Orchard Park, N.Y. (WGR 550) - The Buffalo Bills begin their nine-week offseason workout program on Monday.
Each NFL team's program is conducted in three phases, with Monday being the opening day of Phase 1 for the Bills.
Here is what Phase 1 consists of, directly from Article 21 of the collective bargaining agreement between the National Football League and the NFL Players' Association:
"Phase 1 shall consist of the first two weeks of the Club’s offseason workout program. ... Phase 1 activities shall be limited to strength and conditioning and physical rehabilitation only.
"During Phase 1, only full-time or part-time strength and conditioning coaches, who have no other coaching responsibilities with the Club, shall be allowed on the field; no other coaches shall be allowed on the field or to otherwise participate in or observe activities.
"No footballs shall be permitted to be used (only “dead ball” activities), except that (1) quarterbacks may elect to throw to receivers provided they are not covered by any other player; (2) kickers, punters, PAT/field goal holders, and long snappers may use footballs on the field for kicking, punting, snapping or holding without the involvement of any other players; (3) returners may field punts and kickoffs provided they are not covered by any other player; (4) JUGGS machines may be used for pass catching, punt returns, and kickoff returns.
"Players cannot wear helmets during Phase 1, except that players using JUGGS machines may wear helmets for safety purposes if the player so desires."
Workouts during Phase 1 are voluntary for all players. They cannot be fined or disciplined in any way by the team or league for not showing up.
The Bills currently have 63 players on their active roster.
