NFLPA looking to end OTAs

[Coogiguy03]

They are grown men, and should be responsible for their own lives. The NFL is not a baby-sitting enterprise.

agree it's so much not of a baby sitting organization that they have people go with certain players to watch over them to see that they don't get into trouble

 

[Coogiguy03]

The tweet says it's not, but I have to believe this is the leagues plan to set up the 18 game schedule. No OTA means a longer camp. Longer camp means preseason isn't as important. Less preseason means an opportunity for more regular season.

you got it all figured out, this is probably what will take place. That's fine though, if a team KNOWS they have a playoff berth, they can sit guys out instead of having them play in those extra games to rest them

 

[erod]

Lol, practice is illegal in the NFL. It shows.

 

[Cowboys5217]

No, it is NOT a good idea to reduce practices even more. NFL football is much sloppier across the board because of reduced practices already enacted. The players are getting worse, not better because of this.

 

[thunderpimp91]

No, it is NOT a good idea to reduce practices even more. NFL football is much sloppier across the board because of reduced practices already enacted. The players are getting worse, not better because of this.

This really isn't reducing the number of practices though, it's just moving them from May to July.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Long break for some=Trouble to get into if they're not focused on the goals they set out for

Puts emphasis on draft and FA good character players.

 

[jwitten82]

Lol, practice is illegal in the NFL. It shows.

Nah, reading the headline it sounded dumb, but im in favor of them making training camps longer

 

[Reid1boys]

This is a horrible idea. 1) Players with an entire summer off? You think that is a good idea? Young guys need the structure and support of these teams. Unfortunately, idle time is not good for a 26 year old with a lot of money.
2) Vets already dont like training camp. You think longer training camp will somehow result in better play? Players will suffer "Hamstring injuries," to start taking paid days off and chill. Just like when they hold out but they show up and fake injury to not get fined.

Training camp is plenty long.... ah, well, since training camp will be so long, lets add another preseason game back to the schedule.

 

[jazzcat22]

The tweet says it's not, but I have to believe this is the leagues plan to set up the 18 game schedule. No OTA means a longer camp. Longer camp means preseason isn't as important. Less preseason means an opportunity for more regular season.

The plan all along was to go to 18 games.
I seen something on NFLN or ESPN the other day about owners want to get to 18 games, but only caught the last part. But it had no timeline when to do so.

When the last CBA was agreed upon. It had the 17th game option was at the owners discretion when to implement that. But had to do so by 2025. Of course they approved that the following season.

The 18th game could not be added automatically. It was not to be negotiated, or I should say added, until 2030 when the new CBA comes up.
however that does not mean they can't renegotiate it before, or at least that part of the contract.

 

[jazzcat22]

Players can't sit around with all the Summer off. They need at least to have meetings to learn the schemes. However, how will they really learn from not having on hand training as well.

Possibly if they make it start in mid June, this is where they get the meetings and some on the filed work that will be like the OTA's, then by mid July be ready for the TC type practices.

If you think about it, they have 3 - 3 day OTA's, and a mini camp, last what about a week? So that is about 2 weeks worth. So speed that time out to 4 weeks, then when they start TC, everything is still fresh other than waiting a month to use it.

But what about the 6 weeks or so after the draft until they start this. Can they at least have some team meetings.

 

[fivetwos]

From the players’ point of view, why would they want a longer camp just to not have to show up for a few days in May or June?

If it’s about injuries, isn’t camp more intense than OTAs?

Teams change coaches and schemes quite regularly. They want to wait until camp to familiarize everyone with it? Seems like an avenue for an inferior product. An extra month or two to mentally prepare for what you’re asked to do when it’s real could make a difference.

Whatever though. I’m probably missing something.

One thing I wish would return to common practice is starters playing at least one half of one preseason game, but that’s not gonna happen. September is what used to be the preseason. Only reason preseason games aren’t eliminated entirely is the owners want to charge season holders for those bogus games. There doesn’t seem to be a whole lot left to the NFL that isn’t about money, it’s even found its way into the college level.

 

[thunderpimp91]

The plan all along was to go to 18 games.
I seen something on NFLN or ESPN the other day about owners want to get to 18 games, but only caught the last part. But it had no timeline when to do so.

When the last CBA was agreed upon. It had the 17th game option was at the owners discretion when to implement that. But had to do so by 2025. Of course they approved that the following season.

The 18th game could not be added automatically. It was not to be negotiated, or I should say added, until 2030 when the new CBA comes up.
however that does not mean they can't renegotiate it before, or at least that part of the contract.

Yeah I can only guess at this point, but my guess is that the NFL has put this out as a feeler to get player reactions. If they see the players like the idea the NFL will make a proposal that is ridiculous and intended to get rejected. The NFLPA will counter with something more realistic and they'll end up agreeing to the NFLPA proposal contingent upon the NFL being allowed to introduce that 18th game next year.

I'm assuming a lot here, but I know the NFL wants to get that 18th game going sooner rather than later.

 

[conner01]

Soft.

Longer camp might be more productive. If we aren’t playing as many pre season games a longer camp might be really important.

 

[thunderpimp91]

Players can't sit around with all the Summer off. They need at least to have meetings to learn the schemes. However, how will they really learn from not having on hand training as well.

Possibly if they make it start in mid June, this is where they get the meetings and some on the filed work that will be like the OTA's, then by mid July be ready for the TC type practices.

If you think about it, they have 3 - 3 day OTA's, and a mini camp, last what about a week? So that is about 2 weeks worth. So speed that time out to 4 weeks, then when they start TC, everything is still fresh other than waiting a month to use it.

But what about the 6 weeks or so after the draft until they start this. Can they at least have some team meetings.

Per the tweet chain in the OP it sounds like virtual meetings will still be allowed.

 

[conner01]

From the players’ point of view, why would they want a longer camp just to not have to show up for a few days in May or June?

If it’s about injuries, isn’t camp more intense than OTAs?

Teams change coaches and schemes quite regularly. They want to wait until camp to familiarize everyone with it? Seems like an avenue for an inferior product. An extra month or two to mentally prepare for what you’re asked to do when it’s real could make a difference.

Whatever though. I’m probably missing something.

One thing I wish would return to common practice is starters playing at least one half of one preseason game, but that’s not gonna happen. September is what used to be the preseason. Only reason preseason games aren’t eliminated entirely is the owners want to charge season holders for those bogus games. There doesn’t seem to be a whole lot left to the NFL that isn’t about money, it’s even found its way into the college level.

It’s the players assoc idea. I’m guessing it gives them more consecutive days off as opposed to OTA then coming back for camp. If you are getting the same number of days having them consecutive right before the season might be more productive

 

[mcmvp]

This is a horrible idea. 1) Players with an entire summer off? You think that is a good idea? Young guys need the structure and support of these teams. Unfortunately, idle time is not good for a 26 year old with a lot of money.
2) Vets already dont like training camp. You think longer training camp will somehow result in better play? Players will suffer "Hamstring injuries," to start taking paid days off and chill. Just like when they hold out but they show up and fake injury to not get fined.

Training camp is plenty long.... ah, well, since training camp will be so long, lets add another preseason game back to the schedule.

Could not agree more. It’s already enough that some OTAs are voluntary. If you eliminate them completely, more players will show up to the longer training camp out of shape and injuries will result.

 

[MountaineerCowboy]

Longer camp might be more productive. If we aren’t playing as many pre season games a longer camp might be really important.

Until they make camp voluntary.

 

[fivetwos]

It’s the players assoc idea. I’m guessing it gives them more consecutive days off as opposed to OTA then coming back for camp. If you are getting the same number of days having them consecutive right before the season might be more productive

Certainly true, but in the cases when it’s a new scheme, you’re missing 6-8 weeks to mentally absorb what they learned in OTAs before camp.

Probably not a big deal, but these guys get paid by playing well and earning it. Don’t see how the Union feels as if they are helping their members this way, but maybe the overall sentiment is the veteran players don’t want to be bothered. Although if that’s the case, a longer camp is the trade off. Doesn’t seem to add up…but again, I’m sure there’s plenty I’m missing.

Jeez if anything camp feels like it’s a little long as is. The way I see it (and they do not at all ask me lol), I’d keep rookie camp and mandatory OTAs as is, eliminate the voluntary nonsense, shorten camp by at least a few days, and institute common practice that starters play one half of one preseason game.

Maybe we can get back to hitting the ground running again when the games actually count….but that is absolutely a fan’s point of view, and we will always be last to be considered, although we are the people that fund the entire thing.

I gotta go yell at a cloud.

 

[Chasing6]

End of OTAs? The NFL Players Association is working to finalize a proposal to overhaul the offseason starting as soon as 2025, eliminating voluntary on-field work in the spring in favor of a longer training camp ramp-up, with players reporting in mid-June to early July, per sources.

This needs to be done as they add an 18th game and less preseason games.

 

[Chasing6]

The tweet says it's not, but I have to believe this is the leagues plan to set up the 18 game schedule. No OTA means a longer camp. Longer camp means preseason isn't as important. Less preseason means an opportunity for more regular season.

100% correct. Players Union needs to look like they get a win for the players before they add the 18th game, however it is designed in concert.