As long as it's good weather, those are the dates.
If the weather is inclement, there's a good chance practice will be inside, and the public will be excluded. So, if you're planning to go, check the advanced forecast...
but the CBA agreement and CTE have changed the landscape. Having OTA's and mini camp have changed things as well, and not for the better, IMO.
I'd rather players get time off from the end of the season until early July. Ideally, I would have loved to see a six week camp, with rookies/UFA's and the lower end of the roster coming in early, and the vets coming in the last four weeks. This would allow more reps for new players (I wouldn't have the starters in the first exhibition game, either, to increase reps).
That's the problem with Camp now, no two a days, no chances to really teach and get reps for the guys who need them. You could even split the squads, with vets going two hours in the morning, and the rookies/UFA's going in the afternoon.
CBA won't allow this, sadly. It would make for better play, though, with more chances to teach individual players, and more reps for everyone.
Four of the best days ever spent each summer was being at camp, meeting up with BBI'ers, watching the practices, going back to the hotel and drink. Miss those days very much, and the guys as well.
calls it basketball on grass. The game - and thus, the fan experience - got jobbed by the last CBA. Voluntary OTA's. 13 total training camp practices - several of them jog-thrus and most not in full pads. Camp now has little contact. Rap music blaring the entire time. Even the full pads practices are glorified jog-thrus. Injuries are avoided at all costs. Owners, GM's and coaches freely admit they can't use the same schemes due to lack of practice time. It all factors in to quality of play and declined ratings.
For the Albany guys - remember Country Club Fassel's camp? So much more hitting. Live contact, scrimmages, even the drills were contact-oriented. Rich Seubert and Keith Hamilton fist-fighting twice a day. Those were fun practices to watch. I'm not condoning going back to those days either - guys like Marty Schottenheimer used to run his team into the ground.
If the weather is inclement, there's a good chance practice will be inside, and the public will be excluded. So, if you're planning to go, check the advanced forecast...
You used to be able to see that many practices in the matter of a week if you went to Albany.
I get why they moved, but man does it suck for the fans what training camp used to be vs what it is now.
I know I speak for many here when i say training camp in albany was a great time every single year. I'd go up for 4 days or so every year
I wouldn't walk across the street to see it at MetLife
I'd rather players get time off from the end of the season until early July. Ideally, I would have loved to see a six week camp, with rookies/UFA's and the lower end of the roster coming in early, and the vets coming in the last four weeks. This would allow more reps for new players (I wouldn't have the starters in the first exhibition game, either, to increase reps).
That's the problem with Camp now, no two a days, no chances to really teach and get reps for the guys who need them. You could even split the squads, with vets going two hours in the morning, and the rookies/UFA's going in the afternoon.
CBA won't allow this, sadly. It would make for better play, though, with more chances to teach individual players, and more reps for everyone.
For the Albany guys - remember Country Club Fassel's camp? So much more hitting. Live contact, scrimmages, even the drills were contact-oriented. Rich Seubert and Keith Hamilton fist-fighting twice a day. Those were fun practices to watch. I'm not condoning going back to those days either - guys like Marty Schottenheimer used to run his team into the ground.