NFL punishes Ravens for violating offseason workout rules

The Baltimore Ravens, under investigation for reportedly having rookies and first-year players work out in full pads at minicamp, were punished by the NFL on Thursday for violating the collective bargaining agreement.

The Ravens will forfeit their scheduled June 1-3 OTAs, and both the organization and coach John Harbaugh have been fined under the CBA for violating offseason workout rules, according to a statement issued by the NFL.

ESPN had reported that there was a brief period May 6 when rookies and first-year players wore pads in a punt protection drill. According to the report, the team believed rookie minicamp wasn't the same as the organized team activities, which also fall under the CBA.

Interestingly, Harbaugh and the Ravens received the same penalty in 2010, when "it was determined that the Ravens violated the rules concerning the intensity and tempo of drills conducted on the Club's organized team activity days ... and the length of time spent by players at the Club's facility on such days."

Losing a week of offseason practice certainly won’t help Baltimore rebound from a 5-11 2015 season.