Thursday, June 16, 2011

Is Camp Colt Really Worth It?

Camp Colt has been getting a lot of press from the media, as well as all these other little “mini camps” that teams have been putting on.  Even more media attention is paid to the players who don’t show up to these little weekend getaways.  The Cleveland media attacked rookie wide receiver Greg Little for not attending Camp Colt the first time, but he finally found his way to Austin, along with fellow rookie, tight end Jordan Cameron.  What I don’t understand is what can really be gained from running routes on a high school field somewhere when players aren’t “allowed” to even have the playbooks yet.  

I’m not so naive to think that Colt doesn’t have some version of Shurmur’s playbook somewhere tightly tucked into his saddle somewhere, but what I really am unsure of, is whether or not these camps are worth the risk that players are putting out there.  

Greg Little and Jordan Cameron have not signed a contract with the Cleveland Browns.  They are not being paid, they are owed no money, and technically, the only connection they have to the organization is that they were picked by the Browns and have all of their rights in order to negotiate a contract.  What if Little tears his ACL at one of these camps? What leverage does he have to ask for even 3rd round pick money?  These rookies are getting a lot of pressure from teammates, and especially the media, to risk their first real money as a professional, so they can jog around on a field and catch passes from Colt or Wallace.  

I am also in the wagon of people that thinks these little camps are nothing more than a stick to the NFL, saying, “Hey we don’t need the NFL to get together to run mini camps or OTAs, we can do it on our own.”  These players attending these camps are the same exact players that complain EVERY YEAR those OTAs and mini camps are too long, and that the NFL doesn’t have a long enough offseason.  At least in mini camp and OTAs people are getting paid, players are receiving a salary.  

Which camp has gotten the most plug so far? Oh yeah, that’s right, the Drew Brees camp, doesn’t that make anyone wonder when he is by far the most vocal player in these labor disputes? I for one am surprised he has enough time on his hands to do either these camps or dispute labor problems when at the age of 32 he is still in New Orleans bars starting chants and other weird stuff that he learned to do at Purdue.  

Maybe I am cynical, but I just don’t think these camps are doing much of anything for the players, and that the risk these younger players are putting them through, just really isn’t worth it.  Joe Thomas recently just said he is enjoying his time off, and that the offseason is really way too long in the first place. I’m gonna go ahead and listen to our captain and best football player since the Browns came back in 1999, and not worry about the offseason workouts. 

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