NFL OTAs: What matters and what doesn't?

Football season is inching closer as NFL rookies and veterans meet on the field for the first time for organized team activities this week. As fans become increasingly hungry for football as the offseason progresses, it can be hard to stay focused on the few things that matter during this time of year. If you’re willing to sift through some noise, there are things to glean from OTAs — just not the things people tend to interact with or get excited about.

What matters and what doesn’t: Rookie minicamps | NFL schedule release What does matter during NFL OTAs? The attendance of veteran players — sometimes Most of the time, veteran players not showing up to OTAs is a non-story. Ultimately, OTAs are optional, even if the pressures within the sport make it feel mandatory.

If a veteran player doesn’t show up, there’s no rule being broken here. However, it’s definitely advantageous to have everyone working together as soon as possible. For example, this week Aaron Rodgers returned to the Steelers right at the start of OTAs so that he could get started with new Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy, who happens to be his old coach from Green Bay.

Getting Rodgers back in town now before the start of mandatory minicamp gives them the best chance to maximize what could be Rodgers’ last year in the NFL. That’s one veteran attendance situation that really matters because the Steelers have high expectations (for themselves) this year. Jacoby Brissett holding out from the Cardinals isn’t quite as juicy.