Another Reason the NFL is Ridiculous

The Browns were one of several teams reminded last week by the NFL that players are not supposed to "meet" with coaches or be given playbooks during this period of the off-season.

I mean, seriously? WTF?

OK, sure, I get it … there’s a lockout looming. So what? It hasn’t happened yet! This isn’t high school football where coaches aren’t allowed to have contact with players during the offseason. This is the National Freakin’ Football League, for cryin’ out loud!

Playing in the NFL is a full time job. Just because there are no games being played right now is no excuse to eliminate contact between players and coaches.

Even if there is no lockout, offseason conditioning programs are scheduled to begin in March 15 and the NFL reminded teams that rules prevent coaches from meeting with players until that date.

This is stupid. I’ve always thought it was stupid. Especially in the case of a team hiring a new coach in the offseason.

"There's a new head coach in the building and they're just curious about coming in and meeting him," new coach Pat Shurmur said. "I haven't told any of them to come in. I think it's just normal protocol. We're just getting to know one another."

I mean, what are the Browns supposed to say?

“Hey guys, we hired a new coach — a new guy to lead you to victory — but, you’re not allowed to meet him until the NFL says so. So don’t worry about, you know, getting to know him or his new system or anything. Just enjoy your time off and stay away from work because, God-forbid, you try to put in some extra, much needed effort to improve yourselves as a team.”

Mind you, Holmgren can’t say that to the players directly, he has to issue it through the press and hope they read it.

See, ridiculous.

Rant over.

Go Browns!