Steelers defender gives unique take on why proposed NFL schedule change will be disastrous
One of the reasons why it's so hard to be exceptional as a rookie in the NFL is the duration of the football calendar. Fresh off your college season, into the pre-draft process, followed by offseason workouts, into training camp and then the most games of your football life leaves many players hitting what's called, […]
One of the reasons why it's so hard to be exceptional as a rookie in the NFL is the duration of the football calendar.
Fresh off your college season, into the pre-draft process, followed by offseason workouts, into training camp and then the most games of your football life leaves many players hitting what's called, "The rookie wall."
And following a proposal to the NFL calendar by the NFLPA, Pittsburgh Steelers DT Breiden Fehoko explained why life for rookies in the NFL would become a disaster:
Are rookies facing an insurmountable task?
Per NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, the NFLPA is finalizing a proposal that will end OTAs in exchange for a longer training camp. Right now, OTAs are conducted throughout May and mandatory minicamp is in June, with training camp starting in late July – typically the final week.
If the proposal passes, the report date for training camp would be pushed back into "mid-June to early July". Pelissero also notes three additional items: The majority of informed/active players support the idea, a formal proposal is expected mid-Summer, and the idea isn't directly tied into the possibility of an 18-game schedule. Although, it would certainly mesh with the structure. –Evan Winter, A to Z Sports NFL
While Pelissero may have referenced a majority approval of the rule, it's safe to say the topic is polarizing among the vast majority of NFL players, coaches and personnel members. One of those players is Breiden Fehoko, who gave a unique angle on why the change could be disastrous:
“I see both sides. But upon immediate reaction, I don’t like it," Fehoko told reporters at Steelers OTAs earlier this week. "You hear guys talk about hitting the ‘rookie wall.’ My biggest thought process is, if they are going to add another game, another Thursday night game, on top of an extra month of build-up, into an extra month of training camp, I don’t know if I’m a fan of that."
A point I have yet to see, many of the veterans who have been outspoken on the proposed change cite more wear and tear to their bodies, or less time to spend with their kids given that the current offseason schedule aligns with summer vacation.
But for rookies, while the physical component can wear on them as well, it's the mental side of things that will catch up to them first. The amount of info thrown at QBs during rookie minicamp alone is tough to comprehend.
The current 4-6 week break that comes between mandatory minicamp in early to mid-June and the start of training camp in mid to late July is the only time rookies get to catch their breath.
Taking that away ensures that an already difficult process becomes harder than it needs to be.
Steelers recent draft pick confirms suspicion that his job status is up in the air
He knows it’s now or never.
