Pete Carroll Says Right Things, but Can't Be Thrilled with Locker-Room Lawyer

Late on Tuesday afternoon, the NFL and NFLPA issued a joint statement announcing that the Seattle Seahawks would be losing two OTA practices and one additional offseason workout day for violating contact rules outlined in the new collective bargaining agreement. 

The statement, which I received from the league via email, says the Seahawks will forfeit two of their scheduled OTAs (June 6 and 7) as well as an additional offseason workout day on Friday, June 8. Seahawks players are not permitted to be at the facility on those days, but will be paid for the sessions. The club cannot reschedule the cancelled days.

Speaking with reporters after practice, Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll put a positive spin on the development, indicating that his team was "competing too much."

Transcribed from his interview on Seahawks.com:

"

We’ve had great practices. Our guys have met every expectation. They have worked like crazy to get the job done. We probably have stretched this limit, obviously, by this indication, and I’m not surprised by that. 

It’s always about one play here, one play there. It wasn’t, you know, play after play after play. It was a few plays that stood out where guys made mistakes trying too hard and competing too much.

"

The punishment comes after one of the team's practices last week led to a couple of players having to be separated after a play, according to the News Tribune in Tacoma. Carroll even hinted after that practice that his team had probably crossed a line.

From News Tribune: 

"

We’re asking these guys to work really hard, and it really matters to them and they really care. And they want to make their plays and their statements, and I don’t blame them one bit. But there is a line that you can cross, and that’s what we talked about afterward. We want to be able to take it as far as you can, and demonstrate the poise when you need to most.

"

Carroll has to be disappointed, despite his positive spin on Tuesday, that one of his players took it upon himself to report the team to the union, which is most likely what happened. Head coaches are, for the most part, not thrilled with the new offseason restrictions under the new CBA, and feel they are trying to get much more out of the limited time they are allowed to be on the field with their teams. 

It's not like this doesn't go on all over the league. Players, especially younger ones, are competing for jobs and will always push things to and past the limit in an effort to stand out; to compete. In addition, teams want to try and get real football work done now to limit the amount of fundamental work they need to do during the outset of training camp. 

On the other hand, Carroll probably doesn't mind missing a few days of work in exchange for sending the message to his players that when they are on the field, they will push things as far as they are permitted—and beyond, if possible.