Chicago Bears: We See How “Voluntary” Activities Really Are Not

As OTAs progress for the Chicago Bears, we see that voluntary activities are not really voluntary in the NFL.

The biggest parts of the Chicago Bears‘ offseason are over. They signed the free agents they felt could help improve the roster. Then they selected the prospects they felt best exemplified what the team was trying to do.

Now Phase II of the offseason begins. The team is in the midst of their Offseason Training Activities, or OTAs. The OTAs started last week and there are 10 OTA sessions in three weeks.

The NFL is a league known for its fierce competition and relentless pursuit of excellence. Players are expected to stay in peak physical condition year-round, and this expectation is reinforced by the existence of voluntary OTAs.

However, it has become increasingly evident that these so-called voluntary activities are not as optional as they may seem. In reality, the pressure to participate and the potential consequences of not doing so render these activities far from voluntary for NFL players.

Players do not have to show up and there should not be any consequences if they don’t. However, this is the NFL, where everything is a competition. Players want a step up in the competition for a roster spot or a starting spot.

The coaches view it the same, even if they do not overtly say it. If a player is not there, the next one up gets the reps and a chance to take over.

Some players are not present for OTAs

Such is the case with the Chicago Bears. There are a few players who have not shown up to OTAs. Some of them are recovering from season-ending injuries and are still trying to get their bodies back in shape.

For example, wide receiver Darnell Mooney fractured his ankle and safety Eddie Jackson injured the Lisfranc ligament in his foot. Both had their season cut short in 2022. The team did not expect them to attend.

Then there are some others who are not injured and just did not show up. New right guard Nate Davis did not show up to OTAs. He just signed a three-year, $30 million deal. The team needs to have him in and fit in with the rest of the offensive linemen as quickly as possible. The unit was a disaster not only last season but also most of the last decade.

Another important player, cornerback Jaylon Johnson, is also absent. He is in the final year of his rookie contract so now there is speculation that the contract is in his mind.

We see with Johnson that “voluntary” isn’t always what it seems. The Bears had a voluntary “new coach” camp last year when head coach Matt Eberflus and his staff took over. Johnson failed to attend.

When OTAs began, Johnson found himself playing with the second-string team. Mind you, Johnson was (and still is) the Bears’ best cornerback.

The message was sent. Voluntary isn’t always voluntary. Now Johnson is testing that theory out again.

Though OTAs are voluntary, Johnson’s contract situation seems to be of concern to some

Because Johnson is in the final year of his contract, there is a growing thought that his not showing up to camps is a message to the team. As mentioned earlier, Johnson is the Bears’ best cornerback. The coaches are still trying to find out where the others fit in, but they have no reason to worry about Johnson.

However, does his contract situation give the team something to worry over?

Johnson’s absence surely gave the media something to talk about. With him not showing up, reporters got a chance to speculate a lot about him. Is his absence a cause for concern? Missing OTAs is minor, for now. Is a difficult situation brewing with Johnson?

Those were just a few of the articles written as a result of Johnson missing OTAs. When reporters asked Eberflus about his absence, he stated the company line.

This is a voluntary time for all the players. Some players have certain things going on. It’s their right to be in here or not.

Skipping “voluntary” workouts can cost money

Teams call these OTAs “voluntary” but skipping them can cost players money.

Many NFL contracts contain workout bonuses tied to players’ participation in offseason activities. While these bonuses are typically small in comparison to players’ overall salaries, they can still represent a substantial sum. In some cases, refusing to attend OTAs can result in forfeiting these bonuses.

These bonuses are not huge compared to the players’ salaries. However, most players won’t be on their teams long enough to see the entire value of the contract. Each dime they make is important. Teams call these workouts voluntary then taking away bonuses shows that they aren’t really voluntary.