The Chicago Bears have operated according to a specific and predictable schedule in the off-season for many years. It starts with the Senior Bowl and scouting combine in February. Then it moves to pro days and top-30 visits. In late March, free agency begins. A month later, in late April, comes the NFL draft. After that, rookie minicamps, Organized Team Activities, and mandatory minicamps follow in May and June. Finally, there is a long six-week break before the start of training camp at the end of July. This cycle has remained consistent since the implementation of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement.
Not anymore.
Tom Pelissero and others reported that the NFL Players Association is pushing for a massive change to the off-season structure. It would basically eliminate all on-field work in the spring, including minicamps and OTAs, in favor of a longer training camp ramp-up starting in mid-June. The belief is having it directly before camp itself is far more beneficial to the players, both on and off the field. It helps them to get and stay in shape consistently while also allowing them to stay with their families while kids are still in school.
Chicago Bears fans may hate this new idea.
It would be because of any impact it might have on the players. More specifically, such a change would create a massive void between the end of April and the middle of June, where there would be almost zero content about their team to absorb. Going from the height of the draft to cold turkey right afterward will be a tough adjustment for fans. That said, it sounds like this proposal would be to the benefit of the players without having to cost the NFL much in the way of revenue. Barring an unforeseen snag, this should be a difficult change.
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Then again, the league has a way of resisting changes the players want all the time. They may find a way to do so here for arbitrary reasons. It’s clear many on the Chicago Bears’ roster champion this idea. Many of these guys are smart, hard-working individuals. They have likely done a lot of research on how to maximize their preparation time. Roger Goodell and the NFL decision-makers have no real reason to refuse this request. It doesn’t affect their bottom line in any meaningful way.
