Report: Pete Carroll, Seahawks fined $300K for excessive contact practices
Pete Carroll and the Seattle Seahawks were fined more than $300,000 collectively on Tuesday after reports surfaced that they violated the league’s “no-contact” policy during minicamps.
ESPN’s Chris Mortensen had the story first:
Seahawks & Pete Carroll collectively fined by than $300,000 by NFL for violation of off-season non-contact rules, per sources.
— Chris Mortensen (@mortreport) August 26, 2014
The @Seahawks also lose 2 minicamp practices after review of June 16 OTA practice was deemed unsuitable under CBA rules. Story on @ESPNNFL
— Chris Mortensen (@mortreport) August 26, 2014
The two days of mandatory minicamp @Seahawks lose in '15 are double practices each day & players must be paid, league confirms.
— Chris Mortensen (@mortreport) August 26, 2014
The NFL released this statement, via The Seattle Times:
"The Seahawks will forfeit its first two days of on-field double practices during its 2015 mandatory minicamp for veteran players and will be permitted a single 2 ½-hour on-field practice session on the final day of its minicamp. Seahawks players will be paid for the cancelled practice sessions. The violation was for permitting the club’s players to engage in excessive levels of on-field physical contact during the team’s 2014 mandatory minicamp for veteran players."
It should be noted that the Seahawks have faced similar violations before.
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In 2012, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell fined the Seahawks an undisclosed amount and terminated their final two organized team activity practices for similar contact violations.
This time, the contact was reportedly from a June 18 practice, which included a scuffle between Phil Bates and Richard Sherman.
The Seattle Times reported that the NFL reviewed that practice and determined that the Seahawks had “excessive levels of on-field contact.”
Following the NFL’s review and decision, the Seahawks reportedly appealed the ruling and were denied.
The consequences, as ESPN reported, were a $200,000 fine for the Seahawks and “at least” a $100,000 fine for coach Carroll.
The second part of the team’s fine, the forfeited practices, won’t take effect until next year.
The Seahawks must now shift their focus back to this season and prepare for their final preseason game on Thursday against the Oakland Raiders before the regular season opener on Sept. 4.