Detroit Lions lose OTA practice due to violation of no-contact rules

There are fairly strict rules about no contact when it comes to NFL OTAs, since players aren't wearing pads. On Friday evening, the Detroit Lions announced they were found to have violated said rules during an earlier OTA practice during the week of May 27.

"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.”

On occasion over the years, teams have been found to have violated the collectively-bargained rules pertaining to on-field contact during OTAs. What specifically the Lions did is not clear, but it was enough to draw the attention of the NFL and the NFLPA.

Detroit Lions will lose practice session on June 10

For all intents and purposes, the Lions' offseason work ended when mandatory minicamp ended on Thursday and veteran players have already departed for summer break. They were slated for three practices next week, June 10-12, when younger players will still be around to get some work in.

That's now down to two practices, and it's unclear if the Lions will adjust their schedule.

Via Justin Rogers of the Detroit News, here's the pertinent section of the CBA the Lions apparently violated.

"No live contact is permitted (during OTAs). No one-on-one offense vs. defense drills are permitted (i.e., no offensive linemen vs. defensive linemen pass rush or pass protection drills, no wide receivers vs. defensive backs bump-and-run drills, and no one-on-one special teams drills involving both offense and defense are permitted) except that, outside of the 10-yard line, simulated press coverage is permitted using hand placement (versus jamming) during 11-on-11 drills and related position group one-on-one drills (e.g., footwork and release work (no “live-contact” or “bump-and-run”). During simulated press coverage drills, hand contact between a defensive player and a receiver is permitted provided the defensive player does not impede the receiver or alter his route and no live contact occurs. The NFL shall provide a video that is jointly approved by the parties demonstrating permissible press coverage and one-on-one drills."

Losing a practice during the final week of OTAs like this, when the whole team isn't even going to be present, is fairly inconsequential. But the Lions violated the rules regarding contact, and they will be "penalized" as such.