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Although the NFL season only technically lasts four months, the amount of offseason work players endure turns their job into a year round affair. Every spring, each team has voluntary workouts and mini-camps for their players to condition themselves for training camp (which takes place later in the summer).

Each year, there is an inevitable case of “player x” who chooses not to participate in the voluntary workouts. More often than not, “player x” is painted in a negative light by the media (and sometimes his team) by not showing up to a voluntary team function. This doesn’t necessarily mean the player doesn’t want to get in shape, some guys simply choose to train privately or in a close knit group with others.

What really gets on my nerves is how choosing not to show up to a “voluntary” function instantly means you’re “selfish”, “lazy”, “disgruntled” or “uncooperative”. I was watching SportsCenter the other day and the topic of the moment was “Why Isn’t Kellen Winslow Attending Voluntary Workouts??”… Hmm… maybe he isn’t required to be there and exercised his right to do whatever the F’ he pleases.

The simple solution for NFL teams would be ….. if you want the guys there… make the offseason work outs mandatory and be done with it.

Is there some CBA rule prohibiting NFL teams from doing this?