Many Steelers players less than thrilled with union’s proposed schedule changes

The NFLPA wants to get rid of voluntary on-field work in the spring and extend training camp.

Not all of the NFL’s players are wild about the reported changes that the Players Association are mulling over when it comes to the offseason calendar. In fact, many of the Steelers interviewed Wednesday were lukewarm about them at best.

According to a report from NFL. com Tuesday, “The NFLPA is working to finalize a proposal to overhaul the offseason starting as soon as 2025, eliminating voluntary on-field work in the spring in favor of a longer training camp ramp-up, with players reporting in mid-June to early July.”

Currently, the offseason workout program is broken down into three phases in mid-April and runs through mid-June: meetings for Phase 1, on-field individual drills for Phase 2, and organized team activities for Phase 3. Teams are allowed one mandatory minicamp for veterans during Phase 3. Then a summer break, of roughly six weeks, lasts until training camps kick off in mid-to late July.

All the offseason work rules are collectively bargained. So any changes would require the NFL to cosign. However, with the league considering the addition of an 18th game, this may be the exact chip on the table the NFL could use to push that through in exchange.

Via the NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, “The NFLPA has sought feedback from players on adjusting the offseason schedule, with the majority supporting the changes.”

That wasn’t the tone in the Steelers locker room Tuesday, though.

“I see both sides. But upon immediate reaction, I don’t like it,” said Steelers defensive lineman Breiden Fehoko. “You hear guys talk about hitting the ‘rookie wall.’ My biggest thought process is, if they are going to add another game, another Thursday night game, on top of an extra month of build-up, into an extra month of training camp, I don’t know if I’m a fan of that.”

To Fehoko’s point, if the 18th game is added, we are talking about players being in season from mid-June until potentially Presidents’ Day weekend for the Super Bowl teams.

Steelers veteran defensive line addition Dean Lowry is one who likes the proposed changes on a personal level. However, he thinks it’s the wrong move overall for the majority of players.

“OTAs this time of year benefits the young players,” Lowry said. “It gives them an opportunity to be with the coaches. It gives them time to learn the system and adjust to the speed of the game. As a veteran, I’d prefer pushing (the offseason program) back and doing it that way. But for the betterment of the league and for the young players, I do think the current structure is best suited for those guys.”

Justin Fields didn’t have a hard line on the idea. From a quarterback’s point of view, though, he sees value in the spring work with teammates and coaches.

“You can’t get anything better than on-field reps,” Fields said. “For quarterbacks, we like throwing to our receivers… New teams. New coordinators. I don’t really have a preference. There’s pros and cons to it.”

Despite being leery of overhauling the calendar, Fehoko did cite one aspect of the offseason schedule that could be pushed back, especially if the 18th game is added.

“I’d push free agency back a couple of weeks,” he said. “I think free agency is a little too early before the draft. You could do free agency at the end of March and then the draft at the end of April, and then the first phase of OTAs in the beginning of May.”

Fehoko then suggested cutting out the first phase of OTAs and getting right into Phase 2 with limited onfield work before OTAs kick into gear. Linebacker Alex Highsmith, one of the player reps for the Steelers, seems to be of a similar mind.

“I like the schedule right now,” Highsmith said. “We get this spring ball to come together and get some time together in this May and June period. We’ll see what happens.”

Pelissero says a formal proposal is expected this summer. The changes would theoretically happen starting after this season concludes.