Raidersblog.com

More than a few people have commented on player-organized workouts with, "just wait until a player blows out a knee." Are player-organized workouts worth the risk of potential injury? At best the workouts are half-speed scrimmages with no contact. The players mostly go through position drills and weightlifting. There is no film review or coaching critique. The players could easily be practicing bad habits. The problem with this criticism is that the players are expected to do position drills and weightlifting in the offseason to make sure they are in shape for the season. Many even do it at athletic facilities much like the one which hosted the Raiders players recent workouts. Absent coach-organized outlets the players from just about every team are organizing their own activities. Have we heard about even one injury? Has it added much injury risk that didn't already exist since most of the activies they would or should be doing on their own anyway? The answer is no. At h...

Jason Campbell was interviewed on Sirius NFL radio this morning and among the things discussed was player organized workouts. Campbell, who in recent days posted numerous Twitter photos of his workouts with Darrius Heyward-Bey and Louis Murphy, told Sirius he is organizing player workouts at an undisclosed location with the help of Richard Seymour. Player organized workouts aren't the same as coach organized workouts, but they do serve a purpose. Campbell and Seymour are exhibiting great leadership and bringing the team together will ensure players are accountable to each other. In a way, this is a test of the Raiders leadership structure. It is up to the Raiders players to respond and show up when called upon. The undisclosed location and time certainly will make it hard to judge and it gives Campbell an easy out if the team doesn't respond to his call.