One of the NFL’s more archaic rules in the mutual back-scratching arrangement with its free farm system is the rule that prevents players at NCAA schools which use the quarter system from attending offseason workouts.
And like many archaic rules, there are easy workarounds for the players who can’t attend OTAs even if they’re not in school.
Saints coach Sean Payton said the team goes over each day’s installation with first-round wide receiver Brandin Cooks via video.
“What we’re allowed to do is basically in the evenings we have kind of an online time where we go through practice tape and go through the installation,” Payton said, via Andrew Lopez of the New Orleans Times-Picayune. “He was here through the rookie camp and he was able to take the book back with him and work through page by page. . . .
“What we’ve done is set aside an hour and hour and half each night and go online with him and have him go through the tape with our coaches. He’ll be in this weekend and he’ll be here Monday to get caught up to speed as quickly as possible.”
Payton said Cooks picked things up quickly when he was in for rookie minicamp, and if he’s able to learn the playbook, he could make an immediate impact with his speed.