Skipping voluntary workouts is well within the rights of a player.
But as we’ve pointed out a number of times, it’s rarely forgotten.
Eagles cornerback Cary Williams, who has missed a number of OTAs for personal reasons, won’t accompany the rest of his former Ravens teammates when they go to the White House Wednesday.
The Eagles have a mandatory minicamp this week, which coincides with the Ravens’ chance to be congratulated by the President.
According to Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Eagles announced the news, but didn’t say whether coach Chip Kelly denied permission (or whether he was asked). Eagles quarterback Dennis Dixon, who was on the Ravens practice squad last year, won’t make the trip either. Now-Titans safety Bernard Pollard’s skipping it as well, but his sounds like more of a grudge against certain folks in the Ravens organization.
Williams has missed OTAs for dental work, a wedding, a honeymoon and his daughter’s recital, and the criticism is already mounting.
If one was skeptical, one might think that Kelly was sticking it to Williams for his casual attendance at practice.
But that would insinuate that coaches think voluntary means something other than voluntary, and only a cynic would believe that.