Patriots
“How do you say I’m not going when the best player is there?”
Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel recently joked about how many times he could emphasize the word “voluntarily” in his comments about the team’s offseason workout program. But as a former Patriot noted in reaction it Vrabel’s comments, the undertones of the “voluntary” aspect of it can have serious consequences for players.
Speaking with “Pro Football Talk’s” Mike Florio, longtime New England defensive back Devin McCourty gave some context behind how he dealt with the concept of voluntary programs.
“There were some teams where their offseason program was damn near-mandatory,” said McCourty. “When I went to New England, it was mandatory. And everybody thinks it was mandatory because of Bill [Belichick]. It was mandatory because Tom Brady went. When Tom Brady decided that he would go and be a part of the offseason workout program, who the hell else as a player says I’m not going? How do you say I’m not going when the best player is there?
McCourty explained that while Brady may not have attended every session, he was present enough to inspire near-universal attendance. He attributed part of the team’s longtime success to its participation in the workouts.
“What happened was the culture started being like that,” he said of going to all of the voluntary sessions. “We’d go to offseason programs, and then you’d win, so then what does the coach do? He emphasizes that we’re all a part of the offseason program in April, and how much of a head start we get when we get to training camp. And then that becomes your norm.”
NFL teams are each allowed a nine-week voluntary offseason program, according to Article 21 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
McCourty noted that he wasn’t always as much of a fan of the programs, but made sure to attend because he felt the pressure of competition with other players at his position.
“Then Covid happens. Once Covid happened, no one’s allowed at the offseason program. Gyms weren’t even open. You had to just go to work out on your own,” he said.
He started to rethink his annual approach following the 2020 season after not participating in the voluntary programs.
“We had a season [in 2020], and guys stay healthy, and I remember that was the first time in my career I was like, ‘I think I’m over the offseason program,’” said McCourty. “I’ll go back for some stuff, but I’m going to pick and choose.”
An interesting detail McCourty provided to the discussion was the important point about injuries, and where they occur during the offseason.
“It makes sense for everybody else to throw at the facility, because you’re covered if you get hurt,” he reminded Florio.
“They will cut you if you get hurt in the offseason for a non-football activity.”
McCourty cited the example of offensive lineman Ja’Wuan James, who was cut by the Broncos 10 days after he tore his Achilles tendon in 2021 while working away from the Denver team’s facility. James filed a grievance with the league over the matter, and eventually settled with the Broncos for a reported sum of $1.09 million.
Circling back to Vrabel, McCourty appreciates the Patriots’ coach’s perspective, but still thinks the voluntary program is all but mandatory for several reasons, including injury liability.
“I just think the offseason program, even though Vrabel was joking, I do think will always be a fabric of the NFL until rules change around it, because if I’m a player…I’m going to do my training at the facility because it makes the most sense because you’re covered.”
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