National Football League

What exactly happens at NFL minicamps, anyway?

Published Jun. 8, 2015 4:32 p.m. ET

Alex Marvez

The NFL's minicamp season is about to kick off -- with the emphasis on "mini."

There is no contact work allowed -- including "live" blocking, tackling or bump-and-run pass coverage -- during the three days of practice. Players won't be wearing pads, either.

Although this arrangement pales in comparison to traditional rough-and-tumble football standards, there is still plenty that can be culled for teams during these sessions.

This could be the first time for coaches to gauge the conditioning and readiness of veterans who have skipped the voluntary offseason workout program. Under rules of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, all veterans under contract must report. Those who do not are subject to a $10,000 fine for missing the first day. That figure then increases by $10,000 daily for a maximum fine of $60,000 for three days of missed minicamp.

The threat of fines gives teams leverage in forcing veterans to attend. But the potential $60,000 hit isn't exorbitant enough to change the minds of some players entrenched in contract disputes.

Minicamp holdouts send a strong message about a veteran's unhappiness to club management but don't always result in new deals. One example came in 2014 when tight end Vernon Davis and guard Alex Boone skipped San Francisco's minicamp. Davis later reported to 49ers training camp without a new contract, which kept him from being fined at the higher rate of $30,000 per day. Boone's holdout continued deep into the preseason until he received an extension.

Another notable 2014 minicamp holdout was staged by Houston wide receiver Andre Johnson, who was angling for a trade. Johnson reported to training camp without having gotten his wish. He was released this past March and subsequently signed by Indianapolis.

Unsigned franchise-tag players are not required to attend minicamps. If they want to participate, franchise players can sign waivers that would protect them financially in case of injury.

NFL teams have until July 15 to sign their franchise players to long-term contracts. After that, no multiyear deals can be signed until the start of the 2016 offseason.

The entire 2015 draft class should be under contract by the start of minicamps this week thanks to the implementation of the rookie salary cap four years ago that made it far easier to sign draft picks than in the past. Ex-Tampa Bay general manager Mark Dominik believes minicamps serve as a valuable tool for coaches and personnel chiefs in assessing the readiness of rookies to contribute in their first NFL season. If a player needs more time to develop, a veteran free-agent stopgap may be signed before the start of training camp.

"This is a way to really tell how far advanced the rookies are and what they can handle when you put veterans on the field with them," Dominik said.

Dominik used Chicago wide receiver Kevin White as an example of a first-round pick who will be under the microscope when the Bears hold minicamp Tuesday through Thursday.

"They'll see how much of the route tree he can run and how much of (offensive coordinator) Adam Gase's offense he can understand," Dominik said. "It's a grind for young players."

Some other nuts-and-bolts facts about NFL minicamps:

-- Teams can hold two practices on two of the three minicamp days. The second practice can only be of a walk-through variety. Players may be on the field no more than 3 1/2 hours a day and no practice can last longer than 2 1/2 hours.

-- No practice can begin before 7 a.m. local time or last longer than 8:30 p.m. local time. Players are given an hour for lunch and an hour for dinner. Excluding meals, the amount of time players can be asked to participate in team activities is capped at 10 hours a day.

-- Veteran players will be paid $360 a day for minicamp participation as well as given meal allowances. Teams also must pay for travel expenses and provide lodging for veterans who are coming from out-of-town. Rookies are not paid for minicamp participation.

-- Any player injured in a minicamp receives the same financial protections as if they were injured during training camp.

-- To ensure NFL minicamp rules are being followed, especially when it comes to prohibition on contact, video of all practices must be kept by all clubs until 30 days before the start of training camp. The NFL Players Association can view the video if a complaint against a suspected offender is filed.

Seattle was found guilty of having excessive contact in last year's minicamp practice, which marked the franchise's second violation in the past three offseasons. The Seahawks were forced to forfeit two days of this year's minicamp. ESPN reported the Seahawks and head coach Pete Carroll also were collectively fined $300,000 by the NFL.