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METAIRIE, La. — Jed Collins has a theory for why he and his teammates spent more time conditioning and weightlifting during training camp than in the past.

Actually, it’s two theories.

The first is that Saints coach Sean Payton spent his year off watching the NFL and realizing just how many physical and well-conditioned teams are coming out on top right now in the league.

“I think that was one of his focuses through camp, was to be mentally strong enough and physically in good enough condition to where in the fourth quarter, we’re still the dominant team,” said Collins, one of New Orleans’ most physical players the past three seasons.

His other theory, however, may be just as close to correct as the first.
“I think he found a new physicality in himself,” Collins said. “He personally took a different approach to physical fitness. I think that kind of trickled down to us.”

Indeed, Payton came back from his season-long suspension in as good a shape as he has been in since becoming New Orleans’ head coach.
He spent the down time going through CrossFit workouts, an exercise regimen that puts an emphasis on both conditioning and weightlifting.

He brought that back to New Orleans when he was reinstated by the league. Part of the Saints’ conditioning test before training camp included CrossFit elements, in fact.

Read more: Payton's return brings changes to Saints in-season conditioning, lifting program | wwltv.com New Orleans

Related article: Sean Payton's 'back to basics' approach continues into New Orleans Saints' regular season workouts | NOLA.com

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“I think that was one of his focuses through camp, was to be mentally strong enough and physically in good enough condition to where in the fourth quarter, we’re still the dominant team,” said Collins, one of New Orleans’ most physical players the past three seasons.

Love Jed !

homerj07

I have heard both good & bad about cross fit. Does help some people but it has screwed up a few as well.

Rugby Saint II

As long as they are fit I don't care how they got there.

SaintsBro

Goodell thought he could send Payton to the Twilight Zone on the planet Krypton for a year and somehow make him go away. Payton watched coach's film on every game, by every team, every week, with eagle eyes, and this is one of the things he came up with. Payton and Jed are absolutely right. You have to show up prepared to play 5 quarters, against any team, any time, every week. The further in the season you go, if you are dominant physically, the better the results you can expect. Roger Goodell can go suck on an egg.

alexonfyre

Well, now we know how we got all those injuries. Sean Payton has been forcing them to do that dumbass workout routine.

QBREES9

I've watched Cross Fit. Not for me.

FinSaint

I've done some Cross Fit myself and it's OK, but I'm more drawn to even more functional training as it best prepares one's body for the challenges of the everyday life.

Crusader

I'm no big fan of cross fit the regular verison you see on a local gym´since it carries quite an injury risk and is generally focused more on completing something fast wit disregard to technique. Parts of it is good thou and could be useful.

SmashMouth

Good in theory...the stronger we are in the fourth, the better we can close out games.