Getty ImagesThe problems involved with practicing a fast, violent game predicated on contact under rules prohibiting contact popped up again on Thursday at Cowboys minicamp.
It seems several members of the Cowboys were either angry that minicamp was ending or angry that they had to practice on the final day when teams like the Patriots and Steelers weren’t working on the field because there was some “chippy play” going on at practice. Those are the words Todd Archer of ESPNDallas.com used to describe a scrap between running back DeMarco Murray and defensive end Jason Hatcher. Archer’s colleague Calvin Watkins also tweeted that Hatcher looked like he wanted to fight the whole offense and Bryan Broaddus of the team’s website opined that “if NFL is watching, they might lose some practices with way this is going.”
There’s a fair chance that the NFL will take a look. Fights at practice contributed to the penalties against the Seahawks earlier this month and they also got the league to look into the Saints’ level of compliance after reports of fights at their minicamp caught the NFL’s attention.
This isn’t the first report we’ve seen of some high-spirited behavior at Cowboys practice. Mike Sando of ESPN.com also found some questionable stuff on a tape of practice posted on the Cowboys website. As Florio pointed out in a post earlier this week, “live contact” is banned at minicamps, just as it was at OTAs when the Seahawks were found to be on the wrong side of the line.
We have no idea if the Cowboys violated league rules in either instance and that’s part of the problem with the rule. The league mandates video of each practice session, but only reviews it if there is a report of wrongdoing. Unless they review every tape of every practice and make it crystal clear what constitutes “live contact,” it is hard to feel like the rule is being evenly and correctly applied.
Channel Finder
The wussification of the NFL continues.
The Pats and Steelers have combined for 4 Super Bowl appearances in the last 10 years. Dallas has played 4 playoff games in the last 15. Keep practicing, ‘boys. JGarret is still a young head coach. Yes, he’s made his mistakes, but he might just know what he’s doing. He did, after all, learn a few things from Jimmy Johnson. Keep working hard.
Signed, Cowboys Nation
According to the tweets from the teams’ official columnists, Demarco Murray got upset when he was stuffed during a goalline drill. Jason Hatcher got in his face, and Garrett immediately stopped practice to keep things from getting out of control.
If they lose multiple practices because a fews get upset after ONE play, then yes I will side those of you calling this the “wussification” of football. And if that is the case, shouldn’t the Lions lose about a week of practice time for one player sucker-punching another in the weight room? Must have been a pretty intense workout.
Camp Cupcake is a thing of the past… I like it.
While I think it’s great the NFL is attempting to keep players safer with the off-season workout programs, these new rules are extremely ambiguous. Many coaches share this same belief. In Article 21, Section 2(b)(i-iii) of the collective bargaining agreement, “live contact” is defined incredibly broadly. My interpretation is that coaches are not allowed to explicitly orchestrate “offense vs defense drills,” “wide receiver bump-n-run drills,” “offensive lineman vs defensive lineman pass-protection drills, and the like. I don’t think a team should be penalized for hot-headed players getting into it with teammates. Some things are simply out of coaches’ control. The league really needs to take a narrow stance on what IS permitted, and what IS NOT.
This crap is getting stupid. If contact is banned during practice of a contact sport, how is “practice” going to be effective? If players getting “chippy” with each other constitutes grounds for forfeiting practice, fine the players rather than penalize the team. The players are the ones that fought for less contact during practice, not the teams. The teams (coaches) realize how important viable practices are. It seems as if a couple players can stage a scuffle and get someone to tweet it and, “presto”, a couple more practices get eliminated.
so, if i go pick a fight with my coworkers, my whole office can be sent on a mandatory paid vacation? hmmm unions at their best.
cakemixa says:
The wussification of the NFL continues.
————————————————
Next the WBC will start fining people for punches to the face.
Looks like Goodell is gonna have to lay another smackdown.
They should just call it flag or 2 hand touch minicamp. Oh and the blitzer has to count 5 mississippi.
The trees are the end endzone and to avoid contact we will have “P for K”
Watch out for Mara and the spirit of practice…
….if there is a report of wrongdoing
Thanx, Todd Archer!
So if I’m a player and I’m upset I’m practicing when other teams have off what could I do? I guess I could start a fight and then my team will be penalized by having practices taken away thereby giving me my days off. Makes sense.
vmannj says: Jun 14, 2012 4:35 PM
The Pats and Steelers have combined for 4 Super Bowl appearances in the last 10 years. Dallas has played 4 playoff games in the last 15. Keep practicing, ‘boys. JGarret is still a young head coach. Yes, he’s made his mistakes, but he might just know what he’s doing. He did, after all, learn a few things from Jimmy Johnson. Keep working hard.
Signed, Cowboys Nation
————————————————————-
Actually the Pats and steelers have combined for 7 Superbowl appearances since 2002. I guess education is lacking over there in Texas.
As a team beat writer, with a large amount of access, why would you tweet, write, or send a smoke screen regarding contact, when you know the ramifications.
Also, if there is no live contact, how is Murray, stuffed at the goal line?
Go Boys
I was speaking of the four most recent appearances (Pats vs. NYG X2, and Pitt vs. Arz and Seattle). That would be 4 of the last 7 years.
See thar, us Texans is smart enuf. That thar ed-u-ma-k-shun is ovur-rated.
The steelers and patriots have won(and appeared in 3 more) 5 of the last 11 superbowls. When the cowboys can make a claim along those lines, then they have a right to be angry about coach not canceling practice. Until then, they should try acting like adults about it.
1st of all the Steelers and Pats were in 7 SB’s in last 10 yrs. The Colts and Raiders round out the decade of Afc reps. Now moving on to the Cowboys, the guys there better step it up bcuz I feel this is make or break for them after the Giants set the bar real high winning the SB. Tony Romo, Rob Ryan, Jason Garrett are all gonna be on hot seat if last season happens this season. Cowboys need a deep run into postseason to make their freeagent spending worth while. They got to beat the Eagles, and got to beat the Giants. Wednesday night will be here soon Boys, U better be ready.