The NFL yesterday announced that the Seahawks "were fined $400,000 and will lose their fifth-round draft pick" in '17 for "violating NFL-NFLPA work rules that prohibit excessive contact in all offseason workouts," according to Bob Condotta of the SEATTLE TIMES. Coach Pete Carroll also "was fined $200,000, and the Seahawks must forfeit their first week of OTAs" in '17. It is the third time since '12 the Seahawks "have been penalized for violations in offseason workouts." Carroll said that he "thought the fact Seattle has been penalized before led to harsher penalties." Carroll "confirmed that an incident involving two players ... who collided and bumped heads led to the investigation." Carroll noted that after the Seahawks were penalized for violating rules during a minicamp in '14, the team "altered its plans for workouts" in '15 to practice without helmets consistently. Carroll pointed out that the Seahawks "have kicked players out of practice if they have gotten 'overzealous' and that the team had a visit from the NFL again this year to instruct players on how to practice properly." He said, “I’ve got to do a better job. We’ve got to make sure we are toeing the line with the standards" (SEATTLE TIMES, 9/20).
