The Bills are getting closer and closer to reporting to training camp. In fact, rookies do on Tuesday. But there’s still an uncertainty on how things will go down due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic in the United States.
On Sunday, NFL players, including Bills safety Micah Hyde and wide receiver Stefon Diggs, jointly started a “We Want To Play” social media campaign to shed light on the issues. The players don’t feel safe enough to return to action under guidelines the owners are proposing. Monday has now seen another disagreement between the NFL and NFLPA come about.
According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the NFL is proposing one preseason game this August. The players want none.
The NFL’s latest proposal to players includes just one preseason game, rather than two, sources say.
Players still want no preseason games and a longer acclimation period. But a sign the sides are working and getting closer to a plan for 2020.
More now on @gmfb @nflnetwork
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) July 20, 2020
In addition, players want a 21-day accumulation period upon returning as well. So far this offseason, teams haven’t been able to workout at all together, at least not for OTAs or anything outside of meeting on their own. Coaches haven’t been involved at all. When rookies report on Tuesday, it will actually be the first time they’ve been to their team facilities in general.
Because of this, players want as much time as possible to acclimate without playing any games at all. There’s also safety concerns with playing a game while COVID-19 is still going on.
But if that one preseason game does happen, it’d be Week 3 of the preseason, reportedly. The week in the team’s preseason schedule released earlier this offseason has the Bills hosting the Colts.
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