Many star players, including Adrian Peterson and Dez Bryant, don't plan on attending voluntary offseason workout programs.
Offseason workout programs are just getting started for many NFL teams, but many star players, including Adrian Peterson, Dez Bryant and Jason Pierre-Paul, have no intention of showing up. There's no punishment for not participating in the voluntary workouts, but for the players, it can be a chance to send a message to an organization.
For the majority of players, it's a chance to express disapproval in the terms of their contract. For others, like Peterson, it can be a chance to tell an organization that they want out. And then there's always the chance that a player just doesn't want to be there.
The first phase of offseason workout programs lasts for two weeks and features strictly conditioning and physical rehabilitation. No coaching can be involved, except strength and conditioning coaches, and no footballs can be used, unless uncovered receivers are working with quarterbacks.
Adrian Peterson
Peterson has made no secret that he wants out of Minnesota and prepping for a season with the team isn't high on his priorities. According to Sid Hartman of the Minnesota Star Tribune, that is despite the fact that Peterson would be due a $250,000 bonus for attending the offseason workouts.
To be fair though, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network pointed out that Peterson didn't show up for the voluntary offseason workouts even when he wasn't disgruntled with the team. Why start now?
Antonio Brown
The Pittsburgh Steelers receiver started the 2014 season by kicking a punter in the head and finished it as the NFL's leading receiver. Now he wants a new deal to replace the five-year extension he signed in 2012 that will net him $6 million in 2015 and over $8 million in both 2016 and 2017.
According to Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports, Brown already informed the team of his intention to skip offseason workouts because of his desire to renegotiate his contract.
Dez Bryant/Orlando Scandrick
Bryant, 26, is hoping for a long-term contract from the Cowboys after hauling in a league-leading 16 touchdown receptions in 2014 and earning First-Team All-Pro honors. He was slapped with the franchise tag, which keeps him in Dallas for at least one more season, but the wide receiver still hasn't signed the tender while he attempts to negotiate a deal with more longevity.
Cornerback Orlando Scandrick also didn't report for the offseason workouts in Dallas, although nobody is particularly sure why. Scandrick has been the team's best cornerback since signing a six-year, $28.2 million deal with the team in 2011 and might not be too happy with the $1.5 million base salary he's set to receive in 2015, which is less than fellow Cowboys cornerback Brandon Carr, Morris Claiborne and Corey White.
Justin Houston/Jason Pierre-Paul/Demaryius Thomas
Like Bryant, a few other franchise tagged players won't attend voluntary workouts while a long-term deal is attempted to be reached. Jason Pierre-Paul, Justin Houston and Demaryius Thomas are all sticking with their respective teams in 2015, but none of the three players have signed their franchise tenders yet.
Tashaun Gipson
Gipson earned a Pro Bowl nod for his play during the 2014 season, but doesn't have the best contract situation with the Browns. The restricted free agent safety isn't pleased with the second-round tender that the Browns placed on him that kept other teams from pursuing him and hasn't yet signed it.
The tender will net Gipson only $2.356 million in 2015 unless he receives a long-term contract from the Browns instead, which is what he intends to pursue by not attending voluntary workouts. The 24-year-old safety has 11 interceptions in the last two seasons.
Evan Mathis
Trade rumors have consistently swirled around Eagles guard Evan Mathis for a year now and Chip Kelly previously said that the reps for Mathis were given permission to pursue a trade. Amid trade rumors in 2014, Mathis attended the team's voluntary workouts anyway, but this year he elected to stay away and hunt for frozen dinosaurs in Antarctica instead.
James Ihedigbo
The safety is the only Lions player who didn't show up to voluntary workouts and made it clear to the team that he wants more than the $1.1 million base salary he's due in 2015. In his first season with the Lions in 2014, Ihedigbo started 13 games and finished with a career-best four interceptions and three forced fumbles.
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