The NFL is gearing up for its 105th season, and teams are getting ready for the upcoming campaign. As part of their preparations, ten teams have kicked off their mandatory minicamps, marking another checkpoint in the countdown to the new season.
The Chicago Bears, Dallas Cowboys, Detroit Lions, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Miami Dolphins, Minnesota Vikings, Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers, and Tennessee Titans have all begun their three-day minicamps. The other 22 teams will start their mandatory minicamps next week.
But what exactly is mandatory minicamp, and how does it differ from the rest of the NFL’s offseason schedule? Each team is allowed to conduct one mandatory minicamp during the third and final phase of the NFL’s OTAs (organized team activities). Phase 1 focuses on strength and conditioning, while Phase 2 allows offenses and defenses to practice together but not against each other.
Phase 3, or mandatory minicamp, usually takes place during the first or second week of June and players are allowed to wear helmets and compete in “live” situations. The biggest difference between mandatory minicamp and the rest of the NFL’s OTAs is that it’s mandatory. While previous portions of the teams’ offseason workouts were voluntary, players must attend minicamp or be subjected to fines.
Players who miss minicamp without an excused absence can be fined $16,953 for the first day, $33,908 for the second day, and $50,855 for the third day, or a total of $101,716, according to the terms of the NFL’s current collective bargaining agreement.
In other news, Josh Jacobs has apologized for his comments about the Packers and Eagles not being allowed to wear green in Brazil. The NFL has responded to Jacobs’ comments, stating that fans and players will be allowed to wear green in Brazil. The game will be played at Corinthians Arena, which is home to the Brazilian soccer team Corinthians. The biggest rival for Corinthians is Palmeiras, who wear the color green. Corinthians has an informal ban on wearing green, as a former player was fined by the club a few years ago for wearing green cleats.
The Minnesota Vikings have also unveiled their new “Winter Warrior” alternate uniforms, which celebrate Minnesota and Nordic Vikings. The all-white helmet includes a metallic gray stripe to emulate early Vikings battle helmets. The Vikings plan to wear the “Winter Warrior” uniforms for their Week 15 game against the Chicago Bears on Monday, December 16 at U.S. Bank Stadium.
As the NFL season approaches, teams are gearing up for what promises to be an exciting campaign. With mandatory minicamps underway, teams are getting ready to face off against each other in the coming weeks. Stay tuned for more updates from the world of NFL football.
