With the lockout officially cutting into offseason workouts as of Monday, the weird and off-putting nature of the NFL’s first work stoppage since 1987 is only beginning to be seen.
Players are left to their own devices as far as workouts are concerned while coaches, like the Cowboys’ Jason Garrett--prohibited from any contact with their team--are left to hope that their players are prepared when and if the 2011 season arrives.
"I think it’s frustrating for everyone involved in the league that it’s not business as usual right now," Garrett said, per ESPN Dallas. "But that’s the way it is and we have to understand what it is and we have to deal with it and still be able to function as well as we can given the circumstances."
Of course, players can work out independent of the team. But defensive players cannot get hands-on instruction from new defensive coordinator Rob Ryan on the brand of the 3-4 defense that he brings with him, and this could stand as a potential detriment for the Cowboys.
"That's one of the issues with all the teams who have new coaches, that you’re not going to have that traditional offseason," Garrett said. "And hopefully it gets resolved quickly and you can get to that. But we’ll see."
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