Bill Polian Archives

How and Why the NFL Practice Squad Works

September 2, 2022 6 min read

How and Why the NFL Practice Squad Works

Editor’s note: During the 2023 offseason, the NFL brought back a rule allowing teams to dress an emergency quarterback if he’s a member of the 53-man roster and not called up from the practice squad. As you read this, NFL clubs are in the process of finalizing their practice squads. Here’s an inside look at […]

Analysis

What Can NFL Teams Do to Help Players Avoid Injury?

The 33rd Team

August 19, 2022 min Watch

The 33rd Team asked some of its contributors the best way for NFL players to avoid injury during training camp, preseason and the regular season. Among the responses in the video above: Wade Phillips believes strongly in holding out players in the preseason, especially for those who have strong practice habits. Marvin Lewis shares a […]

Training Camp

Training Camp Confidential: Manning Mischief Terrorizes Colts Camp

Bill Polian Hall of Fame Team Executive

August 16, 20223 min Watch

Bill Polian shares a legendary training camp story about Peyton Manning and how he pranked multiple people one year during the Colts’ camp. Polian provides context regarding the terrain of their host site Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, and how they used golf carts to get around. During the third week of camp, Polian realized his […]

Bill PolianHall of Fame Team Executive

August 15, 2022 4 min read

Shorter Preseason Enhances Value of NFL Joint Practices

The growth of joint practices in NFL training camps resulted from the shrinking of the preseason. Over time, we figured out the correct rhythm, the correct number of reps and the correct number of practices to get a team ready in a four-game preseason. Then, the league took one game away and added it to […]

Bill PolianHall of Fame Team Executive

August 12, 2022 3 min read

Preseason Is the Stuff of Nightmares for General Managers

As a general manager in the NFL, you’re scared to death this time of year. You go into every preseason game holding your breath about the possibility of injury, because these games don’t count in the standings. It literally keeps you up at night. Football’s a contact game…a collision game. There are going to be […]

The 33rd Team

August 10, 2022 2 min read

Former QB and NFL Executives Are Impressed With Ryan, Colts

The Indianapolis Colts have their new quarterback for the foreseeable future in Matt Ryan, and former executives and players at The 33rd Team have noticed plenty of reasons for the team to be optimistic that they “got this one right”. The Team Needed A Change The Colts struggled last season with the inconsistency of Carson […]

Video

Roundtable: How to Build a Super Bowl Contender

The 33rd Team

August 3, 202210 min Watch

Building a Super Bowl contender is one of the more difficult things to do in sports. It takes skill, hard work and some luck. The one thing our panel agreed upon is organizational alignment is the most necessary ingredient for success. Our panel consisting of former NFL Executives including Joe Banner, Mike Tannenbaum, Tom Lewand […]

The 33rd Team

June 19, 2022 3 min read

How Do NFL Players Earn an ‘F’ Injury Grade from Scouts?

The best ability is availability. It is a phrase that everyone has heard at some point in their life, but it applies particularly well to the NFL where it does not matter how good a player is if they are not on the field due to injury. In our most recent Wednesday Huddle, The 33rd […]

Jeff Saturday

April 21, 2022 4 min read

As a key negotiator in the 2011 NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement, health, safety, and career longevity was our main priority. Domonique Foxworth, Kevin Mawae, Mike Vrabel, Drew Brees, and I listened to the concerns of all of the league’s players at the time and fielded hundreds of calls per day while we were locked out […]

Cyril Penn

March 21, 2022 3 min read

How Do NFL General Managers Plan For the Offseason?

Last week on The 33rd Team Huddle, three former General Managers and two former team Presidents came together to discuss how they plan for the offseason. Here, we share some highlights of the discussion to give a look behind the curtain at the Front Office experience. Rick Spielman: Former Minnesota Vikings and Miami Dolphins GM […]

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