With that in mind, players must find a chill spot to relax for a few days before jumping back into the rat race. Although the new Collective Bargaining Agreement has altered the two-a-day format from my playing days, the cumulative effect of the physical pounding and monotonous practice repetitions can leave players physically and mentally drained.

The holiday is three-plus weeks from the start of training camp, which gives players enough time to ramp up their workouts to prepare for conditioning tests and the grueling nature of training camp. Looking at the calendar, the Fourth of July is the vacation cut-off date. Given some time to reach out to a few players and executives on how they will spend their month away from the team, here are a few thoughts. is a top priority before spending the months of August through January sequestered from the outside world while focusing on becoming a key contributor to a championship squad. The chance to sneak away on a family vacation out of the country or visit family and friends around the U.S. From upgrading the roster through free agency and the NFL Draft to conducting self-studies on tactics, schemes and personnel trends, the four weeks from mid-June to mid-July give football people a chance to catch their breath after a whirlwind ride.Īs a former player and scout, I remember how much I cherished the sabbatical between the end of the offseason and training camp. After grinding through an intensive offseason program that featured OTAs (organized team activities), minicamp practices and strength and conditioning sessions, players are given about six weeks to rest, relax and recharge for the NFL marathon that could extend into the middle of February, for those fortunate enough to be members of a title contender.įor coaches, scouts and executives, the final horn at mandatory minicamp ends an 11-month grind that featured a full NFL regular season and a cluttered offseason that tested their ability to plan, evaluate and develop various personnel within the building. After mandatory minicamps ended this week, the official NFL vacation season has started for players, coaches and executives.

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