the Year and has been to the Pro Bowl every year of his three-year career.  However, this does not compare to the 19-year veteran’s stats, contributions, accomplishments or leadership.  

I appreciate Childress’ candor about the privileges that Brett has.  Right or wrong, at least everyone knows what the rules are and has clear expectations.  Note to the Vikings: Don’t try to use “Favre Rules” if you are not Favre.

Ciao!

Heels &  Helmets

OTAs: Voluntary Training or Mandatory Practice?

Organized Team Activities (OTA) are in full swing and players are getting familiar with their roles.  These are de facto practices before training camp in which players participate in limited drills without any contact or pads.  They are supposedly voluntary, but a player will certainly be on the chopping block or bashed to the media if he does not attend.  Each year there are headlines about owners and coaches expressing their disappointment about players not attending OTAs.  The most recent headline is Redskin, Albert Haynesworth.  The defensive tackle has not shown up at Redskin Park for OTAs and owner, Dan Snyder is not happy about it.

I believe in the saying “prior, preparation, prevents, piss, poor, performance.”  I think that any professional (in any industry) should take advantage of opportunities to improve and develop their craft.  And yes, I know that Vince Lombardi would laugh at the use of the term “voluntary practice” and without practicing a team is definitely not going to hoist up the trophy named in his honor.  However, I don’t think that the coaching legend would sugar coat what the practices are.  He would be straightforward, his players would be there and he would accept the NFL’s discipline for violating any rules.  

A lot of people would say that Albert Haynesworth has 41 million reasons to attend OTAs, referring to the amount of guaranteed money in his contract of which he has already received $32 million.  Others would say that the Redskins gave the Pro Bowler, 41 million reasons not to attend when they wrote him one of the largest checks in NFL history.  I say if clubs want players to attend voluntary workouts they should set clear expectations and mandate the practices.  Otherwise, they should stop criticizing a player for missing voluntary OTAs as if he is not performing and falling short of the requirements of his job. 

As negotiations continue for the next CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement), I am curious to see if OTA will become Official Team Activities with the underlying tone of “be On Time or be out on your A…”  I’ll just say hiney.  On second thought, that sentiment is not new.

Check out your team’s Minicamp and OTA Schedule.  (Minicamps include rookies and veterans unless noted.)

AFC

Baltimore Ravens

Minicamp: May 7-9
OTAs: May 17-20, May 24-27, June 7-10, June 15-16

Buffalo Bills

Minicamps: May 7-9 (rookies; voluntary for veterans), June 4-6 (voluntary), June 23-25
OTAs: May 25-27, June 1-3, June 8-10, June 15-17, June 21-22

Cincinnati Bengals

Minicamps: April 30-May 2 (rookies), June 15-17
OTAs: May 11, May 13, May 18-20, May 25, May 27, June 1-3, June 8, June 10, June 14

Cleveland Browns

Minicamps: April 30-May 2 (rookies), June 10-12
OTAs: May 17-19, May 24-25, May 27, June 1-3, June 7-8

Denver Broncos

Minicamps: April 30-May 2 (rookies), June 11-13
OTAs: May 17-19, May 24-27, June 2-4, June 7-9

Houston Texans

Minicamp: June 14-16
OTAs: May 17-20, May 24-27, June 1-3, June 8-10

Indianapolis Colts

Minicamps: April 30-May 2 (rookies), June 4-6
OTAs: May 18, May 20, May 25, May 27, June 1-2, June 8, June 10-11

Jacksonville Jaguars

Minicamp: May 1-3
OTAs: May 17-18, May 20, May 24-25, May 27, June 7-8, June 10, June 14-15, June 17, June 21-22

Kansas City Chiefs

Minicamps: April 30-May 2 (rookies), June 11-13
OTAs: May 17-19, May 24-25, May 27, June 1-3, June 7-9, June 14-15

Miami Dolphins

Minicamps: April 30-May 2 (rookies), May 28-30
OTAs: May 18-19, May 24, May 26, June 1, June 3, June 7, June 9-10, June 14, June 16

New England Patriots

Minicamps: April 30-May 2 (rookies), June 15-17
OTAs: May 24-27, June 1-4, June 7-8, June 10-11

New York Jets

Minicamps: April 30-May 2 (rookies), June 14-16
OTAs: May 17-18, May 20, May 24-25, May 27, June 2-3, June 8, June 10

Oakland Raiders

Minicamp: April 30-May 2
OTAs: May 18-20, May 25-27, June 8-10, June 15-17

Pittsburgh Steelers

Minicamp: April 30-May 2
OTAs: April 19-20, May 18-20, May 25-27, June 1-3, June 8-10

San Diego Chargers

Minicamps: May 7-8 (rookies), May 26-28
OTAs: May 18-21, June 8-11, June 14-17

Tennessee Titans

Minicamp: April 30-May 1 (rookies)
OTAs: April 27, April 29, May 11, May 13, May 18-19, May 25, May 27, June 14-15, June 17, June 22, June 24-25

NFC

Arizona Cardinals

Minicamp: April 30-May 2

OTAs: May 18-20, May 25-27, June 1-4, June 7-10

Atlanta Falcons

Minicamp: May 7-9
OTAs: May 25-27, June 1, June 3-4, June 8-11, June 15-18

Carolina Panthers

Minicamp: April 30-May 2
OTAs: May 24-27, June 2-4, June 7-10, June 14-16

Chicago Bears

Minicamps: April 30-May 2 (rookies), May 21-23

OTAs: June 2-3, June 7-10, June 14-17, June 21-24

Dallas Cowboys

Minicamps: April 30-May 2 (rookies), June 11-13

OTAs: May 17-19, May 24-26, June 1-3, June 8-10

Detroit Lions

Minicamps: April 30-May 2 (rookies), June 23-25
OTAs: April 20, May 4, May 6, May 11, May 13, May 18, May 20, May 24-25, May 27, June 1, June 3, June 21-22

Green Bay Packers

Minicamps: April 30-May 2 (rookies), June 21-23
OTAs: May 17-20, June 1-3, June 8-10, June 15-17

Minnesota Vikings

Minicamps: April 30-May 2 (rookies), June 11-13
OTAs: May 18-21, May 24-27, June 1-4, June 7-8

New Orleans Saints

Minicamps: May 7-9 (rookies), June 4-6
OTAs: May 25-28, June 7-10, 24-26, June 14-17

New York Giants

Minicamps: April 30-May 2 (rookies), June 15-17
OTAs: May 18, May 20-21, May 24-25, May 27, June 2, June 4, June 7-8, June 10-11

Philadelphia Eagles

Minicamp: April 30-May 2
OTAs: May 19-20, May 24-27, June 1-4, June 7-10

St. Louis Rams

Minicamps: April 30-May 2 (rookies), June 10-12

OTAs: May 18, May 20, May 24-25, May 27, June 1-3, June 7-8, June 14-17

San Francisco 49ers

Minicamps: April 30-May 2 (rookies), June 18-20
OTAs: March 29-30, April 30, May 17-20, June 7-8, June 10-11, June 14-16

Seattle Seahawks

Minicamps: April 13-15 (voluntary), April 30-May 2, June 22-24 (voluntary)
OTAs: May 11, May 13, May 18, May 20, May 25, May 27, June 8, June 10, June 15, June 17

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Minicamps: April 30-May 2 (rookies), June 21-23
OTAs: May 17-19, June 1-3, June 7-10, June 14-17

Washington Redskins

Minicamps: April 16-18 (voluntary), May 7-9 (rookies; voluntary for veterans), June 16-18 OTAs: May 17-19, May 24-26, June 1-3, June 7-8, June 10-11

Ciao!

Heels &  Helmets