The Detroit Lions are losing one of their organized team activity practices due to violating rules regarding offseason workouts. Detroit will forfeit its Monday practice session.
While the team did not reveal the specific violation, the rules in the collective bargaining agreement between the NFL and the NFL Players Association concern on-field contact during offseason practices.
The Lions issued a statement that acknowledged the rules violation and forfeiting an OTA session as a result.
The section goes on to explain that hand contact between a defensive player and receiver is allowed as long as the receiver is not impeded or forced to alter his route due to live contact.
That leaves several possibilities as to what occurred during the Lions’ practice in question. Was it a play between offensive and defensive linemen or did it involve receivers and defensive backs? OTA sessions held during the week of May 27 were not open to the media, according to several reporters covering the team.
The Monday practice being forfeited is part of a three-day OTA period for rookies and younger players. Veterans will not participate after finishing Detroit’s mandatory minicamp this past week. The team’s next gather for training camp in late July.
Last season, the New England Patriots lost two offseason practices due to violating CBA rules. Then-head coach Bill Belichick was also fined $50,000. Other NFL teams have had to forfeit practices for violations in recent years, including the Dallas Cowboys, San Francisco 49ers, Chicago Bears, Jacksonville Jaguars and Baltimore Ravens.
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