The Detroit Lions have earned notoriety over the past few seasons for the level of physicality that they bring to the field. While this is the factor that gives them an edge over their competitors during the regular season, turns out the team under Dan Campbell does not have an ‘OFF’ button when it comes to determining how hard they need to go.
The Detroit Lions are facing the heat from the NFL for violating player work rules relating to on-field physical contact. As reported by Pro Football Talk, the team will be forfeiting their organized team activity practice scheduled for Monday.
On Friday evening, the organization was made aware by the NFL and NFLPA that Organized Team Activities (OTA) practices held the week of May 27 violated player work rules pertaining to on-field physical contact pursuant to the Collective Bargaining Agreement. As a result, the team’s OTA practice scheduled for Monday, June 10 has been forfeited. We take very seriously the rules set forth within the NFL’s Offseason Program and have worked to conduct our practices accordingly. We will continue to be vigilant with our practices moving forward.
the Detroit Lions released a statement on Saturday
The issue here is that the Lions were engaging in live contact, explicitly prohibited by the CBA as it increases the odds of players suffering an injury.
Detroit Lions going all-in during practices to ensure another successful season
The Lions are pushing their limits in practice, aiming to build on last season’s success. This must concern other teams because if anything, it just goes to show that Detroit and Dan Campbell do not take their foot off the gas pedal.
By recreating an intensity similar to the games, the Lions are getting accustomed to taking a beating so that nothing fazes them. However, this approach is not the smartest as its the risk-to-reward ratio with respect to injuries would work against them.
The team’s OTA practices were scheduled between the 21st of May to the 23rd and from the 29th of May to the 31st of May. Their mandatory minicamp was held last week, and they were due to have the final three OTA practices this week. However, after the league and the NFLPA came down hard on them, the team will have practices on Tuesday and Wednesday before ending the offseason program.
It is not surprising to hear that the Detroit Lions’ practices are no joke. Dan Campbell is known for bringing in that mental and physical toughness into this locker room. Last season, the team went 12-5 winning the NFC North for the first time in over three decades. The team made an active playoff push but fell to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship. This season, the team will aim to make another strong run and reach the Super Bowl.