ESPN.com: NFC West
Monday, May 6, 2013 As American as apple pie and ... sorry, Mom
By Mike Sando
Twenty-three of 32 NFL teams have rookie minicamps scheduled for Mother's Day (May 12).
Every team is off for Father's Day (June 16).
What, are a bunch of men running the NFL? Yes, with the occasional exception.
Blame the labor negotiators for the imbalance, if you must.
"Each club may hold a rookie football development program for a period of seven weeks, which in 2013 may begin on May 13," the NFL says of its collectively bargained offseason schedule. "During this period, no activities may be held on weekends, with the exception of one post-NFL Draft rookie minicamp, which may be conducted on either the first or second weekend following the draft."
The Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, Jacksonville Jaguars, Miami Dolphins, Minnesota Vikings, New England Patriots, Pittsburgh Steelers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Washington Redskins held their rookie camps over the recently completed weekend.
Every other team has its rookie camp scheduled for May 10-12.
The chart shows how NFC West teams have scheduled their allotted rookie camps, organized team activities (OTAs) and mandatory minicamps. The Cardinals and other teams with new head coaches were allowed to open their offseason programs April 2. Those teams also could schedule additional three-day voluntary camps. The other teams could open their offseason programs April 15.
