There hasn’t been a bigger stickler for two-a-day practices and plenty of hitting in training camp than Carolina head coach John Fox.

Well, Fox has backed off this year, actually having only one practice a day for several days this hot summer in Spartanburg, S.C. It is a sign of the times in the NFL because of all the work most players do year-round to remain in top shape.

In Tampa Bay’s camp, whenever Jon Gruden has an afternoon practice for special team players only most of his veterans have the afternoon off.

More on Walsh

There will be a private service for legendary San Francisco coach Bill Walsh next Thursday at Stanford, where he was once a head coach and also athletic director during his career. The 49ers are considering a service for the general public next Friday at Candlestick Park. Every 49er helmet will carry his BW initials during this season.

One very important item I failed to mention when reacting to Walsh’s death on Monday was how integral he was to the emergence of African-American coaches in the NFL. Before the NFL initiated its own program, Walsh invited many black coaches to San Francisco to learn from him and his staff during training camps. Walsh was such a great teacher, and he helped so many of them to matriculate into the NFL or secure college positions, like Denny Green (Northwestern) and Ty Willingham (Stanford).

It is simply another example of what a great man Walsh was in the history of pro football and coaching. Among head coaches he must rank alongside Vince Lombardi when it comes to listing the greatest of all time.