I usually carry water for players and their motives but after watching the opening game last night, it feels like what players want isn't actually good for them.
Yes, the peril of a season ending injury in the preseason looms. And when you add in more opportunities for injuries to happen you will likely see more injuries happen. But...
The early games are just rough as hell with the players obviously easing into the real deal tentatively. Whether that's penalties, drops, missed assignments September feels like preseason 2.0 at the moment.
Also there is the plausible scenario that some amount of injuries suffered in the regular season are due to conditioning or lack thereof. Not the headshots and concussions but rather the muscle and ligament injuries. So it's either take your lumps with 16 game checks on the line or take your lumps with 16-x game checks on the line depending what game of the season it is.
If they can work more practice back into the fold in ways that limit injury potential but get guys firing on all cylinders from day 1, please, make it happen.
Yes, the peril of a season ending injury in the preseason looms. And when you add in more opportunities for injuries to happen you will likely see more injuries happen. But...
The early games are just rough as hell with the players obviously easing into the real deal tentatively. Whether that's penalties, drops, missed assignments September feels like preseason 2.0 at the moment.
Also there is the plausible scenario that some amount of injuries suffered in the regular season are due to conditioning or lack thereof. Not the headshots and concussions but rather the muscle and ligament injuries. So it's either take your lumps with 16 game checks on the line or take your lumps with 16-x game checks on the line depending what game of the season it is.
If they can work more practice back into the fold in ways that limit injury potential but get guys firing on all cylinders from day 1, please, make it happen.