When the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and general manager Jason Licht signed veteran free agent pass rusher Haason Reddick this offseason, you have to imagine they did their homework first.
After all, Licht isn't one to take his roster spots lightly.
With Reddick's antics last season, which by the way, was a completely different scenario than this one, the Bucs had to have had long discussions with him before signing him to a one-year, $14 million "prove-it" deal with $12 million in guarantees.
That's why his absence from voluntary OTAs is a little baffling.
One can only think it's not as bad as it looks. After all, they are voluntary, and he's a veteran. But with his recent history, one can only question it.
While a lot of 30-plus-year-old veterans skip voluntary OTAs, Reddick just joined a new team. He could most likely benefit from the instruction on play formations and scheme, just like a rookie.
Chris Simms, the former Tampa Bay quarterback and current NFL analyst for NBC Sports, is just as confused as the rest of us.
"I don't get it. I don't think it's very good [strategy] here by Haason Reddick," Simms said. "I don't understand why Haason Reddick wouldn't go, and hopefully he shows up. I know he's a veteran player... but when you come off a year where you didn't really play a whole lot, you held out from the Jets, I don't think you took the right approach there — yeah, I was surprised to hear he wasn't in Tampa."
If the Bucs were truly worried about him skipping voluntary OTAs, they could've put an incentive in his contract for him to attend, but they didn't.
We also haven't heard the team come out with any concern or public statement about his absense, other than responding to reporter's questions.
Head coach Todd Bowles doesn't seem concerned. Neither does Licht. So we probably shouldn't either.
Especially since Reddick said all the right things when he signed with the Bucs.
"I'm excited. I'm excited to be here. I'm excited to be in front of the crowd. If anything, I can't wait to get in front of the Krewe," Reddick said. "I want to hear the cannon go off a lot this year. So, very excited. Hope the fans, hope the Krewe is excited as well. Looking forward to making this a great fit here."