Come On!

The offseason restrictions of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement can be ridiculous. The most ridiculous of these restrictions is the one that prevents coaches and players from meeting before the start of their offseason programs. Teams with new head coaches get a head start. This year those teams started a couple of weeks ago. The rest of the teams can end their forced isolation this week. These stupid rules were put in place to protect players from being forced by their coaches to do extra offseason work. These rules also exist to provide a level playing field for all 32 NFL teams. As a result we have this ridiculous, CBA-enforced restraining order surrounding every NFL player and every NFL coach. If player and coach happen to run into each other during the offseason, the most that they can do is say "Hi" and go on their way. I just seems so childish. High school and college football can do more offseason football work than the professionals. The more dedicated NFL players can get together on their own but no coaches can be involved. This doesn't sound very professional.

These offseason restrictions have been a talking point lately because of the football savant Peyton Manning. The never satisfied quarterback spends most of his waking hours seeking to get better at the game that he already plays so well. This quest takes him around the country. Recently, it took him to Tuscaloosa and a visit with Alabama head coach Nick Saban and his staff. The problem with this little football visit was that Adam Gase, Manning's offensive coordinator with the Broncos, was also visiting with Saban. Gase got his start in coaching as a graduate assistant for Saban at LSU. Manning was in Tuscaloosa to study some football. Gase was there for mostly social reasons. Both being there at the same time was coincidental. Saban even said that the extent of the conversation between Gase and Manning amounted to "Hi." I doubt that they would be so open about the coincidence if there was something sinister taking place. Even if the meeting wasn't coincidental I see nothing wrong with Adam Gase and Peyton Manning studying football together with the Alabama coaches. I see nothing wrong with them working together to get better at their profession at any time of the calendar year. If they want to spend their down time on football, so be it. I love it when football players take the initiative in trying to get better at their profession. Who cares if their coaches are around to assist in those efforts?

The CBA is an agreement between the owners and players. Despite being an integral part of the NFL, the coaches have no say in the rules that they are forced to follow. The rules that impact every single one of their practices are forced upon them. That's a terrible way to work. The owners get richer, the players are more pampered, and the coaches are told how to do their jobs. It makes no sense to me that individuals that are only trying to get better at their craft are being kept from doing so. It's now an NFL crime to study football in March and April. Come on!