The NFL Players Association (NFLPA) wants to push for changes to the offseason workout program.  It is working to finalise a proposal to overhaul the offseason starting as early as 2025. This will eliminate voluntary on-field work in the spring in favour of a longer training camp ramp-up, with platers reporting in mid-June to early July. NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reported on Tuesday.  A formal proposal from the NFLPA is expected this summer. Under new management since July 2023, the NFLPA has asked players for feedback on adjusting the offseason schedule. Majority supported the changes, Pelissero reported. The present offseason workout program, which is generally bargained, is a voluntary nine-week offseason program, split into three phases. It includes meetings (Phase One), on-field individual drills (Phase Two), and organised team activities (Phase Three). Teams can perform one mandatory minicamp for veterans during Phase Three.  For most teams, the offseason program begins in mid-April and runs through mid-June. A roughly six-week summer break lasts until training camps begin in mid- to late July. Since offseason work rules are collectively bargained, any changes by the NFLPA will require an agreement with the NFL. According to Pelissero, the NFLPA has consulted medical and performance experts to provide a solution to reduce injuries and maximise players’ recovery time. Under the potential proposal, virtual classroom work would still be allowed in the spring, but no practices until camp. Restructuring the NFL’s offseason could break up the calendar, giving players an in depth layoff following a grinding season and a longer ramp-up period before the start of the campaign. This could prove helpful in avoiding soft-tissue injuries some players suffer during training camps under the current structure.

The NFL has distanced itself from Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker after his famous commencement speech, saying “his views are not those of the NFL as an organization.” Butker was the commencement speaker last week at Benedictine College, a private Catholic liberal arts school in Kansas. He said most women acquiring degrees were probably more thrilled to get married and have children.  He also said some Catholic leaders were “pushing dangerous gender ideologies onto the youth of America.” “Harrison Butker gave a speech in his personal capacity,” Jonathan Beane, NFL senior vice president and chief diversity and inclusion officer, said in a statement released Thursday. “His views are not those of the NFL as an organization. The NFL is steadfast in our commitment to inclusion, which only makes our league stronger.” The three-time Super Bowl champion gave his address on Saturday at the school in Atchison, Kansas which is about 60 miles north of Kansas City. He got a standing ovation from graduates and other attendees.  Butker, who reinforced his staunch catholic beliefs, also condemned Pride month, a particularly important celebration for the LGBTQ+ rights movement, and discussed President Joe Biden’s stance on abortion.  “I think it is you, the women, who have had the most diabolical lies told to you,” Butker added in his speech. “Some of you may go on to lead successful careers in the world, but I would venture to guess that the majority of you are most excited about your marriage and the children you will bring into this world. I can tell you that my beautiful wife Isabelle would be the first to say that her life truly started when she started living her vocation as a wife and as a mother,” he said. Butker said his wife embraced “one of the most important titles of all. Homemaker.“ He also criticized as disparaging to the Catholic Church an article by The Associated Press covering the shift toward conservatism in some areas of the church. Butker also referred to a “deadly sin sort of pride that has a month dedicated to it” in an oblique reference to Pride month. He took aim at Biden’s policies, including the President’s condemnation of the Supreme Court’s reversal of the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision and advocacy for abortion rights; a key campaign issue in the 2024 presidential race.

The Las Vegas Raiders had a coin-flip call with the No.13 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. General Manager Champ Kelly has weighed in on the accuracy of this claim. Vegas chose tight end Brock Bowers with the pick, but apparently, the decision was close.  Detroit Lions rookie cornerback Terrion Arnold, while speaking, said that the Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce told him it was a coin flip between he and Bowers at No. 13. “(The Lions) knew that the Raiders, there was a possibility that they took me,” Arnold told The Next Round podcast. “And, actually, the Raiders coach, they called me after the draft, they were like, ‘We actually had a coin toss between you and Brock Bowers. It landed on him.’” Perhaps Arnold meant pierce was figuratively using the phrase “coin toss’’ to imply that there was a debate over the two players and it was a close call in the Vegas draft room.  Las Vegas assistant GM Champ Kelly was asked about what Arnold said on Wednesday. “I can’t confirm that at all,” he said. “Terrion is a good player. I’m excited to watch his career and watch him play. But we drafted Brock, and we’re excited to get him here. And I don’t think anyone else in our whole draft room felt any other way.” “Can’t confirm” isn’t exactly “lol, no way,” but it should be presumed that Tom Telesco did not decide the team’s future with a flip’s fate.  Coin or not, the Raiders choose Bowers as another weapon to a passing offense that has Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers. One of the draft’s top talents, Vegas will use Bowers as a multifaceted weapon during this rookie campaign. “(His) position is tight end, but we saw him as a playmaker,” Kelly said on Wednesday. “He is going to be a fun piece to have. We’ll see what defenses deploy against him when he is on the field.” Kelly’s comment explains how the Las Vegas Raiders see Bowers and 2023 second-round tight end Michael Mayer as complementary pieces, who could spend a lot of time in Luke Getsy’s offense.

Tyler Boyd’s extended free agency is over. Boyd is packing his bags for a quick trip to the south. NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported on Tuesday, that the former Cincinnati Bengals receiver is signing a one-year contract with the Tennessee Titans worth up to $4.5 million.  ESPN first broke the news. Boyd’s career with the Bengals ended unceremoniously after a tough final campaign with Cincinnati. His time with them had a few uncharacteristic drops in key moments. It was a sad end to an eight-year run (2016-2023) in which Boyd proved to be a reliable pass catcher (except for 2023). He tallied 513 catches on 763 targets for 6,000 receiving yards and 31 touchdowns.  With big contracts coming up for Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase, plus Joe Burrow’s lucrative extension, the Bengals knew they would have to sacrifice retaining Boyd in favour of long-term financial viability. This and the fact that he posted his worst campaign since 2017, the choice was easy, leaving Tyler to find employment somewhere else for the first time in his career.  The Titans have been active in the reciever market this offseason, enticing Calvin Ridley away from the Jacksonville Jaguars and drafting Jha’Quan Jackson in effort to revive the depth chart. Now, Tennessee is attempting to capitalize on Boyd’s availability by buying low on the 29-year-old receiver.  He wil join a squad that includes DeAndre Hopkins and Youngster Treylon Burks, including Ridley, Jackson, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine and Kyle Philips. A year after struggling to put together a strong assortment of pass catchers, Tennessee is leaving no stone unturned for coach Brian Callahan’s era. 

The Baltimore Ravens just became the first team to sign a first-round pick from the 2024 NFL Draft, and it was Nate Wiggins.  Baltimore signed cornerback Nate Wiggins to his rookie deal on Thursday, per the league transaction wire. Wiggins, the No. 30 overall pick out of Clemson, was the third CB off the board last week and signed on the line to join a secondary long known for its lockdown capabilities. The Raven’s defence ranked first in scoring overall last campaign, sixth in yards permitted through the air and second in passing touchdowns conceded.  Nate brings a remarkable dash of speed to a secondary group headed by Marlon Humphrey, Kyle Hamilton and Marcus Williams. His 4.28 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine was top at his position. Wiggins made first-team All-ACC in his final year at Clemson and led the Tigers in passes defended his last two seasons, with 12 and nine, respectively.  Although Wiggins logged only three interceptions in his career, he took two back for scores. However, he was not the only rookie Baltimore signed on Thursday. Baltimore signed offensive tackle Roger Rosengarten (No. 62 overall), CB T.J. Tampa (No. 130) and safety Kane Sanoussi (No. 250). All four players will join the other incoming teammates at the Reaven’s rookie minicamp from May 3-5. 

The Cincinnati Bengals drafted Dax Hill in the first round in 2022 to be their eventual starting safter. After a turbulent 2023 campaign, the club re-evaluated his situation. Over the weekend, head coach Zac Taylor told reporters that plan is to move Hill from safety to cornerback. “We’ve seen it from him and we think it’s the best opportunity right now to help our team,” Taylor said, via Kelsey Conway of The Cincinnati Enquirer. Hill’s struggles as a full-time starter caused Cincinnati to sign Geno Stone and bring back Vonn Bell in free agency. The former Michigan produced suffered miscommunication breakdowns and, despite impressive speed, could not make game-changing plays. Hill has experience from playing at Michigan as an outside and nickel corner. The Bengals expect him to fight for playing time with second-year outside corner DJ Turner on the outside opposite Cam Taylor-Britt and Mike Hilton as the nickel cornerback. “One of the reasons you took him was because of all the various things you’d seen on tape from him,” Taylor said. “He’s a superb athlete, he’s got great size, and he did a good amount of coverage at Michigan, playing inside covering slots, played some outside. The versatility is what made him the pick that he was. We’re really excited for his future. He has done a tremendous job embracing this opportunity, and I’m excited to see him go out there and compete.” A first-round pick who needs to struggle for a starting job was not the plan when Cincinnati drafted Hill in 2022, but the fault is on the club for not tightening their belts and hoping things would just work out.

The New England Patriots made a huge post-draft splash by extending their contract with Christian Barmore. New England has agreed to terms on a four-year extension with defensive tackle Barmore worth up to $92 million, NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero reported according to sources who knew about the deal. The Boston Herald first reported news of the extension. Barmore was headed into the final year of his rookie contract. The 2021 second-round pick is locked in New England through the 2028 season. Christian has been a rising star in the Patriots’ ranks for several seasons. Although he has started only 11 games in three seasons, he has had a starter-like impact on New England’s defence. Barmore is off a career-high 8.5 sacks in 2023 and generated 53 QB pressures, per Nex Gen Stats, 11th most among all interior defenders.  New England spent most of its draft capital upgrading an offence that desperately needed help. In the aftermath of the selection process, the Patriots’ new brass secured the future of the interior D-line with a huge payday.

College football player Amitral “AJ” Simon is dead. He died just one week before he might have fulfilled his pro ball dreams, his former university announced Wednesday. Simon, 25, transferred to the University of Albany in New York, where he played as a defensive lineman with the Great Danes in 2022 and 2023. The Danes said on their social media page that they will miss AJ “profoundly.” “AJ was a tremendous young man and even better teammate throughout this time at UAlbany,” the school said.”He was a role model on and off the field, serving as a pillar to this program over the last two years.” However, no one from AJ’s side has given a cause of the death. Simon was eligible for this week’s NFL draft and according to NBC Sport, had recently visited New England.  He announced his decision to join the draft in December after his team on the team ended. Simon described his collegiate career with the Great Dane as “pivotal” in shaping his path to the NFL draft. He said it made him a better person on and off the field. AJ wrote, “I am thrilled to represent the University of Albany as I take this next step in my football career.” “Sad that it’s over, but grateful that it happened. On that note, I will enter my name in the 2024 NFL Draft.” The Coastal Athletic Association named AJ Simon and other players in February that made the Comissioner’s Academic Honor Roll. This list requires students to maintain at least a 3.0 grade-point average.

The Kansas City Chiefs seem to be without wide receiver Rashee Rice for some part of the 2024 NFL season. Adam Schefter has reported the potential length of a pending suspension. Rashee Rice is facing criminal charges and lawsuits for his alleged role in starting a multi-vehicle crash in Dallas, Texas in late March. An NFL insider has revealed more information on how the league may handle Rice’s offseason problems. Shefter of ESPN wrote what he heard around the NFL as the 2024 NFL Draft approaches. His comments about the Chiefs are receiver-heavy, beginning with his expectations for Rice’s possible suspension. “He is facing one count of aggravated assault, one count of collision involving serious bodily injury and six counts of collision involving injury,” Schefter writes. “He turned himself in to police last week at the Regional Jail in DeSoto, Texas, before being released on bond. On top of the legal issues and lawsuit he is facing Rice is expected to be disciplined by the NFL, resulting in at least a multi-game suspension.” What does Adam Schefter’s report spell for Rice? Schefter’s phrase “at least a multi-game suspension” is interesting for certain reasons. First, it sets the stage. The NFL could suspend Rice for at least two matches. Besides that, what does Schefter mean by “at least?” Technically, a 16-game suspension would be “multi-game’’ but less than a year-long ban. Based on Schefter’s phrasing, “multi-game’’ could be anything from a two-game suspension to an eight-game suspension. More than eight matches would be more than half of a season.  Realistically, one would argue that the reporter inferred a two-to-six-game suspension for Rice in that phrasing (with NFL precedent leaning toward the four-to-six-game range). However, the NFL will suspend Rashee Rice for “at least” two matches.

The Detroit Lions released new uniforms on Thursday, including black alternates. It turns out head coach Dan Campbell specifically requested those black jerseys. And what Campbell wants, he gets.  Detroit team president Rod Wood told reporters Thursday night at the Lions new jersey launch, that Campbell lobbied for the black jerseys to be brought back. The former tight end wore them when he played for the team from 2006-2008. “So, we’re in the draft room, literally months into his tenure — and he wore the black when he was here — and we’re in the draft room, and he said, ‘Rod, when can we get the black jerseys back?’” Wood told reporters, via Jeanna Trotman of WXYZ. “I said, ‘I’ll make a deal, when you win the division I’ll bring the black jerseys back.’ So I went out on a limb, and thankfully, he delivered. That’s a true story.” The Lions won their first division title in 30 years last season, ruling the NFC North with a 12-5 record, so Campbell got his wish. “He loved them,” Wood said of the black unis. “When he was here, he wore them, and I think it was kind of the team’s favourite at the time, and he just pinned for it again. For him, it’s a throwback because it’s when he was a player. I think they’ve dressed up even better than when he was here…It’s a better look than the silver pants we wore at the time.” Among Lions supporters, the black fits can be met with mixed feelings. For some, they are a reminder of a dismal time in franchise history during the early 2000s when the club was historically bad, including the 0-16 2008 team. “There is a little history there, I’m well aware of it,” Wood admitted. “But we’re a new team, new leadership, new players, and I think the past is the past.” Detroit’s future looks promising under Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes. Now Campbell must turn the significance of the black jersey from negative to positive. Related NFL News: Browns Greg Newsome does not ‘pay attention’ to trade rumours.