Packers coach McCarthy says restrictions unclear
Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy knows teams can get in trouble for violating a league-wide ban on live contact during offseason workouts.
But as the Packers completed the first day of their three-day mandatory minicamp Tuesday, McCarthy acknowledged that he still isn’t sure what level of contact can trigger a violation.
“Frankly, I don’t know what the line is,” McCarthy said.
Last week, the NFL punished the Seattle Seahawks after the league’s management council and the players’ union determined that Seattle violated the collective bargaining agreement’s offseason workout rules by having live contact during organized team activity sessions.
The Seahawks had to forfeit a pair of scheduled organized team activities (OTA), plus a workout day.
Offseason contact also was banned under the previous CBA. But given the current emphasis on player safety, the Seahawks’ punishment might be a sign that the ban will be policed more strictly. Teams now must film all on-field offseason activities, retain them until 30 days after the start of the regular season and make them available to NFL Players Association officials in the event of a dispute.
BANKS GETS TRYOUT WITH KANSAS CITY
Linebacker Brian Banks is getting a tryout with the Kansas City Chiefs before joining the Seahawks for their upcoming minicamp.
The 26-year-old Banks was a one-time high school star at Long Beach Poly who was recently exonerated in a California rape case in which he was falsely accused. Banks served more than five years in prison before his conviction was overturned.
Banks had a workout last week in Seattle, and coach Pete Carroll invited Banks back for the Seahawks’ minicamp. He’s expected to return to the Northwest in time for Seattle’s practice today.
EXTRA POINTS
Pro Bowl free safety Ed Reed skipped the Baltimore Ravens’ mandatory minicamp Tuesday. Ravens coach John Harbaugh said he hasn’t spoken with Reed, adding, “I’m not sure what the situation is.” … Jacksonville Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew, who led the NFL in rushing last season with 1,606 yards, is skipping a mandatory minicamp as part of a contract dispute. General manager Gene Smith said he has no plans to renegotiate Jones-Drew’s current deal, setting the stage for a potentially lengthy holdout. … The New England Patriots claimed tight end Jake Ballard off waivers from the New York Giants. He was waived by the Giants on Monday after he failed a physical. Ballard tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during the Giants’ Super Bowl victory over New England in February. … Giants guard David Diehl apologized for “a bad decision” that resulted in his being arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol. … Buffalo Bills quarterback Vince Young filed a lawsuit that accuses his former agent and ex-financial adviser of cheating him out of at least $5.5 million.
