The chance to sneak away on a family vacation out of the country or visit family and friends around the U.S. From upgrading the roster through free agency and the NFL Draft to conducting self-studies on tactics, schemes and personnel trends, the four weeks from mid-June to mid-July give football people a chance to catch their breath after a whirlwind ride.Īs a former player and scout, I remember how much I cherished the sabbatical between the end of the offseason and training camp. After grinding through an intensive offseason program that featured OTAs (organized team activities), minicamp practices and strength and conditioning sessions, players are given about six weeks to rest, relax and recharge for the NFL marathon that could extend into the middle of February, for those fortunate enough to be members of a title contender.įor coaches, scouts and executives, the final horn at mandatory minicamp ends an 11-month grind that featured a full NFL regular season and a cluttered offseason that tested their ability to plan, evaluate and develop various personnel within the building. After mandatory minicamps ended this week, the official NFL vacation season has started for players, coaches and executives.

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