The practice cops have busted the Falcons. Now they have to hand over their OTAs.
Well, three of them.
According to NFL.com, the Falcons will lose three organized team activity sessions in 2017 because of “excessive levels of on-field physical contact” during practices in May, constituting a violation of the collective bargaining agreement.
There seems to be a lot of gray area in defining “excessive levels of on-field physical contact” in these non-padded practices. Whatever it was, it’s not the reason Dan Quinn has the Falcons off to a surprising 3-1 start this season. It’s not like they’re tampering footballs or secretly videotaping anything.
Because of player-safety rules, some coaches feel that offseason practices are too restricted and that it’s difficult to get adequately prepared for training camp. It wouldn’t be surprising, then, that teams try to bend these rules. The key, as the Ravens, Seahawks and Falcons have learned, is not getting caught.
