This is why Gibbs is a HOF coach

Why are these workouts called voluntary if attendance is made mandatory by the coach? I gotta imagine the NFL players union would have something to say about these 'mandatory' workouts

Every team does it to some extent.

They aren't mandatory but Gibbs is sending the message that if you want to be here next year and you want to be a part of this, you'd better be here in the offseason working your tail off. True he can't make them "mandatory" but the quickest way to his doghouse is skipping these workouts. EEich is right, everyone does this to an extent.

Irish:

They are "voluntary workouts" because the Collective Bargaining Agreement spells out just how much time the teams can demand from the players. So there are mandatory minicamps and workouts and there are "voluntary ones".

Teams do not have the authroity to fine or suspend a player for missing a "voluntary one", but teams have the unfettered right to cut any player any time they want. So some teams use that threat to raise the importance of the "voluntary workouts" in the minds of players.

The NFLPA has already agreed to the concept of "voluntary workouts" and complains only if something short of cutting the player is done to change that status.

Its kind of like those who work "overtime" at their jobs in hopes of getting promoted. When a player puts in 110% in the offseason as well as on the field during the season, it's going to pay off for them and it's going to be noticed. At the sametime, when a player does the bare minimum of what is required, that also shows up with performance on the field. This is probably the most effective way of seeing who really wants to play and win and who wants to just get paid.

Gibbs has challenged the team to match his work ethic. To me if you see the boss working his tail off and putting in extra time, how can you cut out early or even on time? And when you're a 6-10 team that means there's a lot of work to do.

I suspect guys on the bubble better show up for these "voluntary" workouts but I bet if LA or Smoot (assuming he's still here) there would be no negative consequences for their careers if they bailed.

irish:

You are right. The guys on the bubble better be there and be ready to work at the conditioning and the blackboard sessions with dedication and concentration or they are gonzo. "Bubble players" are everywhere and so you might as well have ones who do what you want them to do instead of shirkers. That is what Gibbs (and Andy Reid up in Philly) call "character guys".

Stars can get a lot more slack for two reasons. One they are stars and two cutting them would be a major problem for the salary cap. However, if/when you coddle stars too much, you wind up with players who figure out that they can do what THEY damned well please and then they miss all the workouts and etc. For the classic Redskin example of this see Smith, Bruce over the last couple of years...