The Green Bay Packers are poised to solidify their status as a premier NFL team in 2024. Boasting one of the youngest rosters in the league, brimming with talent, and led by a franchise quarterback, they narrowly missed the NFC Championship by just three points last season.
However, head coach Matt LaFleur strongly opposes a proposed NFL rule change for next season.
LaFleur has expressed his disapproval of a potential NFLPA proposal to fundamentally alter the league’s offseason schedule.
According to an NFL Network report, the players’ association is finalizing a proposal to eliminate voluntary on-field work in favor of starting training camp from mid-June to early July, potentially implementing this change by 2025.
“I would not be in favor of that,” LaFleur stated.
The current offseason program spans three stages over nine weeks, culminating in organized team activities (OTAs) and a mandatory minicamp, followed by a six-week break before training camp starts in late July.
The NFLPA’s proposal would remove the gap between minicamp and training camp but provide players with a longer break between seasons. This would compress preparation time, rather than spreading it out over the spring, similar to the 2020 COVID-19 schedule.
LaFleur emphasized he would adapt if the changes were enforced but preferred the existing schedule.
“I go back to the COVID year,” LaFleur said. “I don’t think that was good for anybody. There’s not a lot of time to get with these guys anyway, and just to cram everything in at the beginning of training camp is particularly bad for undrafted guys. They don’t have the time to learn the playbook. So I just don’t think it would be good for the game.”
The current offseason program includes three phases: meetings (Phase One), individual drills (Phase Two), and OTAs (Phase Three), with one mandatory minicamp for veterans.
Typically, the offseason runs from mid-April to mid-June, with training camps starting in mid-to-late July after a six-week break.
To reduce injuries and maximize recovery, the NFLPA has consulted medical experts. Virtual classroom work would still be allowed in spring, but no practices until camp.
Changing the offseason schedule could provide players with a longer recovery and preparation period, potentially reducing soft-tissue injuries in training camps. This would align with their goal of ensuring player safety and readiness.
