Can rookies partake in OTA's???

[DarrylS]

This thought came to my mind this morning, can rookies partake in OTA's?? Do you need to be signed to participate?? If you are unsigned can you participate??

 

[Ron Sellers]

I know for quite some time in the initial rookie mini-camp all rookies and teams sign a waiver/agreement that in case of injury they will still receive a contract that would be commensurate with their overall draft position. An example would be with what happened with Tyrone McKenzie.

If I am not mistaken that agreement extends throughout all of the OTA's. Prior to off-season rosters being expanded from 80 to 90 teams typically did not sign most rookies until a few days before the start of training camp; the purpose in doing that was so that they could look at more players during the off-season. I don't recall any or all those rookies missing OTA's in previous years.

 

[mayoclinic]

Yes, as long as they have graduated. The last time the Pats held OTAs, in June of 2010, then-rookies such as Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez participated in them:

What We’ve Learned: TE Rob Gronkowski :Ian's New England Patriots Blog

Jeremy Ebert doesn't graduate from Northwestern until June, so he'll miss the OTas (May 29-31, June 4-5 and June 7-8) and minicamp (June 12-14), just as Taylor Price did in 2010.

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