The Detroit Lions raised a few eyebrows this week with the releases of offensive lineman Joe Dahl and defensive tackle Danny Shelton. While neither cut was particularly unexpected, on the NFL’s official list of transactions both releases were given the “failed physical” designation, leading many to ask: “What the hell does that mean?”
So I took a deep dive into the NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement to see why those players were given those designations (other than failing physicals), what it could mean for the Detroit Lions’ 2021 salary cap, and why this stipulation is necessary.
If you just want to know what it means for the Lions, skip to the end.