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A22 sports
Friday 28 July 2017

In this May 12, 2017, file photo, Washington Wizards guard John
Wall celebrates as he stands on the scorer’s table after Game 6
against the Boston Celtics in an NBA basketball second-round
playoff series in Washington.
Associated Press

Wizards announce In this Dec. 27, 2016, file photo, Florida State running back Dalvin Cook (4) runs as head coach

contract extension Jimbo Fisher looks on during NCAA college football practice in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Associated Press
NCAA rule ending two-a-days

for John Wall forcing teams to adjust

WASHINGTON (AP) — John Washington’s highest-paid Continued from Page 17
Wall signed his $170 million, player, but that honor now “I don’t think you’re going programs were still holding big part of football,” Kan-
four-year contract exten- belongs to Wall, the No. 1 to have the number of in- multiple contact workouts sas State offensive lineman
sion that owner Ted Leonsis pick in the 2010 draft out of juries that you had, espe- on certain days before the Dalton Risner said. “That
said provides the Washing- Kentucky who set career cially the soft tissue injuries NCAA ruling, but he said it builds you for the season. I
ton Wizards with long-term highs with 23.1 points, 10.7 — hamstring pulls, quad was more common in the wish that could go back to
stability. assists and 2.0 steals last pulls, groin pulls,” Louisiana Division II ranks than among what we used to do.”
Team President Ernie season. Wall has averaged Tech coach Skip Holtz said. FBS schools. Coaches say While two-a-days already
Grunfeld announced the 18.8 points over seven NBA Teams still can hold two that because players are were going out of fashion,
completion of the deal seasons. practices on a given day, on campus working out all this new rule is still forcing
Wednesday. “Returning to the only team but one of those prac- year, there’s no need to teams to adapt in other
Wall said in a video post- I’ve known in my profes- tices can only be a “walk- work them quite as hard respects. Although the
ed on Twitter that he had sional career was an easy through” that includes no once preseason prac- NCAA is preventing mul-
agreed to the extension decision for me,” Wall said. contact, helmets, pads tices begin. “Back in the tiple full-scale workouts on
that begins in 2019-20 and “I understand my role as or conditioning activities. day, we used two-a-days the same day, teams are
includes a player option for the leader of this franchise Three hours of recovery are to get in shape,” Florida still permitted to hold 29 to-
2023-24. and I will continue to work required between a prac- State coach Jimbo Fisher tal preseason practice ses-
Wall, a four-time Eastern hard to improve my game tice and a walkthrough, said. “You weren’t there all sions, the same as before.
Conference All-Star, is the and make our team better. though meetings can be summer. You didn’t come That creates a dilemma
third player this summer to ... I’m excited to bring them held during that period. until the second half. They for coaches trying to hold
get a designated player and this city continued suc- “It just makes all the sense didn’t train from January that many practices with-
“supermax” extension, join- cess and a team they can in the world,” Michigan until June like they do now.” out the benefit of two-a-
ing Houston’s James Hard- be proud of.” coach Jim Harbaugh said. Marshall athletic director days. Chris Ash of Rutgers
en and Golden State’s Ste- The Wizards have made Most programs were trend- Mike Hamrick, a member of is concerned increasing
phen Curry. the playoffs three of the ing away from two-a-day the Division I football over- the length of training camp
“John is an exceptional last four years. Wall aver- practices long before this sight committee, agrees conflicts with new NCAA
talent and a cornerstone aged 27.2 points a game as decision. that times have changed. rules about time demands
for our team,” Leonsis said. Washington got to Game More than three-quarters As an example, he cites placed on athletes and
“It’s John’s unique blend 7 of the second round this of the 89 Football Bowl the grueling workouts Paul could end up increasing
of skill and leadership that spring before losing to Bos- Subdivision teams that re- “Bear” Bryant held at Tex- the overall amount of con-
makes us a championship- ton. sponded to an Associated as A&M during the 1950s, tact practices.
caliber team.” “He has constantly worked Press survey on the subject which were chronicled in “We’ve got to manage
The Wizards now have to improve and expand his said they conducted mul- the book and ESPN movie five weeks of training camp
their big three locked up. game and has developed tiple practices on certain “Junction Boys.” very carefully,” Ash said.
Earlier this offseason they into an all-NBA player who days last year. But in the “There ain’t no ‘Junction Division I schools received a
matched a $106.5 million, has elevated our fran- overwhelming majority of Boys’ anymore because blanket waiver for this sea-
four-year offer sheet for- chise,” Grunfeld said. “We cases, teams made sure the players are in tip-top son allowing them to start
ward Otto Porter Jr. signed are thrilled that he will con- one of those workouts had shape when we start foot- practice one week ear-
with the Brooklyn Nets and tinue to lead us through the limited or no contact. ball practice,” Hamrick lier than usual. Nearly two-
last summer signed guard prime years of his career Those teams won’t have said. thirds of the FBS programs
Bradley Beal to a $128 mil- and look forward to watch- to change their approach Even so, some players say that responded to the AP
lion, five-year contract that ing as he solidifies his place too much. they’ll miss the grind. survey are starting practice
goes through 2020-21. among the greatest play- Hainline said he didn’t “Going through a two-a- in July rather than in Au-
Porter was temporarily ers in our team’s history.”q know exactly how many day is tough, and that’s a gust, as is customary.q