Oakland Raiders 2014 OTA’s Day One: Restricted media reports top story
By Chase Ruttig
May 16, Alameda, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) and offensive coordinator Greg Olson at rookie minicamp at the Raiders practice facility. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
As we speak the Oakland Raiders 2014 Preseason is officially underway.
Well, kind of.
The team’s first Organized Team Activities have just ended as the Raiders look to use their allotted time per the NFL’s rules on preseason activity to prepare a large crop of offseason acquisitions for Training Camp and beyond as their push towards an important 2014 NFL season begins.
Head Coach Dennis Allen takes questions from the media following the first OTA practice. pic.twitter.com/7WVb0RDLxP
— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) May 27, 2014
Information out of OTA’s from a live news point of view shouldn’t be expect for Raider fans this preseason due to even further restrictions on what credentialed beat reporters can and can not tweet or photograph on social media, so don’t expect much “Breaking News” stuff coming out of camp as the team looks to curb any “leaks” from the local reporters on the scene.
A lot more restrictions on what we can tweet, take photos of from #Raiders practice this season
— Vic Tafur (@VicTafur) May 27, 2014
Getting cut off now ... Bye
— Vic Tafur (@VicTafur) May 27, 2014
It is understandable why teams don’t want their reporters “leaking” live information to the mass public from OTA practices, especially negative content. Last season the Raiders quarterbacks received early critiques from the media who didn’t have fond analysis of the throwing abilities of Matt Flynn, Terrelle Pryor and company that got picked up by the national scene and didn’t help matters for the Raiders going into the season. Fans are the only victims of NFL teams paranoia and love for information control, but I am sure the diehard Raider Nation will take a few hours wait before news comes out if the team feels that keeping what happens at their team facilities behind closed doors as much as possible.
The media will get plenty of access still as Matt Schaub and D.J. Hayden amongst others are scheduled to be available for interview requests, expect the regular Raiders preseason news to eventually come out. Just don’t expect live practice updates, a norm in the NFL that frustrates the new 24/7/365 Twitter age for followers of the league but is not going away any time soon.
Should NFL teams allow more live access for credentialed media during the preseason? Or is it a competitive disadvantage/unwanted distraction to the season preparations going on? Let us know in the comments.