Could the offseason schedule be changing?
As we head into the thick of Organized Team Activities, or OTAs, the NFL Players Association is looking at changing the offseason program for all 32 teams, including the New Orleans Saints.
According to NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero, the NFLPA would eliminate voluntary training programs like OTAs in exchange for a longer training camp. Players would report in mid-June to early July under the new program.
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… pic.twitter.com/nQa9TmKCGO
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) May 28, 2024
A formal plan could be in place as soon as this summer. The current plan includes meetings, on-field drills, and and organized team activities split into three phases with teams allowed to have a mandatory veteran minicamp during the third phase. The current program is also a part of the collective bargaining agreement between the NFL and NFLPA.
A big reason for this switch has been the NFLPA meeting with medical and performance experts as the league looks to reduce injuries throughout the league. The belief is that changing up the offseason structure gives players more time off after the season and a longer ramp-up period right before the season, preventing training camp injuries.
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