Dictionary.com

vol·un·tar·y - Show Spelled Pronunciation[vol-uhn-ter-ee] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation adjective, noun, plural -tar·ies.
–adjective
1. done, made, brought about, undertaken, etc., of one’s own accord or by free choice: a voluntary contribution.
2. something done voluntarily.

NFL.com

vol·un·tar·y work·outs - Show Spelled Pronunciation[vol-uhn-ter-ee][wûrk'out's] Show IPA Pronunciation noun
1. a person given or held as security for the fulfillment of certain conditions or terms, promises, etc.
2. not subject to the control of the will
3. a player is bound or obliged to do certain things, and which arises out of a sense of duty or results from custom, law, etc.

Only in the No Fun League could something as simple as a “voluntary workout” become a big deal. On the local and national level the main focus of the first week of NFL teams voluntary workouts are who isn’t there rather than who is and how they look after a long off season.

On the national level Jason “Twinkle Toes” Taylor decided to skip the Dolphins workout today following his second place finish in Dancing With The Stars. Instead Taylor decided to go dance on the talk show circuit. While it is funny that he would choose that over football if these workouts were truly voluntary he’d have every right to skip them.

Instead the Dolphins didn’t react all that kindly basically telling Taylor if you don’t show up to workouts don’t show up to anything else.

Here in Arizona Darnell Dockett and Anquan Boldin were no shows to day one of workouts at the Cardinals Tempe facility. Prompting some writers to panic.

Head coach Ken Whisenhunt said:

I’m excited about the guys who are, (here), I would be less than honest if I said I wasn’t disappointed that Anquan and Darnell weren’t here. But once again, these are voluntary.”

Translation “You are in the dog house for doing something you technically had every right to do”.

Honestly call when it’s July and these guys don’t show up to training camp in Flagstaff. Should Cardinals fans show some concern about the fact that Dockett and Boldin want new contracts? Sure, but there is no need to act like the sky is falling in the middle of May.

If Boldin has proven anything in his time in the valley it’s that he is a stand up guy. It would go against his character to not be there come July playing along side his teammates.

Although maybe if Boldin and Dockett are no shows in July Bill Bidwill can “voluntarily” offer them some more money.

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