Seattle Seahawks Penalized For Rules Violation, To Lose Pick in 2017 Draft

By Carlo Monzon
Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks lock arms during the National Anthem prior to a NFL game against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. TODAY Sports Kirby Lee-USA

The Seattle Seahawks have been penalized again for violating the NFL Players Association ruled regarding excessive contact during offseason workouts. As a result, the team will have to settle fines, limit next year's organized team activities and forfeit a fifth round draft pick in 2017.

The NFL and the NFLPA announced the team's violations earlier this week after reviewing the Seahawks' on-field practice on June 6 of this year. Based on the practice video, it was determined that the team violated the collective bargaining agreement's no-live-contact policy.

"During the team's June 6, 2016 Organized Team Activity day, players engaged in excessive on-field physical contact, which is expressly prohibited in all offseason workouts under the NFL-NFLPA Collective Bargaining Agreement," the NFL said in a statement.

"The prohibition is one of several measures the NFL and the NFLPA implemented to enhance players safety by limiting contact during offseason workout programs," the league added. "The rules also help to prevent any team from gaining a competitive advantage."

Seahawks coach Pete Carrol confirmed the violation and admitted that during the practice session, two players who were not wearing helmets accidentally banged their heads, which resulted to injuries.

"I've got to do a better job," the coach said. "We've got to make sure we're toeing the line... we still don't quite meet the standards the [NFL] wants."

Due to the violation, the Seattle organization will have to pay a fine of $400,000. Carroll was also fined $200,000. Aside from these, the team will also forfeit the first week of their organized team activities next year as well as a fifth round pick in the 2017 draft.

This is the second time in three years that the Seahawks were penalized due to a violation of a collective bargaining agreement policy.

Back in 2012, the team was forced to cancel OTA sessions. Then, in 2014, the Seahawks were fined $300,000. In both instances, the team violated the league's no-contact policy. As noted by Carroll, this year's penalties were harsher than in the previous ones due to the team's past offenses.

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