Scary Moment At Training Camp
August 5th, 2015
Henry Melton
Joe is paid the small bucks to share whatever Joe finds interesting or moving in the world of the Bucs.
And there was a tense moment worth mentioning after training camp practice yesterday.
New Buccaneer and former Pro Bowl Bears defensive tackle Henry Melton, after signing autographs and chatting with teammates, walked toward the air conditioned confines of One Buc Palace. Practice had been over about seven minutes.
On the way, as many players are, Melton was greeted by on the sweltering field by media and was asked to chat.
Joe was there and something was odd. Melton was short of breath but he hadn’t been running. Melton, with sweat pouring off him, acknowledged that his speech wasn’t right and he needed a moment to collect himself. He said he was “ok” and he was just feeling effects of the heat. “Training camp,” he said, as he wiped his head.
Melton righted himself but he really had to work at it. Joe was uneasy and didn’t want to take Melton’s time — and hoped he didn’t keel over.
It’s serious business out there for most Buccaneers. Melton actually had a solid day yesterday. Joe noted he was a tough matchup in 1-on-1 work with offensive linemen.
August 5th, 2015 at 10:45 am
It could a dehydration thing or worst or nothing.
i’m sure the Bucs have a very good medical team that will check that if he reports it
August 5th, 2015 at 10:47 am
sounds like heat stroke. : ( I’ve see games played in very hot weather where teams had cooling fans along the side lines. Basically the opposite of the heaters on the side lines for very cold games. Do they have those during training camp or is suffering from the heat considered part of ‘training’?
August 5th, 2015 at 10:59 am
Indoor facilities comes to mind…
August 5th, 2015 at 11:03 am
It’s the heat, the Bucs really need an indoor training facility. They can’t continue to put these players health at risk in this heat. Most days I don’t even go out during the day unless I really have to.
August 5th, 2015 at 11:04 am
That Florida Heat, and Humidity ain’t no joke.
August 5th, 2015 at 11:09 am
The fact that he was still sweating is a good sign. From your description, it was most likely heat exhaustion. One canteen an hour is the standard!!
August 5th, 2015 at 11:11 am
I ran cross country in high school, up north and down here. The heat down here is beotch. You drop pounds like there’s no tomorrow though. Some fans spend most of their time inside the concourse at RJS, because the heat is so unbearable in Sept.
August 5th, 2015 at 11:40 am
Those are sure signs of a heat stroke v coming on. Time to get hydrated and cool off. Need to stay hydrated.
August 5th, 2015 at 11:45 am
I agree, I used to wrestle and would often have to make weight and would routinely be fitted with a garbage bag underneath my sweatshirt hoodie, and there were plenty of times I nearly passed out, and also slurred my words! I’ve also seen teammates pass out from the heat on the football field (Leto and Jefferson), it’s a perfect storm for an injury!! I’ve been bitchin’ about an indoor (air conditioned) facility with a clear rooftop for years, every year you see these injuries and wonder if heat played any part. Practicing in near 100 degree heat with 30lbs of equipment is called suffering!
August 5th, 2015 at 11:48 am
He was suffering from Heat Exhaustion
If you reach Heat Stroke
You don’t sweat at all
and could die
August 5th, 2015 at 12:10 pm
Buc Neckid: Yes, I agree. Get some water and cool the guy down.
August 5th, 2015 at 12:15 pm
Joe do they have the day off today, or just the day off from open practice? Schedule says no practice today, but is that just for public?
Today would be a good day off for Melton.
August 5th, 2015 at 12:29 pm
No practice today.
August 5th, 2015 at 12:41 pm
heat is no joke and hydration is obviously the key but spending time indoor facilities and practicing indoors could actually be more dangerous. The players need to adjust themselves to the heat.
i am an old dude and growing up in Florida we played and practiced outdoors year round multiple times a day. I wonder how we survived. I wonder how the old bucs survived with outdoor weight rooms. At what point does prevention become wussification.
one could argue the new collective bargaining agreement actually is causing more injuries because of the coddling of players and the limitations on hitting and training.
Go watch a few clips of Junction Boys… Hell according to the mindset of some on this site Bear Bryant would get the death penalty for working those guys so hard.
i wish melton well but it’s the players and training staffs responsibility to make adjustments and running everyone in ac is not the answer.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxXD2YrRTyA
August 5th, 2015 at 12:44 pm
Non-Issue…
The old guys used to run two-a-days in the same heat and humidity with less science and technology to assist them.
Melton needs to drink more water…
Go Sucs!
August 5th, 2015 at 12:56 pm
Speaking for Pablo
“Pablo knows heat….Pablo spends his hot summer days either on roofs or landscaping Pasco Co. lawns……Pablo also heats up while table dancing at night. Heat is dangerous and Pablo drinks a lot and pays taxes. Pablo is a nice man and Pablo wants to stay healthy”
August 5th, 2015 at 1:08 pm
At the high school level, at least at Largo, the heat was nothing to take lightly. Fans and water and gatorade and cooling towels were not just available, but encouraged. If you cant catch your breath and your vision goes blury and you feel dizzy or scatter brained, those are all pre cursers to heat heat stroke. Winning a state title is nice, but you wont even get a chance to play for one if a student dies from the heat! The coaches must recognize the signs of a heat stroke and pull the student imediately. Im sure not every high scholl follows those guidelines, but they will be sorry when there is an impending law suit over their heads.
August 5th, 2015 at 1:46 pm
Corey Stringer Minnesota 2001 or 2002?? Training camp RIP
August 5th, 2015 at 1:47 pm
What we are seeing in Melton is what we want to see in the visiting team
Nobody get hurt
just cramps and time off the field re-hydrating and/or getting I.V.’s
August 5th, 2015 at 3:40 pm
I have never bought into practicing in the heat of the day. It’s not good for the players. We DO NOT gain an advantage over our opponents. It just wears our players down. Geez…practice at night.
August 5th, 2015 at 4:43 pm
I prefer the rain too. If there were no AC, Florida would have 10 million less people at least. That would be more like paradise, less crowding, more critters around and open spaces, natural like. Like the old cliche says, if you can’t stand the heat get out of the kitchen. I agree playing football out in the direct summertime sun is foolish. Pray for the return of daily rain showers.
August 5th, 2015 at 8:18 pm
Heat stroke. I hope he was smart enough to talk to team coaches or staff about it. In this Florida heat and humidity, it’s important he gets plenty of electrolytes and fluids. Especially when he isn’t used to the environment.
Also, staying hydrated helps prevent injuries, and if he is struggling then injury is a big risk.
I’ve been saying it all off season…defensive injuries are going to be a huge problem this year. These guys that were brought in before the draft ALL have injury histories…bad ones.
Most have not completed seasons in years.
The staff needs to caution the players about anything like shortness of breath, dizziness and that sort of thing. Last thing we need is them not getting thru camp even.
We see this every year. New players come in and are completely surprised by how bad the heat is.
We have more humidity than ANY other state in the continental US (water one 3 sides, swamps…you named it). He are entering the 2 months where 95-100 is the norm. Feeling like 120.
On the field it feels even worse.
August 5th, 2015 at 10:53 pm
Why don’t they practice at 5am then? Beat the heat! Get up early, use the afternoon for AC film study and x’s and o’s. Roofers, other trades, you can’t let yourself endure the sun… The suns gonna get u