Tag: OTA

Jan 1, 2023; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick on the field for warm ups before the start of the game against the Miami Dolphins at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

Bill Belichick takes responsibility for Patriots’ OTA violation

Posted on | by Field Level Media

New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick on Wednesday took responsibility for the team being stripped of two organized team activity sessions following a scheduling violation involving special teams.

“It’s good to get back on the field today. We had a situation with some scheduling in Phase 2, but we got that worked out,” Belichick said. “… It’s in the past. Moved on. Looking forward to getting out on the field today.”

In addition to the Patriots losing two OTA sessions, Belichick was fined $50,000 for the violation of offseason rules.

Per reports, Joe Judge held special teams meetings that kept players at team facilities for longer than the maximum four hours.

Belichick, who ultimately took responsibility for the team, did not elaborate on Judge’s job title.

“He’ll do whatever I ask him to do,” Belichick said. “It might change from time to time, he’ll be involved in a lot of things.”

–Field Level Media

May 23, 2022; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots wide receiver Tyquan Thornton (51) does a drill at the team's OTA at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Patriots lose 2 OTAs due to rules violation

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The New England Patriots have lost two days of organized team activities for a violation of offseason rules, ESPN reported Wednesday night.

The Patriots announced earlier Wednesday that Thursday’s OTA session — the first to be attended by media this offseason — has been canceled. The team declined to comment on the reason for the cancellation.

New England will lose another OTA next week, per the report.

Teams are allowed a total of 10 OTAs, where no live contact is permitted among other rules of Article 21 of the collective bargaining agreement.

Other teams have been penalized for offseason rules violations, including the Seattle Seahawks (2016), Baltimore Ravens (2018), Jacksonville Jaguars (2021), San Francisco 49ers (2021) and Dallas Cowboys (2021, 2022).

–Field Level Media

May 7, 2022; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray in attendance during UFC 274 at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

QB Kyler Murray joins Cardinals for OTAs

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray rejoined teammates in Arizona for organized team activities and was on the field in Tempe on Wednesday.

Murray expects to stick around as the next phase of the offseason program picks up, including mandatory three-day minicamp starting June 14.

The Cardinals exercised the fifth year on Murray’s contract last month, guaranteeing a salary of $29.7 million in 2023, but Murray is angling for a long-term deal in line with the top of the market.

Other third-year quarterbacks, most recently Josh Allen (Buffalo Bills) and Patrick Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs), were rewarded with lucrative long-term deals.

The offseason between Murray and Arizona has included the quarterback scrubbing all references to the team from his social media at one point, and his agent later releasing a statement of more than 1,000 words saying Murray wanted a new contract.

Murray has never officially asked for a trade, which is a good sign for the team since general manager Steve Keim said last month that there’s “zero chance” of that happening.

In 2021, Murray passed for 3,787 yards and 24 touchdowns against 10 interceptions, and he also rushed for 423 yards and five scores last season.

Murray made his playoff debut against the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC wild-card round and his performance did not impress. He completed 19 of 34 passes for only 137 yards and two interceptions in a 34-11 loss.

In three seasons, Murray has a 22-23-1 record as a starter. He has passed for 11,480 yards, 70 touchdowns and 34 interceptions, while rushing for 1,786 yards and 20 scores in 46 starts.

The Cardinals selected Murray No. 1 overall in 2019 NFL Draft out of Oklahoma months after he was named the 2018 Heisman Trophy winner.

–Field Level Media

Oct 11, 2020; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) throws a pass before the game against the New York Giants at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Cowboys QB Dak Prescott progressing, participates in OTAs

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is encouraged after participating in organized team activities in back-to-back days as he continues to progress from last season’s devastating ankle injury.

Prescott is progressing in a manner that will make him a full go when training camp begins in July. And he was thrilled to be on the field with his teammates in Frisco, Texas.

“It felt great,” Prescott told reporters after Tuesday’s session. “After long months of recovery and just rehab, the main goal is to just getting back out there with my teammates, getting back on the field, running a huddle, building that camaraderie on the field.

“It’s just exciting yesterday and carrying over today, but so much we can build with the team and me personally. I’m just excited to know the game is back and I’m able to be a part of it.”

Prescott suffered a compound fracture and dislocation of his right ankle in a game against the New York Giants on Oct. 11.

Prescott didn’t participate in 11-on-11 drills or the end-of-practice walkthrough on Tuesday. The Cowboys are off Wednesday and will be on the field Thursday, but head coach Mike McCarthy indicated that the Cowboys would keep Prescott out of team drills until training camp.

Dallas will again hold three OTAs next week prior to June 8-10 minicamp.

Prescott said not being part of 11-on-11 drills isn’t an indication of anything other than the Cowboys being cautious.

“I wouldn’t say I’m necessarily limited,” Prescott said. “I think we’re just being cautious and being smart in the fact of I’m not doing things when there’s a pass rush or guys potentially falling at the legs or something of that nature. But as far as saying I can’t do drills or I can’t do something, I’m pretty much full go.”

McCarthy proclaimed that Prescott is “ahead of schedule” and said the team is guarding against Prescott creating any bad habits to compensate for the ankle injury.

“If you have been out on the field the past couple of months, you would have seen the work and the rehab was very detailed and very similar to the same footwork drills we would do in quarterback school,” McCarthy said. “He’s been really at this for quite some time now.”

Prescott signed a four-year, $160 million contract with $126 million guaranteed in March. The big deal came despite the major injury that interrupted what was lining up as a big statistical season. Prescott was leading the NFL with 1,856 passing yards and was on pace for nearly 6,000 yards when he sustained the injury. He passed for nine touchdowns and was intercepted four times.

In 69 starts over five seasons in Dallas, Prescott has a 42-27 record. He has completed 66 percent of his passes for 17,634 yards with 106 touchdowns and 40 interceptions. He has also run for 24 touchdowns.

Prescott was a fourth-round pick in 2016 out of Mississippi State. He was the eighth quarterback selected and has proven to be a big-time steal for the Cowboys.

Jared Goff and Carson Wentz were the first two picks of the 2016 draft. The others tabbed before Prescott were Paxton Lynch (first round, 26th overall), Christian Hackenberg (second, 51st), Jacoby Brissett (third, 91st), Cody Kessler (third, 93rd) and Connor Cook (fourth, 100).

–Field Level Media