According to reports, the NFL Players Association is planning to push for changes to the league’s offseason workout program.
The NFLPA hopes to eliminate the voluntary on-field work which takes place in the spring in favour of a longer training camp leading up to the start of the regular season. Under the leadership of new executive director Lloyd Howell, the NFLPA has been seeking input from players as to what changes they want implemented. Evidently, the spring OTA’s has been one area which has received considerable support from the players in recent weeks.
While the proposal has yet to be officially submitted, sources indicate that the NFLPA is in the midst of crafting the language around the proposed changes, with the hopes that they can be implemented as early as 2025.
Under the parameters of the current system, which is part of the CBA, teams host a voluntary nine-week offseason program broken down into three phases, which include: meetings (Phase 1), on-field individual drills (Phase 2), and organized team activities (Phase 3). Teams can then conduct a mandatory minicamp for veterans during Phase 3.
This process typically kicks off in mid-to-late April and runs through June. Players then have a 6 week break before training camps officially kick off.
By shifting to a model where teams can host virtual “classroom” style sessions in the spring, and extending training camp, the NFLPA is hoping to minimize injury, and maximize players recovery times during the offseason. Soft tissue injuries have been especially prevalent under the current structure during training camp. Something the Players’ Association is hoping to reduce with their new proposal.
An extended offseason could also be setting the table for what many players believe will be a sticking point in the next CBA, which is the owners push for an 18+ game season. As the NFL schedule continues to expand, so too will the need for extended recovery periods during the spring & summer.
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