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Hall of Fame
One man's opinion?........I don't think so.
Charles Tillman: Only football gets players into football shape
For all the talk about how different NFL players are taking different approaches to staying in shape during the lockout, Bears cornerback Charles Tillman says theres simply no substitute for minicamps, organized team activities and training camp.
Tillman doesnt dismiss the importance of players working out on their own, and he says hes been working hard over the last few months. But Tillman says theres a difference between being in shape and being in football shape.
I dont care who you are, I think the only way to get in football shape is to do football things with the team, Tillman said, per Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune. I can run like Im Forrest Gump from one coast to the next, but if I dont do drills that pertain to football, Im not going to be in football shape. The first day back, even guys who have been working out, it will be a little tough for them just because of the pace we go at. Its so much faster.
Tillman said hes doing his best to stay in football shape by doing football-specific drills at a San Diego training facility where several other NFL players are working out as well. But he said even that isnt quite the same as being with a full roster of teammates and a full staff of coaches at organized team activities.
So players wont really be in football shape until they can get back to their football teams. And if the lockout lasts long enough that training camps are scrapped, we may see what regular-season games look like with players who arent in football shape.