The NFL is changing — and fast.
With NFL teams cancelling their voluntary OTAs and mandatory minicamps because of players boycotting them, it’s wild to hear stories from the New England Patriots of insanely physical and demanding practices, even over the last decade. Retired Patriots receiver Julian Edelman recalled a session of practice during a playoff bye when the team split in half, and scrimmaged.
Nowadays, teams are thrilled to get a playoff bye, because it means resting their players so they’re physically prepared for a matchup. In 2014, it was very different.