Jags, Lions are the latest teams hit by the league for rule violations. Matt Bowen
The Baltimore Ravens and Oakland Raiders started the discussion of OTAs earlier this month when they were docked practice time by the league and now we can add two more to the list in the Jacksonville Jaguars and Detroit Lions, who will also miss some time on the field due to rule violations.
Before we get into speculation and try to spin this as a negative for these four teams, let’s be realistic and actually discuss what we are talking about — because it could happen in all 32 pro cities if the players wanted it that way.
I have discussed a typical day in the NFL when the players report to OTAs. The drills, the meetings, the conditioning sessions, etc. All part of the job for NFL players, even if they are labeled as “voluntary.” The basic offense and defense are installed and you go through practice like you would in training camp — in a shortened, less physical setting.
However, that is where the problems arise.
I was part of a team who suffered the same penalties back in the 2004 season — Joe Gibbs’ first year back in Washington after he came out of retirement. We lost a week of OTAs because it was too physical and we went over the time allowed to be on the field. One-on-one’s, team, 7-on-7. It didn’t matter, because we had a new coach and we went after each other a little bit. And, the coaching staff wanted it to be competitive.
The issue here is simple: you put a helmet on and it becomes violent. Forget shorts and jerseys, because most players don’t wear anything but shoulder pads on game days. That helmet leads to collisions and guys going that extra step and playing through the whistle. No, it isn’t the same hitting that we will see across the league during training camp, but there is still contact.
And no coach in the league is going to stop his players from being competitive — even in the spring and early summer. They want that and they view it as practice, not an Organized Team Activity. Call it getting caught up in the atmosphere if you want, but a typical OTA can get pretty physical at times. It happens in this league—especially when players get tired on the field. Emotions can run high.
But, as players, we knew we were involved in certain aspects of practice and in the meeting room that went against the CBA. Our NFLPA team reps heard our complaints, it went to the league office and we were given a week of vacation.
You can call it “blowing the whistle,” but that is a little too dramatic. You belong to a union in the NFL as a player, and those union rights have to be executed at times. The coaches don’t like it, but veteran players know when they are pushing that envelope over the edge. It is a fine line for something that is considered a voluntary exercise for pro players. Yes, there are benefits to them — and they should be attended — but there has to be a line drawn from time to time.
The point here is very cut and dry: it happens everywhere — until the players choose to speak up. Then we have a story so to speak and speculation can be thrown down on the page.
However, in reality, it isn’t that big of a deal and it won’t put a team back in terms of development for the regular season. Losing time on the field isn’t ideal, but let’s not put too much stock into losing a practice or two. It happens.
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The Commish will get rid of OTAs once the league goes to an 18-game season and he can just wear out the players in Weeks 17 and 18 instead.
Live Free or Die: He started it off saying it was the Raiders. You can't even be bothered to skim the first paragraph? Why do you even bother coming to this site?
Wait. The organization gets penalized because players decide to be more physical than their own contract allows? Shouldn't the players be the ones to get penalized?
Well,
it appears to me that both the players and coaches are guilty. Everybody has to evaluate these things wisely
I think it has more to do with the players 'not being on the same page' as the Coaches, and I wonder if that will play out in the upcoming season....why don't you keep track and follow up after the Season is complete?
This is all connected to the amount of money now involved in the league. When players were paid a roughly middle-class living, they took January to June off--really off. The only exercise most of them did was bend their elbows. When the money got big, the demands got big, because more was at stake. As far as "voluntary," it's voluntary if your name is Tom Brady, Peyton Manning or Jason Witten. The big stars aren't going to be cut for missing an OTA. But if you're on the bubble, either because you're new, your talent is marginal, or your salary is higher than your present ability warrants, failure to show will mean your release. You might not go in the first or even the second round of cuts, but if it was close between you and someone who was at the OTA, you're the one whose playbook will be returned to the team before opening day.
Maybe helmets should be banned in all off season activities until training camps.
While it really isn't that big of a deal, it's no coincidence that we're seeing more teams than normal get hit with these violations. The players feel like the organizations are using every loophole caused by the uncapped year and lack of a new cba to take advantage of them. In turn, some have decided that they'd retaliate by sticking to the letter of the law when it comes to issues that favor them. Basically, we either need to believe that for some reason so many coaches decided to push things further than they normally would have this year, when there's already a lot of tension between the players and the league, or that some of he players this year are more sensitive towards making sure that all of the rights they have are protected. I know which one I believe. I can't blame either side here. Coaches need to get their teams ready, and players need to preserve their health even more this year given the uncertain future.
Why would it have to be a player that turned the TEAM in at all?
I don't think that it was a player. The players have all Seemed very happy to be working towards a Common Goal.
I think that it was more like a spy from another TEAM City or State.
It's one of those things that another TEAM could pin on the players of an organization And cause a lot of grief To one of thier opponants. Like The LIONS.
It could be a number of People Including Reporters.
There are tons of Reporters That are Fans of other TEAMS that would or could be the culprates.
I know for a Fact of at least three reporter's right off the top of my head that I could see them Making a call to the League and letting them in on some info.
And the Same could be true of the other three TEAMS as well.
Don't even try to tell me that this isn't going on, on other TEAMS.
And the League should check out what the other TEAMS are up to as well.
I REALLY don't think it was a player,AT least not a player for the LIONS!
It is a Good Tactic for trying to pull a team apart. I have allready seen this one Afew times.
And There is at Least one TEAM and city that would Surely like to see the LIONS stay right where they are at.
Hopefully the Lions won't let this Tactic work on them And Hopefully the Lions can Keep it in mind that someone is out to split them up. And the LIONS don't fall for it.
See what our children are Learning from all these grown up NFL people!
Give me A break, again! Just another Dirty Tactic being played so that they can stay at the top Or at least in the running.
GO LIONS!
Sorry about that last Rant. However, I am a LIONS fan and I don't trust hardly anyone or anything when it comes to Pro Football.
I really Have a hard time believing that the whole League isn't dirty. And so I don't understand why I even Read anything or watch the games or any of it?
Well, I take that back, I love the game of Football Because I played it in my youth as many of us and mostly American's did while growing up in this great Nation.
Any way's , I have to agree with Palver who commented earlier. It seam's to me that the TEAM is being Penalized for something that should clearly be the fault of the Players Themselves.
You mean to tell me that because Players Cannot use Enough Self control and choose to do the right thing by his fellow brother in the NFL That the TEAM should be penalized?
That is ALL wrong!
It is Clearly the Job of the Union To Keep an eye out for their fellow members And make sure that these Men follow their own rules.
And it is also the Union who should be fining the players that decide to break the rules that the union have put in place.
The coach's are not Making these men do anything that these men aren't choosing to do on their own.
It is NOT the coach's fault that these Men cannot control there own Bodies and Minds.
All that these men have to do is run threw the plays and learn them so that they know the plays when it comes time for training camp and the Regular Season.
Is that about it?
I really believe that the union rep that each TEAM, should have, should be the one that has a talk with his fellow Union brother. And at that time a warning should be given.
And when ever it happens again with this same union brother then it is up to his rep to contact the upper Men of said union. And then a penalty should be given out to this or these union members.
My Lord, do you try to blame someone else for what you are responsible for?
What is that teaching our children?
If the players can't stop themselves for getting ticked off and hurting their fellow Player then they should get fined! Period! WOW! Who set these rules up?
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Jun 18, 2010
07:50 AM
Funny how this story has barely been mentioned in the press. What if it was the Pat or the Raiders? .... Lead story on ESPN maybe?