The Detroit Lions are forfeiting one of their organized team activity practices due to violating rules regarding offseason workouts. Detroit will miss its practice session scheduled for June 10.
While the team did not disclose the specific violation, the rules of the collective bargaining agreement between the NFL and the NFL Players Association address on-field contact during offseason practices. The Lions issued a statement acknowledging the rules violation and lost an OTA session as a result.
“On Friday night, the NFL and NFLPA informed the organization that organized team activities (OTA) practices held the week of May 27 violated player work rules related to physical contact on the field. in accordance with the Collective Bargaining Agreement,” the statement reads. saying. “As a result, the team’s OTA practice scheduled for Monday, June 10 was missed.”
“We take the rules established within the NFL Offseason Program very seriously and have worked to conduct our practices accordingly,” the statement continued. “We will continue to monitor our practices in the future.”
STATEMENT FROM THE DETROIT LIONS
“On Friday night, the NFL and NFLPA informed the organization that organized team activities (OTA) practices held the week of May 27 violated player work rules related to physical contact on the field. in accordance with the Collective…
– Detroit Lions (@Lions) June 8, 2024
The CBA section on field contact reads as follows (via Justin Rogers of the Detroit News):
“No live contact allowed (during OTAs). No one-on-one offense vs. defense drills (i.e., no offensive lineman vs. defensive lineman pass rush or pass protection drills, nor wide receivers allowed). versus defensive backs). Run-and-run drills are permitted and one-on-one special teams drills involving both the offense and defense are not permitted), except that, outside the 10-yard line, coverage is permitted. simulated press using hand placement (rather than blocking) during 11 on 1. 11 drills and individual drills from related position groups (e.g., footwork and release work (no “live contact” or “ hit and run.”
The section goes on to explain that hand contact between a defensive player and the receiver is permitted as long as the receiver is not impeded or forced to alter his route due to the live contact.
That leaves several possibilities for what happened during the Lions practice in question. Was it a play between offensive and defensive linemen or did it involve receivers and defensive backs? The OTA sessions held during the week of May 27 were not open to the media, according to several reporters covering the team.
The June 10 practice he will miss is part of a three-day OTA period for rookies and younger players. The veterans will not participate after finishing Detroit’s mandatory minicamp last week. The team’s next meeting for training camp will be at the end of July.
Last season, the New England Patriots lost two offseason practices for violating CBA rules. Then-head coach Bill Belichick was also fined $50,000. Other NFL teams have had to suspend practices for violations in recent years, including the Dallas Cowboys, San Francisco 49ers, Chicago Bears, Jacksonville Jaguars and Baltimore Ravens.