During the period McNair was hospitalized, Durkin was receptive to players’ concerns about the coaching staff’s methods, according to sources, and voluntary workouts lessened in intensity. But when preseason training camp opened Aug. 3, the atmosphere largely resumed as it had been prior to McNair’s death, with some more attention paid to players showing fatigue or distress.

The Baltimore Sun reported Durkin sent a letter Friday to players’ families informing them of an upcoming ESPN story and asking them to send their concerns to the program.

“Our priority every day is the safety along with the academic, personal and athletic development of your sons,” Durkin wrote in the letter.

Durkin, 40, is set to enter his third season as Maryland’s head coach. He’s 10-15 at the school.