JACKSONVILLE, Fla -- It is hot enough just standing outside now, but can you imagine doing physical activity out there? It can be downright dangerous so Jaguars trainers arm themselves with a few tools. Gatorade and salty snacks help keep players safe and hydrated while they practice in the heat.
"Were at the point where talk is cheap," said Quarterback Blaine Gabbert. "We wanna go out there and show them what we can do on the field"
The Jacksonville Jaguars are more than ready hit the practice field and kick off a fresh season. But stepping out into the hot Florida sun will be no walk in the park.
"The heat is something that its part of the situation you know and we have to deal with it," Linebacker Paul Posluszny said.
Some players have already been out training, long before the official start date.
"For the past three weeks, training, I was in the heat so it was about 95, 100 every day working out so it's something I am accustomed to," said defensive tackle Terrance Knighton.
It may be a way of life for the Jaguars, but some see it as a bit of a disadvantage. Weather.com ranked the Jags fifth for having the worst weather for NFL training camp.
"Doesn't surprise me," head athletic Trainer Mike Ryan said. "I've been here long enough to know so I'm surprised we're not in the top three."
He says a huge part of his job is keeping his players hydrated. He says training them in tough conditions gives them a leg up when the season starts.
"If we deal with training camp the right way it really makes it a big advantage when we get to the regular season," said Ryan. "We get the teams that come down from the north in this kind of heat, its a nice advantage."
But getting there is key. These are tough guys and Ryan says none of them ever want to admit they've had to much. That's what he's there for.
"Yeah, you can be a tough guy but if you're having issues we know it's not just an inconvenience its a real medical problem so they know the seriousness of it," said Ryan.
And the players agree.
"You definitely do sweat a lot but you just got to keep hydrated and that's why we have a great training staff to give us Gatorades water and whatever we need," Gabbert said.
The players hit the practice field at 3:30 p.m. for physical conditioning tests. Then Friday, training camp officially begins. The players will be outside twice a day. Friday's high is 97.
Two other Florida football teams actually landed a few spots higher on the list than the Jaguars. Miami was ranked second and Tampa Bay was third.
