14 padded practices a year???
 

Sorry I dont have a link. I heard it on ESPN I think. ...but because of the new collective barganing agreement, teams are only allowed to practice WITH pads 14 times in a season...WTF..When I heard that the first thought I had was WHY??? You get paid MILLIONS, with that kind of salary, Why cant they practice like MEN more than that. Im sorry, but I think its why you have less tackling, a ****t y product on the field, and worse Defense than years past.

Any thoughts? anyone else heard this?

It was one of the aggreements in the new deal, however I do not buy that it's the root of our problem.

We've fallen under the Gregg Williams philosophy of tackling; worry about the strip first. We're either arm wrestling with the ball carrier trying to get the ball loose while he keeps gaining yards or whiffing while we try and make a Sportscenter type hit...

its not the main reason that the D is looking so bad But i agree that it is one of the reason....And 14 practices thats horses#!t thats why this league is turning into such a pansy league.... this league was built on hard work and two a days in full pads grinding it out U shouldn't change the formula that made this such a great game
But now Goodell is the root of this P###fication of the NFL

I get the reason behind it, to help prevent injuries. But the flip side of it is pretty bad, as many NFL teams are not tackling well these days.

tackling is something we use to do.

thats my point, Im not saying its the Saints Downfall...just simply stating that in general, I believe its the reason for some crappy D around the NFL this year, and also I cant believe with the money these guys make, that only 14 practices a year are with pads????????CMON MAN..thats puss. I dont care how you look at it.
Someone should tell the coaches of the teams I played on that we could only wear pads once a week, it makes you a bunch of Puss ys in my O

HOW IN THE HELL CAN YOU TEACH A GROWN MAN HOW TO TACKLE!!!!!!!

Its not about teaching a grown man how to tackle...its the reps, that CANNOT be simulated during a game. The hits need to happen a few times a week..its simple, anyone who played knows this.

Greedy players getting what they wanted.

It's a valid point. Simulating tackling in pads is not the same. I think Mitch is right however, going for the strip adds 5 extra yards to every run it seems.

I think I'm going to be sick. That's crap

I don't know...

Some teams seem to be playing good defense. So I don't think that is much of an excuse.

I am not buying that its the reason.

There are plenty of teams playing good defense so its not an excuse.

Our defense is exactly what it has been really one good year they had a lot of take aways and besides that they couldn't stop the run and teams could throw on us. Our secondary though does show signs of progression I am liking that but our DE's and OLB's are horrible.

That may be the case but I'd bet we haven't had even one of those by the looks of our defense.

I hear there's this company that makes dolls that look a lot like my avatar and they are made out of silicone. The Saints could use some of those to teach these guys how to tackle, LOL ;)

Men without tackle. Good grief - whatever next? Eunuchs?

Here is one link
Packers back from bye week - NFL - SI.com
that includes:

Most of the players on D have been "playing" football since Pop Warner. If they don't know how to tackle by now...then when?

All I ever heard was hit em low and wrap em up! Arm tackling up high was prohibitted! :)