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Former first-round pick critical of John Harbaugh's practice regimen
TL;DR
Former NFL player Zay Flowers criticized John Harbaugh's intense practice regimen, claiming it contributed to injuries during his time with the Ravens. As Harbaugh prepares for his first training camp with the Giants, the focus is on how his practices will change.
Key points
- Zay Flowers criticized John Harbaugh's practice intensity.
- Harbaugh's practices included full pads late in the season.
- Injuries were attributed to the heavy practice load.
Mentioned in this story
Zay FlowersJohn HarbaughMichael StrahanJarvis LandryLeonard Fournette
New York GiantsBaltimore Ravens
Former first-round pick critical of John Harbaugh's practice regimen originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
It's probably a good thing Michael Strahan's playing career in the NFL is long over.
John Harbaugh, now the head coach of the New York Giants, will soon take on his first training camp in his new role. It will be interesting to see what those practices look like.
Known for always having one of the toughest teams in the league, Harbaugh had his players practicing too hard in Baltimore. At least, that's the way that Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers describes it. During an appearance on the "4th & Short" podcast hosted by former players Jarvis Landry and Leonard Fournette, Flowers had this to say:
"Bro we full pads all the time. However many practices in pads you can get, every single one. We're doing one-on-ones in Week 17. Week 17, we're doing one-on-ones, everybody out there, we're tired, we're still going. That's why we had a lot of injuries because of how we practiced, how we went. The load was heavy."
If you listen to his tone, it doesn't sound like Flowers is trying to be critical of his former head coach. But he also throws in how new head coach, Jesse Minter, intends to handle things.
Q&A
What did Zay Flowers say about John Harbaugh's practice methods?
Zay Flowers criticized Harbaugh's practices for being too intense, stating they often practiced in full pads even late in the season, which he believes led to numerous injuries.
How did John Harbaugh's coaching style affect player injuries?
Harbaugh's rigorous practice schedule, including heavy workloads and full-pad practices, was linked by Flowers to a higher rate of injuries among players.
What changes can be expected in John Harbaugh's practices with the New York Giants?
As Harbaugh takes on his new role with the Giants, it remains to be seen how he will adjust his practice regimen to potentially reduce injury risks.
