The NFL Players Association is finalizing a proposal that would drastically alter the NFL’s league calendar in the months leading up to the season, but not everyone seems to think these changes are a good idea.
As Tom Pelissero of NFL Media reports, the NFLPA is finalizing a proposal that would eliminate OTAs and voluntary workouts in the spring, replacing them with a longer mandatory training camp period.
“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,” Pelissero said in a post on X, the social media website that was formerly known as Twitter.
The union has been seeking feedback on the plan from players, a majority of whom support the change, sources say. A formal proposal is expected this summer.
Offseason work rules are collectively bargained, and any changes would require an agreement with the NFL.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) May 28, 2024
“The union has been seeking feedback on the plan from players, a majority of whom support the change, sources say. A formal proposal is expected this summer. Offseason work rules are collectively bargained, and any changes would require an agreement with the NFL,” Pelissero said in a follow-up post.
While this obviously would have its perks for some players, many pointed out that it would also drastically limit the amount of time that players, coaches, and staff members can spend with their families during the summer and increase the amount of mandatory practice time, considering many veteran players and specialists do not attend OTAs anyway.
Prediction: Players, coaches and anyone else involved in football ops would end up absolutely despising this. As it stands, the calendar is largely filled, but there is a month where guys can get away, and people's kids are out of school for vacation, and the league shuts down. https://t.co/9ZhEjDUV13
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) May 28, 2024
This is going to suck for coaches/personnel departments. The break in the NFL calendar married up well with end of school year, which allowed families to have quality time together. Getting your break while school is still in session would be a bummer. https://t.co/DThRp72c0y
— Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks) May 28, 2024
Players seem to want a longer offseason. A longer mandatory training camp period seems counter productive to that.
And moving more workouts to the dead heat of the summer doesn’t seem enjoyable. For the Colts, those days in Westfield can get HOT. https://t.co/LFxraV2yUR
— Andrew Moore (@AndrewMooreNFL) May 28, 2024
Clearly the start of changing the offseason schedule for 18 games
Also… I continue to be surprised by NFL players hatred of OTAs. You’re trading voluntary workouts under less stress for more training camp? OTAs are when you start building friendships and relationships.
This… https://t.co/Prt2z5F8nZ
— Geoff Schwartz (@geoffschwartz) May 28, 2024
I want to know who these players are that are in favor of a longer training camp… https://t.co/XRShz8uIbX
— Cameron Cox (@CamCox12) May 28, 2024
This is a good example of why the NFLPA gets railed every negotiation – there's a significant portion of players that won't like this at all.
The NFL can pull together 32 billionaires to one set of wishes fairly easily.
The NFLPA has no shot of getting a unified front for… https://t.co/YzWjTRrbmE
— Sam Monson (@PFF_Sam) May 28, 2024
We’ll have to see whether or not it’s ultimately approved, but clearly, not everyone is happy.
