NFL fines Ron Rivera $100K, docks Washington Commanders two 2023 OTA practices

ASHBURN, Va., — The NFL fined Washington Commanders coach Ron Rivera $100,000 and stripped the team of two OTA practices in 2023 for conducting excessive contact in spring drills, according to ESPN's Dan Graziano.

The NFL Players' Association reviewed practice video on June 1 and 8th — per a request to the Commanders — and informed the NFL's Management Council that it felt those practices violated the collective bargaining agreement's «prohibition against live contact.» The council, after reviewing the practices, agreed.

The NFL informed Washington General Manager Martin Mayhew via letter about the penalties. The letter stated «there's no question» a team does this to gain a competitive advantage.

The Commanders, who finished their spring workouts Thursday, declined comment.

According to the letter, Washington's «intensity and tempo of the Club's interior line play and pass coverage during 11-on-11 drills were at a level where players were clearly engaged in physical contests.» It stated that on more than one play there was excessive contact between players that resulted in players going to the ground.

«In some cases,» the letter stated, «players were slow to recover after those collisions.»

The letter stated Rivera needed to intervene when practices became too physical and remind players of the rules and to «maintain appropriate control» over practice.

On June 8, Washington safety Jeremy Reaves crashed into receiver Dyami Brown as they both went for the ball. Reaves said later that he did not see Brown, cutting in traffic, or he would have pulled up. After the play, Brown lingered on the ground, walked slowly to the sidelines and was then escorted into the facility. Rivera stopped practice and yelled at his players to