Jeff Bilbrey
Detroit Lions Penalized for OTA Violations
The Detroit Lions have faced disciplinary action from the NFL after violating on-field contact rules during an organized team activity (OTA) session. The announcement came following a review by the NFL and the NFL Players Association, which found the team in breach of the established player work rules under the collective bargaining agreement.
As a result of this infraction, the Lions will forfeit their upcoming OTA session on Monday. This decision underscores the league’s commitment to enforcing the no-live-contact stipulation during the OTAs, which aims to protect players during the offseason workouts.
Impact and Response from the Lions
Responding to the penalty, the team issued a statement expressing a commitment to adherence to NFL policies in their future practices. “We take very seriously the rules set forth within the NFL’s Offseason Program and have worked to conduct our practices accordingly,” the Lions stated. “We will continue to be vigilant with our practices moving forward.”
The loss of an OTA session serves as a significant reminder about the consequences of not adhering to the league’s strict off-season training protocols. The team’s organized activities came under scrutiny during the week of May 27, leading to this action. Notably, previous instances have seen other NFL teams facing similar reprimands, highlighting the NFL’s tight regulation over off-season training activities.
The Detroit Lions will resume their OTA sessions on Tuesday, following the missed Monday session. This incident sheds light on the ongoing oversight by the NFL and NFLPA into team activities to ensure player safety and rule adherence are maintained across the league.
