Ravens docked 2 OTAs and hit with hefty fines for violating league rule
The Baltimore Ravens once again are paying the price for going too far with old-school practices.
The team has been docked its final two OTAs this week because of contact between players in violation of the league’s offseason workout rules.
Coach John Harbaugh said via the Ravens website that the violation involved contact during pass coverage.
In addition to losing the practices Thursday and Friday, Harbaugh and team owner Steve Bisciotti were hit with hefty fines. The NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport said Harbaugh was fined $50,000 while Bisciotti was fined $100,000.
This is true. In addition, John Harbaugh was fined $50K while owner Steve Bisciotti was fined $100K, sources say. https://t.co/eLgAG2HMRJ
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) June 6, 2018
“[The fine] is actually, as far as I can tell, less than is written in the CBA,” Rapoport said. “The commissioner has discretion to lower some of these fines.”
This isn’t the first time the Ravens have been punished for violating rules for offseason practices.
The league came down hard on the team in 2016 for having rookies in full pads during a punt protection drill in minicamp. Baltimore lost three OTAs and was docked $343,057, while Harbaugh was hit with a $137,223 fine.
In 2010, the Ravens had to cancel the final week of OTAs after six players complained to the NFL Players Association about late meetings and two others said they were held on the field too long after practice.
ESPN’s Dan Graziano said it wasn’t clear what prompted the league’s investigation this time.
“Usually, such a review would be triggered by a player complaint,” Graziano wrote Thursday. “However, a source said, teams that have been penalized for violations in the past can be subject to ‘spot-checks,’ meaning an NFLPA representative could drop in on practice or request a copy of practice film randomly. It’s unclear what triggered this most recent investigation of the Ravens.”
The Collective Bargaining Agreement puts strict limits on players’ offseason workouts. Harbaugh has criticized the rules as “un-American,” saying they hinder young players’ development.
Still, the Ravens said they have been going to great lengths to stay within the NFL’s offseason rules.
“We take very seriously reading, understanding, abiding by and playing by the rules,” Harbaugh said in a statement on the team’s website. “Our coaches, staff and players have worked extremely hard to run the offseason program according to all the Collective Bargaining Agreement rules. Our team has been singled out for pass coverage contact during the early part of OTAs. We have heavily emphasized these CBA pass coverage rules in meetings, and coached them diligently on the practice field. It has also been our priority to include our veteran players, along with new Ravens who have practiced and played for other teams, in the process and use their input and ideas.
“Even with consistent and repeated teaching, these rules pose considerable adjustments for the young players. We have tried very hard to eliminate contact in pass coverage during OTAs, even so far as to pull players out of practice who struggle with these adjustments. I am confident we have done everything within our power and ability to practice within the rules, and we will continue to focus on preparing, teaching and practicing the right way.”
Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome said it can be a struggle to get rookies to follow the league’s strict practice rules.
“We are vigilant about practicing within the Collective Bargaining Rules,” he said in a statement. “I am. John and his assistants are. I attend every practice and then watch the practices again on video. I see how the coaching staff teaches, corrects and addresses issues immediately on the field. In meetings, I have watched John’s presentation to his players and assistants regarding how to properly practice and the pace of these sessions. We have players competing, including rookies and those fighting to make our team.
“Sometimes breaking old practice habits of these players, especially rookies, takes more repetitions. We’ll continue to be vigilant about this.”
The Ravens will return to the practice field for three days of mandatory minicamp next week.
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