2013 Miami Dolphins open facility doors for voluntary workouts

The Miami Dolphins officially begin their 2013 season today, with team facilities open for voluntary workouts. While not a lot of newsworthy stories will happen during this time, since everything is "voluntary," it is just exciting to know that the players are getting back into the training facilities, and we are getting closer to actual football related activities.Under the NFL's Collective Bargaining Agreement, each team may have a nine-week, voluntary, offseason workout program. The program consists of three phases: Phase One consists of the first two weeks of the program with activities limited to strength and conditioning and physical rehabilitation only.

Phase Two consists of the next three weeks of the program. On-field workouts may include individual player instruction and drills as well as team practice conducted on a "separates" basis. No live contact or team offense vs. team defense drills are permitted.

Phase Three consists of the next four weeks of the program. Teams may conduct a total of 10 days of organized team practice activity, or "OTAs". No live contact is permitted, but 7-on-7, 9-on-7, and 11-on-11 drills are permissible.

Each team may also hold one mandatory minicamp for veteran players, which must occur during Phase Three.

For the Dolphins, their nine-week program will begins today. The team will hold their OTAs on May 21-23, May 29-31, and June 3-6. The mandatory minicamp is scheduled for June 11-13.

The Dolphins still have to schedule their rookie development program weekend, which must take place on either the first (May 3-5) or second (May 10-12) weekend after the NFL Draft.

The Dolphins will play their first preseason game on August 4 in Canton, Ohio. They will face the Dallas Cowboys in the annual Hall of Fame Game, the first of five preseason games they will play this year.