[NaptownChief]

Originally Posted by Messier

I agree that it only helps the player and the team to get a player in camp on time, but if the player is really good it doesn't matter. DT missed all of camp was signed days before his first game, Gonzalez, was signed late in camp. If Bowe is good he'll be good without camp, He'll be be better this year with more camp, that is true, but it won't hurt him long term. Sims would have been bad even if he had signed early, it wouldn't have mattered

I would largely agree with that but the game can be very mental and somebody with a ton of talent to succeed but not extremely tough between the ears could be made or broken based on getting in early. The difference between being able to learn at a reasonable pace as opposed to being force fed at an extreme pace, feeling the extra pressure from your teammates and coaching staff for being late etc could be the difference in coming in and clicking or coming in and being completely rattled. Being mentally overwhelmed could lead to a case of the dropsies also being overwhelmed leads to how your teammates view you and the level of respect they develop towards you etc. A WR losing confidence in his hands can be a lot like a golfer getting the yips with his putter. Some don't recover.

That is an extreme example but stuff like that can certainly play out. A great player that is mentally tough isn't going to be set back much by a hold out but a potentially great player that isn't real mentally tough could be.