Report: NFL warned Tom Coughlin after his criticism of players skipping voluntary workouts
The NFL officially sent a letter to Jacksonville Jaguars vice president Tom Coughlin warning him after his recent comments about players skipping voluntary offseason workouts, according to ESPN’s Dan Graziano.
Source says Jaguars' Tom Coughlin received a warning letter from the NFL regarding his comments about players not attending voluntary offseason workouts. The NFLPA had asked the league to contact the Jaguars and reinforce the rule about pressuring players to attend such workouts.
— Dan Graziano (@DanGrazianoESPN) April 24, 2019
The letter, which was requested by the NFL Players Association, warned Coughlin that any similar comments in the future could lead to discipline in the form of a fine or potential forfeiture of OTA practice days, according to Graziano.
Coughlin criticized several Jaguars players for not attending the team’s voluntary workouts last week — including cornerback Jalen Ramsey and linebacker Telvin Smith. The workouts across the league are voluntary, and are strictly conditioning, strength work and rehab, per the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
Yet Coughlin was upset that the team didn’t have perfect attendance.
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“Quite frankly, all of our players should be here,” he said.
Ramsey, though, is currently completing his own offseason workout plan in Nashville, and quickly fired back at Coughlin on social media.
“Fully aware” & “voluntary” meaning I don’t HAVE to be there BUT they know the EXACT REASONS I am not. My teammates know it’s ALL love & know I’ll be ready when it’s time! 💯 https://t.co/NASgnu6egT
— Jalen Ramsey (@jalenramsey) April 19, 2019
“‘Fully aware’ and ‘voluntary’ meaning I don’t have to be there but they know the exact reasons I’m not,” Ramsey tweeted last week. “My teammates know it’s all love and know I’ll be ready when it’s time.”
Coughlin’s comments sparked criticism from the NFLPA, too, who wanted to make sure he knew what the word “voluntary” meant.
To make matters worse in North Florida, Jaguars coach Doug Marrone couldn’t get in contact with Ramsey when trying to mediate the conflict between Coughlin and his cornerback — though not due to his lack of trying. The coach, it turns out, was texting the wrong number.
Mandatory minicamp begins on June 11 across the league. Until then, Ramsey will continue to workout privately. While Coughlin clearly isn’t happy about that fact, he isn’t likely to share those feelings publicly anymore.
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