Overview
- The NFL reviewed Buccaneers practice film and removed one scheduled OTA this week after finding multiple plays with 'too many guys on the ground' that violated offseason contact limits.
- Coach Todd Bowles said Thursday that about three or four plays triggered the action, that the team corrected its drills, and that Tuesday had already been a planned day off.
- A league spokesperson confirmed Bowles was not fined for the violation even though head coaches are typically held responsible for OTA contact breaches.
- Offseason rules ban live contact and limit drill formats to lower-impact work such as 7-on-7 and 9-on-7, so losing an OTA reduces valuable, low-contact reps for rookies and players fighting for roster spots.
- The penalty follows a recent pattern of teams losing OTA sessions for similar violations in past seasons, underscoring the league’s emphasis on protecting player safety during the spring program.