The NFL doesn't take its rules regarding offseason workouts lightly.
The Baltimore Ravens announced Thursday they will lose a week of organized team activities and the franchise and coach John Harbaugh have been fined by the NFL for violations during a rookie minicamp.
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"It is what it is. It's what they decided is appropriate," Harbaugh said. "We'll accept that ... I told every guy in the room, there's not one guy in the world who should worry about it for one second, because it's all on me."
The Ravens ran afoul of the collective bargaining agreement when they put rookies in full pads for five minutes during a non-contact punt protection drill earlier this month. The CBA forbids practices in pads before training camp, but the Ravens said they thought those rules — which have been in place for five years — only applied to OTAs, not rookie camp.
"I read it the wrong way, and that's on me ... The bottom line is, it's on me," Harbaugh said.
Those five minutes will cost Harbaugh and his staff their June 1-3 OTAs, wiping out three of the 10 workouts allotted between the draft and training camp.
“We made a mistake and we are sorry for that," the Ravens said in a tweeted statement. "We accept the NFL discipline.”
Later, taking a slightly lighter-hearted approach when asked about the length of the offseason program, Harbaugh responded, "in some ways, maybe the rest will be good for us. Maybe the good Lord's looking down on us and giving us what we need."
— David Steele contributed to this report
