(Editor's Note: Time to check the mail! The DallasCowboys.com staff writers answer your questions here in 'Mailbag' presented by Miller Lite.)
I understand this isn't the 1990s anymore, but I'm concerned that a lot of the early season injuries we see come from the lack of physicality in training camp. The only way to get in hitting shape is to hit. Safety is one thing, but don't we achieve the exact opposite by not having the players ready to be hit in Week 1? – Justin Vandiver/Lumberton, TX
Mickey: Couldn't agree with you more. Much of practice these days is taking premeditated steps, not playing real football. If there was more physical contact in practice bodies would become more acclimated to the type of movements actually made in games. Now understand why such a conservative approach to practice has developed. With the advent of a salary cap teams can't take the chance of players getting injured for no tangible reason, meaning winning and losing. Plus, if a player spend time on injured reserve or suffers a season ending injury, those salaries count against the cap and then teams must spend more cap money replacing that player on the 53-man roster. It has become vicious cycle, and another reason why there isn't as much contact here in training camp than used to be. Guarding against injury is the big reason why teams have been restricted from having two-a-day contact sessions. All doesn't contribute to better football.
Tommy: You make a good point, Justin. At the same time, though, you have an equally high chance to get injured by hitting more in training camp. That's where the unsolvable problem lies, unfortunately. I think the NFL and the NFLPA have done as well as they can to find a middle ground, but it's going to be hard to get there. Would I like things to be more physical? Yes, but I also understand the hesitancy to move in that direction given what it could mean from an injury standpoint, especially for players heading into contract years or those that have struggled with injuries in the past.

Mailbag
Here's your chance to ask a question for the staff writers. Submit your entry now!