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Four weeks. That's all that's left for the Los Angeles Rams' 2016 Offseason Program before a brief rest leads them into the preseason and ultimately the 2016 NFL Regular Season.
What's included in those four weeks?
Phase Three consists of the next four weeks of the program. Teams may conduct a total of 10 days of organized team practice activity, or "OTAs". No live contact is permitted, but 7-on-7, 9-on-7, and 11-on-11 drills are permitted.
Article 22 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement stipulates that clubs may hold one mandatory minicamp for veteran players. This minicamp, noted below, must occur during Phase Three of the offseason program.
So starting today and running through June 19, the Rams will hold their OTAs scheduled for:
- Tuesday, May 31
- Wednesday, June 1
- Friday, June 3
- Tuesday, June 7
- Wednesday, June 8
- Friday, June 10
I've reached out to the Rams to see why they've only scheduled six of the allotted 10 OTAs. I looked through the NFL's full initial release of OTA dates though, and the Rams aren't the only one with less than the 10 allowable OTAs. For example, the New England Patriots only have eight scheduled at the time of the release.
I'll pass on any word on why the Rams have just six scheduled.
As for the optional mandatory minicamp, the Rams do have it scheduled for June 14-16; however, Rams Head Coach Jeff Fisher has never held the minicamp. I'd be sincerely shocked if the Rams hold it this year.
As for what looms beyond, training camp in Earth City, Missouri, opened with rookies reporting on July 27 though the first practice didn't take place until four days later.
That gives us six weeks or so between the final phase of the offseason program and the opening of the 2016 Los Angeles Rams Training Camp at UC-Irvine.
To get a sense of the Rams' layout across the Los Angeles area, here's a handy map of all the sites: practice, training, administrative, et al. (You can access the map directly here)
(UPDATED at 9:37pm ET by 3k)
I heard back from the Rams earlier tonight. The dates reserved for the optional mandatory minicamp are actually being allotted towards OTAs instead. We'll have a full preview of the sessions and storylines before things kick off on May 31, but thanks to the Rams Communications Department for clearing that up.