NEW YORK (Aug. 16, 2004) -- The NFL told its coaches they must be more specific than they have been in reporting injuries to players, saying the current wording of the policy "invites action that runs counter to our intent."
Under the new guidelines, approved by commissioner Paul Tagliabue and the league's competition committee, teams must now report the specific part of the body that is injured -- ankle or thigh, for example, instead of just leg as in the past; or shoulder or elbow or hand, instead of just arm.
Some coaches, including New England's Bill Belichick, have been accused of deliberately fudging injuries, claiming that to disclose what area of the body is hurting would encourage opponents to deliberately go after the sore spot. However, the competition committee, which approved the memo, includes coaches Jeff Fisher of Tennessee and Mike Holmgren of Seattle.
"The weekly personnel/injury reports have been a cornerstone of the public's confidence in the NFL for decades," Tagliabue wrote in the memo. "Clubs are expected to issue information that is credible, accurate and specific within the guidelines of our policies.
"The current wording of this policy invites action that run counter to our intent."
The league also added a mandatory Friday update to injuries and also made deadlines later -- from 1 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. And it now requires teams to make public the names of any players who miss 11-on-11 drills -- the main practice sessions.
In addition, it encouraged coaches to open at least a part of practice to the media, although it did not make that mandatory.
AP NEWS
Under the new guidelines, approved by commissioner Paul Tagliabue and the league's competition committee, teams must now report the specific part of the body that is injured -- ankle or thigh, for example, instead of just leg as in the past; or shoulder or elbow or hand, instead of just arm.
Some coaches, including New England's Bill Belichick, have been accused of deliberately fudging injuries, claiming that to disclose what area of the body is hurting would encourage opponents to deliberately go after the sore spot. However, the competition committee, which approved the memo, includes coaches Jeff Fisher of Tennessee and Mike Holmgren of Seattle.
"The weekly personnel/injury reports have been a cornerstone of the public's confidence in the NFL for decades," Tagliabue wrote in the memo. "Clubs are expected to issue information that is credible, accurate and specific within the guidelines of our policies.
"The current wording of this policy invites action that run counter to our intent."
The league also added a mandatory Friday update to injuries and also made deadlines later -- from 1 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. And it now requires teams to make public the names of any players who miss 11-on-11 drills -- the main practice sessions.
In addition, it encouraged coaches to open at least a part of practice to the media, although it did not make that mandatory.
AP NEWS
