Falcons Penalized by NFL for Violating Offseason Workout Rules

The NFL has penalized the Atlanta Falcons for violating offseason workout rules, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Thursday.  

Due to training sessions that included too much contact, Atlanta must give up its first three days of OTAs in 2017. 

In a release, via Schefter, the Falcons explained what occurred to merit the penalties: 

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The violation stemmed from a May 2016 session in which the club permitted players to engage in excessive levels of on-field physical contact which is expressly prohibited under the NFL-NFLPA Collective Bargaining Agreement. This marked the team's first violation of the rule. 

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It was also added that all Falcons players will be paid for the first three days of OTAs that will be canceled in 2017. 

While this was the Falcons' first offense, their head coach, Dan Quinn, is no stranger to breaking this rule. 

Quinn was the defensive coordinator of the Seattle Seahawks when they broke this same rule in 2014. Head coach Pete Carroll was fined "at least $100,000," the team was docked "over $200,000," and they lost two 2015 minicamp days, per ESPN's Chris Mortensen.

The Seahawks were also found guilty of violating these rules once again in September and lost $400,000, a week of OTAs next year and a 2017 fifth-round pick, according to Darin Gantt of Pro Football Talk. 

So for Quinn and his 3-1 Falcons, they must tread lightly moving forward or else the punishments will only worsen.