The Cleveland Browns suffered another major injury, and this time it is to cornerback Daven Holly. One has to wonder what is up with all the major injuries year after year.
Holly suffered cartilage and ligament damage after he landed akwardly going after a jump ball, while defending wide receiver Braylon Edwards. Couple of years ago center LeCharle Bentley tore his ACL in the first training camp practice. Also, several players have developed staph infections after going through surgery.
So, what is the problem? Nobody can really put a finger on one exact thing.Â
However, you can look to an area for preventing injuries in the first place. That being the coaching staff.Â
First, football has become a year round sport. Minicamps are held right after the draft in May all the way till training camp begins. Also, players in today’s National Football League workout year round, which was not the case in the early days of the NFL.
Most importantly is somethng that should not be happening when it is, and that being contact in minicamps. Minicamps are suppose to be conducive of an environment for learning new offensive, or defensive, systems being installed by coordinators.
The injury to Holly is a clear example of it. A jump ball is when a quarterback throws a ball up in the air in a general area so that the wide receiver can outjump the cornerback for it. That also involves contact as the wide receiver and the cornerback usually wide up colliding in midair. Thus, making them land in an unusual way.Â
However, Gene Upshaw is in charge of the NFLPA, and he has never made a stink about it, and never will as long as he is in charge. Unless it is a superstar that gets hurt.
