Some have viewed combined practices as a replacement for the lost work in an exhibition atmosphere due to the preseason's reduction from four games to three. It isn't.
As shown yesterday (and many before), chaos can ensue during joint practices. There is no motive to engage in behavior that wouldn't occur during a game because the league has absolved itself of direct jurisdiction over players.
Cam Heyward, a defensive lineman for the Pittsburgh Steelers, made the statement Wednesday in answer to a question about the purpose of joint practices.
In principle, it sounds exciting to watch your team compete in a practice situation, but Heyward said it was just a two-and-a-half-hour wrestling bout with no rules or technique, which made everyone tense. "Guys act in ways they would never act in a game with a risk of injury. Players battle for their squad.
Joint practices won't occur for certain coaches unless they have enough faith that things won't spiral out of control. The Saints canceled joint workouts when it was announced that the Texans would be the Hard Knocks team because they were worried that Houston players could misbehave in front of NFL Films' cameras. And in 2015, as the Saints and Patriots trained together in advance of the game, coach Sean Payton gave his team a clear directive: "If you decide to fight, pack your bags."
It's reasonable to question whether some coaches are ready to subject players to injury risk in the hopes of waking that primal aggression and physicality that is tougher to ignite in contemporary training-camp practices, given that they undoubtedly know what can and does happen at joint practices. Aaron Donald, who considered retiring in the offseason, must be relieved to hear that he still has a roaring fire in his belly, even though Rams coach Sean McVay can't say it out loud. Week after week, it will benefit the Rams.
Will it occasionally come to a head during games, as it did for Donald several times before? Probably. However, McVay can see that as a small price to pay for having a player who is equally extremely effective and utterly scary.
This justifies the league's intervention in this instance and for any subsequent joint practices. Players are more likely to cross the line when the circumstances are right. To police that, someone must be ready. The NFL should step in if the teams won't.
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