Jessie J told us in 2011 that it’s not about the money and to forget about the price tag.
Although that popular song wasn’t aimed at the NFL and its players, it frequently is about the money in the football world. And no one is forgetting about the price tag.
NFL minicamps have arrived, marking the final stage of the offseason before training camp and preseason action begin. In other words, it’s crunch time for players hoping to land new contracts ahead of the upcoming regular season.
Various players will sit out of minicamps to apply pressure on their teams in the hopes the organization will cave or, at the very least, find a compromise both sides can accept.
That move doesn’t come without its cost, however. Anyone who sits out mandatory minicamp doesn’t just take a hit to their reputation, but their bank account as well.
Here’s a look at the fines that players will face for missing mandatory minicamp in 2025.
Penalties for sitting out NFL minicamp
Players are subjected to fines if they don’t report to mandatory minicamp without receiving an excused absence. Those fines increase each year, according to the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement.
Here are the fines for the 2025 season:
- Day 1: $17,462
- Day 2: $34,925
- Day 3: $52,381
- Total: $104,768
For some of the NFL’s big stars, those figures are seemingly just a drop in the bucket and worth the price of making a statement. For rookies and players without headline-grabbing contracts, the fines can make a significant impact.
Those fines are intended to serve as a deterrent. However, missing important reps and practice time could ultimately prove to be more costly in the long run.
Whether that comes in the form of lost playing time or injuries as a result of being away from the team’s conditioning and workout programs, those three days are ultimately more important than just some fines.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NFL mandatory minicamp: Fines, penalties for sitting out