Why the Baltimore Ravens pushing the OTA envelope makes no sense
The impact of losing two days of OTA’s is debatable. The way it comes off is not:
The Baltimore Ravens have a tricky relationship with the collective bargaining agreement. John Harbaugh has been caught three times breaking the rules of the CBA. It was reported by Jeff Zrebiec that the Ravens would lose the two OTA’s and that John Harbaugh and the team would be fined. This is a bad look for Harbaugh.
The Baltimore Ravens lost Dennis Pitta and Tavon Young in last year’s offseason training activities. Last season the Ravens lost Pitta, Young, Kenneth Dixon, Nico Siragusa and Alex Lewis due to injuries before the regular season even started. In the second week of the season the Ravens lost Marshal Yanda for the year. Danny Woodhead missed a large chunk of the season as well.
For a team that has had no luck with injuries, the Ravens should be the last team looking for extra offseason practices with full pads and contact. Imagine if a player had gotten hurt when he wasn’t even supposed to be wearing pads. The vitriol from the Ravens fanbase would have been insane.
It seems highly likely that the Ravens knew the rule and went on with their business any way. With the first offense, it happens. With the second offense it is less understandable. After the third time, just stop for the love of everything that is even kind of good.
This isn’t a good look. Did the Ravens get caught, or did somebody tell on Harbaugh? That talking point was frustrating the last time, just have the same conversation again. Harbaugh didn’t seem to have the greatest excuse to any of this either:
John Harbaugh says Ravens were busted for too much contact in pass coverage drills during OTAs pic.twitter.com/Y3NvzouBYn
— Ben Volin (@BenVolin) June 6, 2018
The Bottom Line:
He basically blames the rookies for being rookies. This stuff seriously couldn’t wait until training camp? Even without contact there is always a chance of an injury when the team steps onto the football field. The reward of young players getting a pass coverage technique on a Summer day is not a high enough reward to push the envelope with the CBA rules.
Next: 42 Ravens who should be safe from the roster bubble
Whether or not the rules actually help player safety they are intended to. Whether or not Harbaugh knew the rule he is now perceived as a stubborn coach who doesn’t get it. This story isn’t a huge deal in the grand scheme of things. It is just absolutely infuriating that a team with so many recent injuries-that occurred before the regular season-would be the team getting extra time in pads in June.