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Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor turned some heads this week by announcing an early end to the team’s mandatory workouts, cutting the number of sessions down by two.
After the fact, players hinted in interviews that Taylor suggested a high vaccination rate in line with the rest of the league would lead to such an early release.
“We are very close to it,” Jessie Bates said, according to Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com. I think that’s (why) we got rewarded going home a little early. I think we’re on the right path.”
On one hand, it’s an innovative, good way for Taylor to reward his players before things get really brutal during the summer heat of training camp. His guys had near-perfect attendance for the last month or so right up until he waved things off early.
On the other, critics will point out the rebuilt roster needs as many reps as it can get before taking the field for a 17-game season. This team has also won six games over the last two seasons, too.
No matter how one views it, the clear takeaway is simple — locker room leaders like Bates are on board with the plan and remain all-in on Taylor’s approach.
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