In response to the NFLPA’s proposed changes to the offseason, Browns veteran defensive lineman Shelby Harris has voiced his opposition. Hours after the report of the proposals was made public, Harris took to Twitter to express his displeasure with the idea and stated that players do not support it.
The NFLPA is currently working on a proposal that would eliminate OTAs in favor of a longer training camp starting as early as mid-June. According to reports, a majority of players have expressed support for this change. However, Harris disputes this claim and believes that players are not in favor of the proposal. “I’m so confused how they are trying to twist this into saying players want to start camp the end of June,” he wrote on Twitter. “Nobody wants anything to do with this change.”
Harris also responded to a post by Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, stating that coaches and front office executives are not happy with the proposal. “Players don’t want this either!” Harris wrote. It is likely that many more players share Harris’ sentiment and may offer their opinions if the NFLPA moves forward with a formal proposal at some point this summer.
Why would players want to have longer training camps when OTAs are voluntary? If there is any benefit here, it would be that mandatory June minicamps would be eliminated, but that’s a small win for players who technically only have one mandatory offseason commitment (minicamp) prior to the start of training camp in late July.
