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CNN Live Sunday

Football Players Try to Beat the Heat

Aired August 12, 2001 - 17:18   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
STEPHEN FRAZIER, CNN ANCHOR: Just last week, the National Football League buried its first player to die from heat stroke, Minnesota Viking Korey Stringer. Now, with training camps in full swing and well into two-a-days, players are trying hard to beat the heat that led to Stringer's death. Here is CNNSI's Tom Rinaldi to show us what's being done.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TOM RINALDI, CNNSI CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This summer, this has become the suddenly new portrait of the NFL -- not the tight spiral, or the fleet back, or the short passer, but the anonymous linemen struggling through training camp. This summer, the sun has placed all struggles in a new and harsh light.

CRIS CARTER, MINNESOTA VIKINGS: I'm out there running the day, and it's hard to breathe, and in the back of my mind, I'm still saying, OK, push yourself, Cris, but what's too far? You know, you just -- that's the human side of things.

KEVIN MAWAE, NEW YORK JETS: Past two days have been a little hotter than normal. I think I've done a good job of pushing through. We've had a few guy has that have come out yesterday, mostly linemen, which I guess is somewhat normal.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We are reexamining what we do as a league and what our teams do as teams, with our team positions, with our trainers, and we certainly hope to learn from Korey Stringer's death.

RINALDI: Temperatures and heat indices soared at train camps all over the country this week. A perfect example was the Panthers' camp in Spartanburg, South Carolina. An hour into Wednesday's practice, with two players already sick from the heat, George Cipher (ph) had all players take off their pads, something he's done before.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: In past years, you know, I was coaching San Francisco, it would be 110 sometimes. In fact, I think every practice was as hot as it was out there today, at least. There were a couple that after 15 minutes of practice, I sent them all to the swimming pool. So, I think I have been sensitive to it, and I think most people are.

RINALDI: While the league explores changes, it most do so with many coaches who suffered through summers themselves when they were players or who once viewed the need for water and hydration not as necessity, but as a sign of weakness.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I wasn't drinking water. I wouldn't drink water. I'd just sit there, and just got to drink, I wouldn't drink any water, because (UNINTELLIGIBLE), and after a while, he starts getting nervous, you better drink some water. I said I ain't drinking no water. (UNINTELLIGIBLE), and that was the mentality of the thing, but it was a long time ago. It's different now.

RINALDI (on camera): On this day at the Jets camp, temperatures are predicted to reach 100 degrees in Hampstead, New York, yet players and coaches will be out here on the practice field in mid- to late- afternoon preparing for a season, pushing them to a point near punishment. For some, seemingly, it's by choice.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't think of myself as far as like fighting to stay on this team, yet I don't take that for granted. I'm out there every play going full speed, I'm asking for more.

RINALDI (voice-over): Heat is normal in summer, but this year heat in training camps has already taken extraordinary tolls.

In New York, I'm Tom Rinaldi.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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