Mike ReissESPN Staff Writer May 25, 2023 1:59pm ET2 Minute Reading
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The New England Patriots were stripped of two organized team activities because coaches’ scheduling resulted in players spending more than their allowed time at the team’s facility, according to league sources.
As part of its decision, the NFL noted the Patriots’ “openness and full cooperation” and described them as “remarkable and commendable”. Still, the NFL continued to fine coach Bill Belichick $50,000, according to the league, in addition to suspending the two teams’ organized activities.
The NFL Players Association filed a formal complaint against the Patriots on May 4, alleging a violation of Article 21, Section 5(b) of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, which prohibits players from spending more than four hours a day at the team’s facility during the season allowed second phase of the voluntary offseason program.
The complaint specifically related to meetings/workshops that were not in the official schedule of the four hour working day sent to players for May 1st, 2nd and 4th.
The Patriots informed the NFL that the meetings/workshops are not mandatory and attendance is not allowed.
Ultimately, however, the league ruled that all activity must begin and end within the bounds of the collectively negotiated four-hour time limit.
An OTA was scheduled for the Patriots on Thursday, the first to be attended by reporters this offseason, but the club announced Wednesday that it had been canceled.
In the course of the violation, the OTAs from Thursday and another one next Tuesday were taken away.
This week marks the start of the third and final phase of the Patriots’ offseason program, allowing for a total of 10 OTAs for the team.
The NFL Players Association monitors teams across the NFL for potential violations as part of its standard operating procedures.
The Patriots declined to comment.
In recent seasons, the Cowboys (2021, 2022), Bears (2022), Commanders (2022), Texans (2022), 49ers (2021), Jaguars (2021), Ravens (2018), and Seahawks (2016) have been penalized for violations the rules out of season.