Coaches frustrated

Coaches frustrated by new workout rules

Jacksonville Jaguars coach Mike Mularkey padlocked footballs and then installed a practice field security camera to ensure compliance with new NFL offseason rules shrinking players' on-field work and frustrating coaches.

Buffalo Bills general manager Buddy Nix gave an emphatic response to players who called about hitting the practice field before Monday.

"I told them, 'Hell no! We can't risk it,' " Nix said.

Teams risked a $250,000 fine and coaches a $100,000 penalty if players even tossed or kicked a football on site until voluntary team workouts began today.

Little wonder Denver Broncos coach John Fox had 2011 lockout flashbacks despite landing prized free agent Peyton Manning, who has spent the last three weeks throwing at a high school to new teammates.

"Last year you knew you couldn't see (players)," Fox said. "We have labor peace for 10 years, and you still can't see them."
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That changes Monday when organized team workouts begin for 26 teams.

The New Orleans Saints start life without coach Sean Payton, whose season-long suspension for his role in the three-year bounty scandal starts Monday. And quarterback Drew Brees can't be there unless he signs his $14.4 million franchise tag, which seems unlikely.

"We're continuing to work on a long-term deal," he said.

Six teams with new coaches began on-field strength and conditioning April 1. New collective bargaining agreement rules call for team workouts to begin a month later than in years past, reducing 14 organized team activity days to 10.

Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy's quarterback school used to convene in mid-March. Now a month of development time is lost.

"You can't have your quarterback, kicker and punter working in March," McCarthy said. "The quarterback handles the ball every play. Their prime motor skills need more time.

"I wish those three positions could be there in March like they always had."

First-year St. Louis Rams coach Jeff Fisher hopes rules preventing young quarterbacks from learning a new offensive system before April are loosened.

"(Coaches) would unanimously be in favor of maybe them revisiting that," Fisher said. "It doesn't make sense that you can't have your quarterback doing things until April when this is a quarterback-driven league."

This article was written by Jim Corbett and appeared in USA Today.