The Philadelphia Eagles are one of seven teams to open mandatory minicamp this week.
The difference in the minicamp from other workouts taking place this spring is the "mandatory" aspect, meaning player are subject to fines for missing sessions.
While most players participate in "voluntary" portions of OTAs, those that skipped -- for personal reasons or contractual concerns -- are likely to show up to avoided those fines.
The Philadelphia Eagles had two high-profile players absent from OTAs: defensive lineman Fletcher Cox and running back Darren Sproles. According to NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport, however, both players are at the facility, per someone who has seen them.
Sproles skipped offseason workouts to spend time with family, while the team sorted out his place in the organization. The Eagles fielded calls for the scat back during the NFL draft.
A veteran like Sproles missing some voluntary workouts is not a big deal.
Cox's situation is quite different. The defensive lineman wants a new contract -- and deserves to get paid among the top defensive linemen. Cox apparently won't hold of of mandatory minicamp as leverage to force a new deal.
