It’s no secret that the kickoff is among the most dangerous plays in football. It’s exactly why the NFL has taken steps to make touchbacks more frequent in recent years. And when it comes to training camp, the kickoffs are rarely practiced in live action.
Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur is among the few NFL coaches who have their teams participate in live special teams drills, and it’s gotten to the point where quarterback Aaron Rodgers is taking exception to the drills.
Speaking to reporters at Packers camp, Rodgers said that the live kickoff drills weren’t “smart” and that the NFLPA should look into it.
Rodgers said via ProFootballTalk:
“I don’t think doing live special teams drills is very smart. I think the [NFL]PA is going to look at that, for sure. The kickoff especially is one of the most dangerous plays in football, and that’s why they’ve tweaked different things over the years. Close to a live kickoff drill I don’t think is best use of a [joint] practice.”
While Rodgers didn’t explicitly call out his head coach, LaFleur is the one who makes the call about these live special teams drills. It’s an issue that Rodgers clearly felt compelled to speak out against publicly.
And he does have a point: It’s a needlessly reckless use of practice.
