Tag: offseason program

Von Miller shares brief video of what Broncos’ virtual meetings look like

The Broncos will have a virtual offseason program this year.

The NFL has closed team facilities in an effort to slow down the spread of COVID-19, which has resulted in teams turning to virtual offseason programs. Broncos players will participate in virtual meetings and workouts with the team’s coaching staff during the virtual program.

Last week, Denver outside linebacker Von Miller shared a brief video of the team’s outside linebackers meeting on his Instagram page. The Athletic’s Nicki Jhabvala posted the video on Twitter:

The Broncos’ official Twitter account shared an image of an offensive meeting and another photo of quarterback Drew Lock talking with new offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur.

Shurmur joined Denver’s staff earlier this year and he will be installing his offense this summer. The early work of that installment will have to be done in a virtual setting.

The Broncos remain hopeful that training camp will be able to start on time in late July. The NFL is also hopeful that the season will start on time.

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NFL and NFLPA agree to virtual offseason program

In light of the coronavirus pandemic, the National Football League and the Players Association have agreed to a virtual offseason program.

In light of the coronavirus pandemic, the start of the National Football League’s offseason program will look drastically different this year.

With all team facilities closed until further notice, the NFL and NFLPA have now agreed to the terms of a virtual offseason, which will begin April 20 for clubs with new head coaches and April 27 for all other teams around the league.

The voluntary program will include classroom instruction, workouts and non-football education programs conducted in a virtual format. No teams are allowed to resume activities at club headquarters until all 32 teams have been safely cleared to return.

While participation is voluntary, players who opt into the program will be eligible to earn their off-season workout bonuses. Should team facilities remained closed by the scheduled start of minicamps, clubs may conduct a virtual minicamp for veteran players.

For more information and complete details on the NFL’s virtual offseason, click here.

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Mitch Schwartz believes shortened offseason can be advantageous for Chiefs

At least one Kansas City Chiefs player is welcoming the idea of a shortened offseason program.

NFL players are looking at a much different offseason in 2020. The coronavirus pandemic has shut down NFL facilities for at least two weeks and perhaps longer. Conditioning programs have already been delayed for the Chiefs. Teams are expecting that things like organized team activities and rookie minicamp will be delayed.

Chiefs RT Mitchell Schwartz spoke with Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer about the potential for a shortened offseason program. While the circumstances for this change are unfortunate, the extra time to recover isn’t usually something afforded to Super Bowl champions.

“I think it’s a good thing,” Schwartz told Breer. “Pushing the start later means some guys will come back more ready to get right back into the swing of things, because we get to take a little more time to get our bodies right. … For me, personally, being an older guy, to get that little extra rest helps. When you start OTAs, we were going to have lost five weeks of that, and this will probably build it back in.”

Usually, Super Bowl teams are faced with the disadvantage of less time to rest their bodies, having played into February, before they’re back at it again. Right now, it looks like they’ll have the time to catch up with their 2020 opponents and then some.

In the meantime, players like Schwartz are doing what they can to stay in shape. It’s a pretty difficult thing to do, especially when Schwartz is cooking smash burgers with gravy and garlic aioli. One thing that has made it easier is workout programs sent by strength and conditioning coach Barry Rubin.

“The Chiefs’ strength coaches sent their guys two separate plans,” Breer wrote. “One a dumbbell-based program for guys who do have a weight-room setup at home, and one a body-weight centered workout for those who don’t.”

Since players can’t head to the Chiefs’ facility to lift weights, this is the new normal for the NFL. Thankfully, many of the players know what their bodies need to keep themselves in good enough shape when offseason workouts finally do arrive. For the time being, they’ll adjust to and make the best out of the new normal.

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Cowboys feel really good on Vander Esch readiness for entire offseason

Team executives are planning on linebacker Leighton Vander Esch being fully ready to go in April workouts after his neck surgery last week.

The ascension of Leighton Vander Esch hit a speed bump in 2019 when the second-year linebacker missed seven games of the regular season (including the final six) with a neck issue. Cowboys Nation got a real scare when coach Jason Garrett made a cryptic comment about the long-term (and possibly even career-threatening) nature of the injury.

Now, just over a week after the Boise State phenom underwent surgery, team  execs reports that Vander Esch is on track to fully participate in the offseason program that begins with voluntary workouts in April.

Speaking this week at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Cowboys vice president Stephen Jones concurred with that prognosis for the 2018 first-round draft pick.

“I feel good about it, really good about him making a full recovery and being ready to participate in everything,” Jones told reporters.

According to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, the 22-year-old suffered a pinched nerve in Week 7’s win over Philadelphia that “aggravated his cervical spinal stenosis, a condition he has had since birth involving the narrowing of the spinal canal.” The paper notes it’s “the same injury that forced the Cowboys’ Hall of Fame receiver Michael Irvin to retire in 2000.”

That condition is the reason Vander Esch wears his trademark neck collar as part of his uniform. The 2018 Pro Bowler will likely continue to do so with special equipment issued by the Cowboys training staff.

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